Predictors of Fathers' Worry about High Risk Pregnancies of their Wives: A Path Analysis

Background: Recognizing the predictors of fathers' worries about maternal health, maternity, pregnancy, infant health and personal-familial issues is the first step in counseling them. The present study aimed to determine the predictors of fathers' worries about high-risk pregnancies of their wife. Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted on 294 eligible fathers from four health centers and a hospital in Gorgan, Iran. Data collection tools included a checklist of demographic and midwifery characteristics, the psychological symptoms checklist (SCL-25), mothers' and fathers' worry questionnaire, and a social-familial support scale. Data were analyzed by SPSS and LISREL 8.8 full version. Results: According to the results of path analysis, the mothers' worry (B= 0.31, p=4.78) among the related variables in both paths, had the highest positive association to the fathers' worry. The maternal mental health indirectly had the most positive association (B=0.12, p=3/48) and duration of marriage indirectly had the most negative association with fathers' worry (B=-0.22, p=-3.14). In a direct path, the fathers' mental health was positively related to the fathers' worry (B=0.3, p=0.000). Conclusion: Mothers' worry, fathers' mental health, duration of marriage, and maternal mental health had the highest association with fathers' worry. The father's worry was both directly and indirectly related to the mother's worry through association with maternal mental health. According to the findings, it is important to pay attention to supportive and counseling programs for fathers.