A comparison of mothers’ and fathers’ experiences of the attachment process in a neonatal intensive care unit

Aim.  To compare mothers’ and fathers’ individual views and experiences of the attachment process in a neonatal intensive care unit within the first week after a premature birth. Background.  The attachment between parents and children is a precursor to the consolidation of parenting skills, the growth and development of the infant and the establishment of a bond between parent and child. Premature birth and the resultant hospitalization disrupt the normal attachment process between parent and child. Most of the litteraure on attachment theory focuses on the mother–child connection and is being criticised for regarding the father's role as supportive and peripheral. Methods.  The design of …