Fathers' help seeking behavior and attitudes during their transition to parenthood.

New fathers face multiple changes as they take on this complex, demanding, and continually shifting role. The current study aimed to understand these experiences, especially the ways fathers seek help and information while facing stressful situations. Eleven fathers completed a semi-structured interview about their transition to fatherhood and whether and how they sought help and advice through that process. Results were analyzed using an inductive thematic analysis approach. Fathers viewed themselves as supportive figures and sources of financial and emotional stability for their families. Fathers experienced anxiety and uncertainty in their transition to parenthood, and utilized a variety of ways to cope with their stress; these were categorized into individual and interpersonal coping strategies. Most relied on their partner for emotional support, but some felt uncomfortable relying on her and using her for support while she was coping with pregnancy and new parenting. This study found that fathers tended to see themselves in a rather traditional role of provider and supporter of their partners and children, and this created some stresses for work-life balance, and, for some, created a dilemma where they felt unable to seek emotional support from the person-their partner-on whom they would typically rely. These findings have important implications for fathers' wellbeing and providing support programs for new fathers.

Papás novatos enfrentan múltiples retos a medida que asumen este papel complejo y exigente. Poco se sabe acerca de cómo los papás experimentan estos retos. Este estudio se propuso comprender estas experiencias, especialmente la manera como los papás buscan ayuda e información mientras que enfrentan situaciones estresantes. Once papás completaron una entrevista semiestructurada acerca de la transición a la paternidad y cómo buscaron ayuda a través de ese proceso. Los resultados se analizaron usando un análisis temático inductivo. Los papás se vieron a sí mismos como figuras de apoyo y fuentes de estabilidad económica y emocional para sus familias. Los papás experimentaron ansiedad en la transición a la paternidad y utilizaron diferentes maneras para arreglárselas con el estrés; estas maneras fueron categorizadas en estrategias individuales e interpersonales para arreglárselas. La mayoría confió en sus parejas para apoyo emocional, pero algunos se sintieron incómodos confiando en ella para ese apoyo mientras que ella se las arreglaba con el embarazo y la nueva crianza. En este estudio se encontró que los papás tendían a verse a sí mismos en un papel tradicional de proveer y de apoyar a sus familias, y esto produjo cierto estrés para equilibrar la vida laboral, así como un dilema en los casos en que se sintieron incapaces de buscar el apoyo emocional de sus parejas en quienes ellos confiaban típicamente. Estos resultados tienen implicaciones importantes para el bienestar de los papás y proveer programas de apoyo para los nuevos papás.

Les nouveaux pères font face à de nombreux défis quand ils embrassent ce rôle complexe et difficile. On sait peu de choses sur la façon dont les pères vivent ces défis. Cette étude s'est donné pour but de comprendre ces expériences, surtout les manières dont les pères cherchent de l'aide et des renseignements tout en faisant face à des situations stressantes. Onze pères ont rempli un entretien semi-structuré sur leur transition la paternité et la manière dont ils ont cherché de l'aide au travers de ce processus. Les résultats ont été analysés en utilisant une analyse thématique inductive. Les pères se sont perçus comme des figures de soutien et des sources de stabilité financière et émotionnelle pour leur famille. Les pères ont fait l'expérience d'anxiété dans leur transition à la parentalité et ont utilisé différentes manières de faire face au stress; celles-ci ont été catégorisées en stratégies d'adaptation individuelles et interpersonnelles. La plupart se sont appuyés sur leur partenaire pour le soutien émotionnel, mais certains d'entre eux n'étaient pas l'aise de compter sur elle pour du soutien alors qu'elle faisait face à la grossesse et au nouveau parentage. Cette étude a trouvé que les pères avaient tendance à se voir dans un rôle traditionnel de père pourvoyeur et de soutien pour leur famille et cela déclenchait des stress pour l'équilibre travail-vie de faille, et un dilemme s'est avéré être qu'ils se sentaient incapables de chercher du soutien émotionnel auprès de leur partenaire sur qui ils compteraient typiquement. Ces résultats ont des implications importantes pour le bien-être des pères et la création de programmes de soutien aux nouveaux pères.

A trans-theoretical training designed to promote understanding and management of countertransference for trainee therapists.

OBJECTIVE: There is evidence that awareness of countertransference (CT) in combination with a conceptualization of CT facilitates its management. This study examines the impact of a trans-theoretical training designed to make the construct of CT accessible to trainee therapists in programs oriented towards cognitive-behavioral therapy. The training aimed to enhance trainees' awareness, understanding, and management of CT. METHOD: Academics at five New Zealand universities introduced the training into their curriculum. Five academics and 54 clinical psychology trainees evaluated it, responding to open-ended questions on the impact of the training on awareness, understanding, and management of CT. They also rated the training's effectiveness. RESULTS: The majority of trainees reported increased awareness and conceptualization of CT. They rated the training as useful for professional practice and reported increased commitment to monitoring CT. Academics also observed trainees' increased awareness and understanding of CT and openness to discussing it. Trainees and academics were less confident in trainees' abilities to manage CT in clinical practice, although trainees reported gains in this area. CONCLUSIONS: The training appeared to enhance awareness and conceptualization of CT, processes that support its management. However, future research into training models needs to examine the impact on CT management in clinical practice.

Psychosocial needs of parents and children accessing hospital outpatient paediatric services in New Zealand.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to examine the psychological and psychosocial service needs of parents and children in a New Zealand hospital paediatric outpatient clinic. METHOD: Parents (n = 152), children and adolescents aged 0-16 years with a range of illness types and severities completed self-reports of depression, anxiety, stress and quality of life, and rated their child's emotional, behavioural and social problems. Paediatricians rated children's health, medical adherence and the families' need for psychosocial support. RESULTS: One hundred fifty-two parents completed the questionnaire. Parents' stress levels were significantly higher than those in a normative population. Children's levels of emotional, behavioural and social problems were significantly elevated. Paediatricians perceived that a large proportion of families could benefit from psychosocial intervention, and the majority of families were interested in paediatric psychological services. CONCLUSIONS: Parents and children coping with mild or short-term childhood illnesses may experience significantly elevated levels of psychological distress and dysfunction, as do those with chronic or life-threatening illnesses. While families report high levels of interest in receiving paediatric psychology services, the majority has not received psychological support.