Jia Yitong, Xu Bojun, Wang Lijuan, Sun Xiaomin, Zhang Yin-Ping
Faculty of Nursing, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, No.76, West Yanta Road, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi, China.
School of journalism and New Media of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi, China.
BMC Psychol. 2025 Jul 1;13(1):685. doi: 10.1186/s40359-025-02990-9.
The COVID-19 pandemic introduced unprecedented stressors, significantly affecting mental health worldwide. While research has extensively focused on maternal experiences, less attention has been given to the experiences and coping strategies of expectant fathers during this period. Given the recognized benefits of mindfulness in fostering emotional resilience, it is important to examine whether mindfulness practices supported expectant fathers during these challenging times. Therefore, this study aimed to: (a) Characterize the frequency and degree of applied mindfulness practices among expectant fathers during early pandemic conditions. (b) Identify specific sociodemographic and pandemic-related factors associated with their mindfulness practices. (c) Investigate the inter-couple association between expectant fathers' mindfulness practices and those of their pregnant partners.
A cross-sectional study design was employed. Using convenience sampling, 237 pregnant women and their husbands were recruited in Xi'an, China, in February 2020, during the first-level response to COVID-19, a major public health emergency. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires that included demographic information and the Applied Mindfulness Process Scale (AMPS). Statistical analyses included non-parametric tests and representational similarity analysis.
Among the 237 expectant fathers, the median total AMPS score was 41.00 (33.00, 48.00). Comparing the subscales, median scores were lowest for Decentering at 13.00 (10.00, 15.00) and highest for Positive Emotion Regulation at 15.00 (12.00, 17.00). Non-parametric tests indicated that fathers residing in urban areas exhibited higher total AMPS scores compared to those in rural settings [urban: 42.00 (35.00, 48.50) vs. rural: 35.00 (24.50, 43.50), Z = - 2.875, P = 0.004], and higher education (r = 0.268, P < 0.001) and income levels (r = 0.131, P = 0.043) were linked to elevated AMPS scores. AMPS scores differed significantly based on participants' opinions towards encountering COVID-19 during pregnancy (H = 17.796, P < 0.001). Additionally, expectant fathers' AMPS scores were significantly and positively correlated with those of their pregnant partners (r = 0.291, P < 0.001).
The study may contribute to a deeper understanding of psychological coping mechanisms among expectant fathers during periods of heightened external stress, highlighting the importance of considering both individual and dyadic factors in perinatal mental health research.
新冠疫情带来了前所未有的压力源，对全球心理健康产生了重大影响。虽然研究广泛关注了母亲的经历，但在此期间对准父亲的经历和应对策略关注较少。鉴于正念在培养情绪恢复力方面的公认益处，研究在这些具有挑战性的时期正念练习是否对准父亲有帮助很重要。因此，本研究旨在：(a) 描述疫情初期准父亲应用正念练习的频率和程度。(b) 确定与其正念练习相关的具体社会人口学和疫情相关因素。(c) 调查准父亲与其怀孕伴侣的正念练习之间的夫妻间关联。
采用横断面研究设计。2020年2月，在中国西安应对新冠疫情一级响应这一重大突发公共卫生事件期间，通过便利抽样招募了237名孕妇及其丈夫。使用包括人口统计学信息和应用正念过程量表（AMPS）的自填问卷收集数据。统计分析包括非参数检验和表征相似性分析。
在237名准父亲中，AMPS总分中位数为41.00（33.00，48.00）。比较各子量表，去中心化的中位数得分最低，为13.00（10.00，15.00），积极情绪调节的中位数得分最高，为15.00（12.00，17.00）。非参数检验表明，居住在城市地区的父亲与农村地区的父亲相比，AMPS总分更高[城市：42.00（35.00，48.50）对农村：35.00（24.50，43.50），Z = -2.875，P = 0.004]，且受教育程度更高（r = 0.268，P < 0.001）和收入水平更高（r = 0.131，P = 0.043）与AMPS得分升高有关。AMPS得分因参与者对孕期遭遇新冠疫情的看法而有显著差异（H = 17.796，P < 0.001）。此外，准父亲的AMPS得分与其怀孕伴侣的得分显著正相关（r = 0.291，P < 0.001）。
该研究可能有助于更深入地了解外部压力增加时期准父亲的心理应对机制，强调在围产期心理健康研究中考虑个体和二元因素的重要性。
