Enhancing Paternal Support: A Concept Analysis of Social Support for First-Time Fathers

Introduction. Social support, as a multidimensional concept, is studied across disciplines. However, examining the concept in relation to first-time fathers in the perinatal period remains an underexplored avenue. This analysis aims to clarify what social support for first-time fathers means through an operational definition that will assist healthcare providers in supporting fathers as valuable assets to the wellbeing of their partners and children. Design. Walker and Avant's concept analysis approach is used to identify the attributes, antecedents, and consequences of social support for first-time fathers during the perinatal period. Data Source. A thorough title and abstract review led to the analysis of 41 articles from databases, including MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, the Social Sciences Citation Index, and Embase databases from 1970 to 2022. Results. Social support for first-time fathers can be described as a relational strategy and supportive intervention from both informal and formal sources. This concept analysis broadens the meaning of social support by considering structural and functional attributes. It offers fresh insights into how support can be coordinated across microsystems and macrosystems to address the distinctive requirements of current-day fathers within the intricate family dynamics. Furthermore, gender, cultural, and generational differences affect the preferences and needs of fathers, as well as their ability to support their partners and infants. Fathers preferred emotional support from their partners and sought informational and appraisal support from healthcare professionals. In addition, supportive relationships are characterized by proximity, reciprocity, congruency, and continuity during the perinatal period. Conclusion. Conceptualizing social support encompasses both upstream and downstream approaches across structures and systems to support fathers. Support for first-time fathers includes developing father-specific approaches to perinatal nursing care and practice. Social support carries implications for fostering socially inclusive policies, interdisciplinary curriculum integration, advocacy, and research aimed at improving paternal mental health and perinatal wellbeing.