Men's perception of paternal parenthood and the promotion of child development.
Gustavo Selenko de Aquino, Sarah de Almeida Rocha Moura, Ailton de Lima Junior and 3 others
PMID 39082555WHAT IT FOUND
Fathers described feeling unprepared and short on time, yet actively promoted development through emotional support, routine care, and play.
They used music, nature, and direct interaction to stimulate language and reasoning. These were self-reported actions, not measured outcomes.
Key findings
01Participants identified lack of preparation and time due to work commitments as primary obstacles to paternal parenthood.
02Fathers reported engaging in specific developmental activities including emotional support, daily care, and cognitive stimuli such as music, reading, and interaction with nature.
03Fathers described using language-focused interactions, such as repeating phrases and asking questions, to support their children's reasoning and speech development.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The sample was small (15 men) and recruited from a single university in southern Brazil, limiting generalizability to all fathers. Most participants were healthcare professionals or students, who may have had different knowledge or perceptions than the general population. The study relied on self-reported perceptions and actions, with no objective measurement of child development outcomes. Fathers from mononuclear families were excluded, so findings do not reflect the experiences of single fathers.
Declared interests
None reported.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the fathers' reported activities as evidence that they improved their children's development. The study measured perceptions and self-reported behaviors, not child outcomes, and the sample was highly specific to a university setting.