The role of some birth-related variables in father attachment.

Forty-six middle-income couples planning different childbirth methods--natural hospital delivery; home delivery; hospital delivery with anesthesia--were studied from the sixth month of pregnancy until six months after the birth. The father's participation in the birth and his attitude toward it were found to constitute the most significant variable in predicting father attachment. prenatal education and structuring of the birth environment are suggested to obtain maximum participation and involvement of fathers.