Men's Psychological Transition to Fatherhood: An Analysis of the Literature, 1989–2008

  1. Lucia Genesoni BSc1,
  2. Maria Anna Tallandini PhD2,*

Article first published online: 24 NOV 2009

DOI: 10.1111/j.1523-536X.2009.00358.x

Issue

Birth

Birth

Volume 36, Issue 4, pages 305–318, December 2009

Additional Information

How to Cite

Genesoni, L. and Tallandini, M. A. (2009), Men's Psychological Transition to Fatherhood: An Analysis of the Literature, 1989–2008. Birth, 36: 305–318. doi: 10.1111/j.1523-536X.2009.00358.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Lucia Genesoni is a Research Psychologist in the Department of Psychology, University College London

  2. 2

    Maria Anna Tallandini is Professor of Developmental Psychology, Department of Psychology, University of Trieste, Italy, and Honorary Researcher, Department of Psychology, University College London, United Kingdom

*Maria Anna Tallandini, Department of Psychology, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom.

  1. This research was supported by BLISS–The Premature Baby Charity, London, United Kingdom.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 24 NOV 2009
  2. Article first published online: 24 NOV 2009
  3. Accepted June 9, 2009

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Keywords:

  • fatherhood;
  • intrapartum period;
  • prenatal period;
  • postnatal period;
  • transition

ABSTRACT:

Background:The most recent review on men's transition to fatherhood was published in 1986. The present paper reports on how the literature has portrayed fatherhood over the past 20 years. The aim was to investigate men's psychological transition to fatherhood from pregnancy of the partner through the infant's first year of life.Methods:The PsycINFO, PubMed, MEDLINE, Ingenta, Ovid, EMBASE, and WoS databases were accessed to conduct a literature search on the topic. The concepts of self-image transformation, triadic relationship development, and social environment influence were used to examine the complexity of the fatherhood transition process. Specific focus was placed on men's intrapsychic relational and social dimensions.Results:Our analysis of the yielded results revealed three specific fatherhood stages: prenatal, labor and birth, and postnatal periods. Partner pregnancy was found to be the most demanding period in terms of psychological reorganization of the self. Labor and birth were the most intensely emotional moments, and the postnatal period was most influenced by environmental factors. The latter was also experienced as being the most interpersonally and intrapersonally challenging in terms of coping with the new reality of being a father.Conclusions:Men's transition to fatherhood is guided by the social context in which they live and work and by personal characteristics in interplay with the quality of the partner relationship. Men struggle to reconcile their personal and work-related needs with those of their new families.

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