Assessment Items for Fathers’ Involvement in Pregnancy and Childcare: A Review of the Literature

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to review literature and clarify assessment items regarding fathers’ involvement in pregnancy and childcare.

Methods: This study analyzed 20 published articles using the review matrix method. These articles consisted of 4 Japanese articles and 16 foreign articles originally published between 1980 and 2020.

Result: Twenty-one scales were identified based on the 20 articles reviewed and were categorized into two periods: pregnancy (nine scales) and childcare (12 scales). Nine categories were extracted from the pregnancy scale, including “partner,” “childcare,” and “featation.” Another nine categories were extracted from the childcare scale, including “involvement in the home,” “father himself,” and “partner.”

Discussion: The assessment items related to fathers’ involvement in pregnancy and childcare comprised multiple categories that included not only childcare but also household affairs and relationships with partners. Items that reflected the culture of the country in which they were used, including religious ideas, were also noted.