Korean J Child Health Nurs.  1998 Feb;4(1):31-44.

Patterns of Fazther-Infant Play Interaction: A Pilot Study

• Kim YH

Abstract

In our time the parent's role is changing from sexually differentiated to androgynous pattern. Mother's interaction with infant includes caring and father's interaction especially have play. Father and mother share the caring and play because they have complementary nature. Infants have a tendency to show more positive responses to their fathers than mothers in play situations. For that reason we can help the promotion of father's interaction with his infant. through ascertaining patterns of father-infant play interaction. This study was to find out patterns of father-infant play interaction in order to improve the interaction between father and infant. Data was video-taped from 6 fathers and infants who were healthy and first-timed and 7-11 weeks old in their houses. I used Father-Infant Play Interaction Scale that was applied to father instead of mother as a care-giver. The scale was checked up by experts in this field for content validity and the reliability was 0.95 in this study. The results were as follows; 1. Father's play behaviors were the patterns of responses about infant's cue. The mean score was 33.16(SD, 9.11). This mean they come up to the standard level of responses about infant's cue. 2. Infant's play behaviors were the patterns of responses about father's cue. The mean score was 7.00(SD, 3.10). This means they get the higher level of responses about father's cue. 3. The patterns of simultaneous responses occurred together between father and infant. The mean score was 9.58(SD, 3.96). This means they reach the standard level of simultaneous responses between father and infant. 4. The patterns of interactional behaviors occurred interpersonally between father and infant. The mean score was 49.75(SD, 15.80). This means they interact on the standard level of play interaction. In view of the results father's play interaction seems to reveal an average level and play patterns are similar to mother's. In order to ascertain definitely patterns of father-infant play interaction we need further research which has more subjects and variables to have important effects.

MeSH Terms

Cues
Fathers
Humans
Infant
Mothers
Pilot Projects*
Child Health