Clinical Child & Family Studies, Faculty of Behavioral and Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Forensic Family and Youth Care Studies, Institute of Education and Child studies, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Pediatr Res. 2023 Mar;93(4):1024-1030. doi: 10.1038/s41390-022-02183-9. Epub 2022 Jul 29.
The aim of this study was to evaluate an interaction-based prenatal parenting intervention program aimed at promoting parental sensitivity and involvement in expectant fathers using ultrasound images: Prenatal Video-Feedback Intervention to Promote Positive Parenting (VIPP-PRE).
In this randomized controlled trial, 73 first-time, healthy expectant fathers were enrolled. Participants were randomly assigned to the VIPP-PRE intervention (n = 39) or a dummy intervention (n = 34). Parental sensitivity was coded from video-recorded 10-min interactions with an infant simulator at a prenatal pretest and with fathers' own infant at a postnatal posttest. Prenatal and postnatal involvement was assessed via an application on participants' smartphones.
Fathers receiving VIPP-PRE demonstrated increased sensitivity across the perinatal period, relative to fathers receiving a dummy intervention. Fathers' involvement with the infant increased significantly from the prenatal to postnatal period, regardless of the intervention.
Prenatal video-feedback using ultrasound imaging of the unborn child has the potential to promote the quality of parenting in an important, but understudied, population and period: men in the transition to fatherhood. Future research should examine the long-term effectiveness of VIPP-PRE and its effectiveness in increasing parenting quality in at-risk families.
This study identifies a brief and focused prenatal intervention using assisted interactions between the father and his baby by means of ultrasound imaging as a promising strategy to improve sensitive fathering in the early postnatal phase. Our study shows that pregnancy provides a window of opportunity for promoting prenatal involvement and bonding in expectant fathers, with potential long-term benefits for the future father-child relationship. Ultrasound measures are currently used to monitor fetal growth and development, but our results suggest that they may also create an opportunity for stimulating father-infant interaction to promote postnatal caregiving quality.
本研究旨在评估一种基于互动的产前育儿干预方案，该方案旨在通过超声图像促进准父亲的敏感性和参与度，方案名称为：促进积极育儿的产前视频反馈干预（VIPP-PRE）。
在这项随机对照试验中，纳入了 73 名首次生育的健康准父亲。参与者被随机分配到 VIPP-PRE 干预组（n=39）或虚拟干预组（n=34）。在产前预测试中，通过与婴儿模拟器的 10 分钟视频记录，对父母的敏感性进行编码；在产后后测试中，通过与父亲自己的婴儿进行视频记录，对父母的敏感性进行编码。通过参与者智能手机上的应用程序评估产前和产后的参与度。
与接受虚拟干预的父亲相比，接受 VIPP-PRE 干预的父亲在围产期表现出更高的敏感性。无论干预措施如何，父亲与婴儿的参与度都从产前显著增加到产后。
使用胎儿超声成像进行产前视频反馈有可能在一个重要但研究不足的人群和时期（即将成为父亲的男性）中提高育儿质量。未来的研究应该检验 VIPP-PRE 的长期有效性及其在增加高危家庭育儿质量方面的有效性。
本研究确定了一种简短而集中的产前干预措施，该措施通过超声成像辅助父亲与婴儿之间的互动，是一种有前途的策略，可以改善婴儿出生后早期的敏感育儿方式。我们的研究表明，怀孕为促进准父亲的产前参与和亲子关系提供了机会，为未来的父子关系带来了潜在的长期益处。超声测量目前用于监测胎儿的生长和发育，但我们的结果表明，它们也可能为刺激父子互动提供机会，以促进产后护理质量。
