| Summary: | 碩士 === 國立臺灣大學 === 護理學研究所 === 87 === A study of six first-time fathers was conducted to determine the cognitive behaviors of fathers in forming concepts about the baby and the self as father, during early paternal role enactment. The fathers were asked to describe retrospectively their perception of the baby and self as father. The data were collected through four standardized open-ended interviews once a week during the first 28 days after birth. Data was then prepared for analysis. Content analysis method was used to analyze, classify and code the father''s verbalization.
3544 cognitive behavior units were analyzed, the highest incidence of which was orienting behavior (74.9%), followed by evaluating behavior (20.2%). Comparing behavior was lowest with only 4.9%. Orienting behaviors include identification (highest incidence), expectation, questioning, and conjecture (lowest incidence). For evaluating behaviors, the incidence of negative evaluating behaviors was higher than positive evaluating behaviors. For comparing behaviors, the incidence of similarity comparing behavior was higher than difference comparing behaviors.
Fathers used two-thirds of the cognitive behaviors to form concepts about the baby. One-third was in relation to self as father. The specific aspects of the baby as a person or the self in the role of father were also inductively identified from the data. Among the four aspects of the baby, body function has the highest incidence (52.5%), followed by body structure (27.2%), physical state (12.7%), and social characteristics (7.5%). Among the two aspects of self in the role of father, the activities of care giving had the highest incidence (52.6%), and the activities of incorporating the baby into the family-social constellation were 47.4%.
The fourth week after birth had the highest incidence of cognitive behavior (29.3%), followed by the second week (28.9%), third week (23.3%), and the first week (18.5%).
Results of this study were compared to previous studies and the following conclusions may be drawn. Both fathers and mothers have the same forming concept about the aspects of the baby, and self in the role of mother/father. They both use orienting behavior, evaluating behavior and comparing behavior. Also, orienting behaviors have the highest incidence in both groups of fathers and mothers.
Fathers have different experience and needs as they tend to be in different places at different times. The results of this study can help nurses to understanding the meaning of father''s behavior, and see the problems that fathers face from the fathers'' own point of view. The nurses'' knowledge of cognitive behaviors of first-time fathers'' role enactment can help them to provide the necessary nursing service for fathers at the appropriate time.
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