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JBI Database of Systematic Reviews and... Nov 2018The aim of this systematic review was to identify and synthesize the best available evidence on first time fathers' experiences and needs in relation to their mental...
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this systematic review was to identify and synthesize the best available evidence on first time fathers' experiences and needs in relation to their mental health and wellbeing during their transition to fatherhood.
INTRODUCTION
Men's mental health and wellbeing during their transition to fatherhood is an important public health issue that is currently under-researched from a qualitative perspective and poorly understood.
INCLUSION CRITERIA
Resident first time fathers (biological and non-biological) of healthy babies born with no identified terminal or long-term conditions were included. The phenomena of interest were their experiences and needs in relation to mental health and wellbeing during their transition to fatherhood, from commencement of pregnancy until one year after birth. Studies based on qualitative data, including, but not limited to, designs within phenomenology, grounded theory, ethnography and action research were included.
METHODS
A three-step search strategy was used. The search strategy explored published and unpublished qualitative studies from 1960 to September 2017. All included studies were assessed by two independent reviewers and any disagreements were resolved by consensus or with a third reviewer. The recommended Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) approach to critical appraisal, study selection, data extraction and data synthesis was used.
RESULTS
Twenty-two studies met the eligibility criteria and were included in the review, which were then assessed to be of moderate to high quality (scores 5-10) based on the JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist for Qualitative Research. The studies were published between 1990 and 2017, and all used qualitative methodologies to accomplish the overall aim of investigating the experiences of expectant or new fathers. Nine studies were from the UK, three from Sweden, three from Australia, two from Canada, two from the USA, one from Japan, one from Taiwan and one from Singapore. The total number of first time fathers included in the studies was 351. One hundred and forty-four findings were extracted from the included studies. Of these, 142 supported findings were aggregated into 23 categories and seven synthesized findings: 1) New fatherhood identity, 2) Competing challenges of new fatherhood, 3) Negative feelings and fears, 4) Stress and coping, 5) Lack of support, 6) What new fathers want, and 7) Positive aspects of fatherhood.
CONCLUSIONS
Based on the synthesized findings, three main factors that affect first time fathers' mental health and wellbeing during their transition to fatherhood were identified: the formation of the fatherhood identity, competing challenges of the new fatherhood role and negative feelings and fears relating to it. The role restrictions and changes in lifestyle often resulted in feelings of stress, for which fathers used denial or escape activities, such as smoking, working longer hours or listening to music, as coping techniques. Fathers wanted more guidance and support around the preparation for fatherhood, and partner relationship changes. Barriers to accessing support included lack of tailored information resources and acknowledgment from health professionals. Better preparation for fatherhood, and support for couple relationships during the transition to parenthood could facilitate better experiences for new fathers, and contribute to better adjustments and mental wellbeing in new fathers.
Topics: Adaptation, Psychological; Adult; Birth Order; Fathers; Health Services Accessibility; Humans; Male; Mental Health; Mental Health Services; Parenting; Qualitative Research
PubMed: 30289768
DOI: 10.11124/JBISRIR-2017-003773 -
Scientific Reports Nov 2021Birth order is a crucial environmental factor for child development. For example, later-born children are relatively unlikely to feel secure due to sibling competition...
Birth order is a crucial environmental factor for child development. For example, later-born children are relatively unlikely to feel secure due to sibling competition or diluted parental resources. The positive effect of being earlier-born on cognitive intelligence is well-established. However, whether birth order is linked to social behavior remains controversial, and the neural correlates of birth order effects in adolescence when social cognition develops remain unknown. Here, we explored the birth order effect on prosociality using a large-scale population-based adolescent cohort. Next, since the amygdala is a key region for sociality and environmental stress, we examined amygdala substrates of the association between birth order and prosociality using a subset neuroimaging cohort. We found enhanced prosociality in later-born adolescents (N = 3160), and observed the mediating role of larger amygdala volume (N = 208) and amygdala-prefrontal functional connectivity with sex-selective effects (N = 183). We found that birth order, a non-genetic environmental factor, affects adolescent social development via different neural substrates. Our findings may indicate the later-born people's adaptive survival strategy in stressful environments.
Topics: Altruism; Amygdala; Birth Order; Brain; Child; Emotional Intelligence; Female; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Neuroimaging
PubMed: 34750406
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-01146-0 -
Scientific Reports Aug 2022Pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a significant problem of public health importance worldwide. Large population-based studies on the effect of birth order on...
Pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a significant problem of public health importance worldwide. Large population-based studies on the effect of birth order on health phenomena are exceedingly rare. This study examines the relationship between birth order and risk for pediatric TBI among sibling groups. We performed a retrospective cohort study following 59,469 Finnish newborns from 1987 until age 18 years. Data on first diagnosis of TBI was recorded within the 1987 Finnish Birth Cohort (FBC). Compared with first born siblings, later born siblings had an increased risk of TBI during the follow-up period (hazard ratio [HR] 1.02; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.91-1.14 for second born, HR 1.09; 95% CI 0.95 1.26 for third born, HR 1.28; 95% CI 1.08-1.53 for fourth or higher). When adjusted for sex and maternal age at child's birth, HRs (95% CIs) for TBI during the follow-up period were 1.12 (0.99-1.26) for second born, 1.31 (1.12-1.53) for third born and 1.61 (1.33-1.95) for fourth born or higher children, respectively. Within this large register-based population-wide study, order of birth modified risk for pediatric TBI among sibling groups. Taken together, these study findings may serve to stimulate further inquiry into genetic, psychological, or psychosocial factors which underlie differences in risk and depth of effect within and between sibling groups.
Topics: Adolescent; Birth Order; Brain Injuries, Traumatic; Child; Cohort Studies; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors; Siblings
PubMed: 36002560
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-18742-3 -
Economics and Human Biology Apr 2023This paper re-enters the contested discussion surrounding the Indian Enigma, the high prevalence of chronic undernutrition in India relative to sub-Saharan Africa....
This paper re-enters the contested discussion surrounding the Indian Enigma, the high prevalence of chronic undernutrition in India relative to sub-Saharan Africa. Jayachandran & Pande (JP) argue that the key to the Indian Enigma lies in the worse treatment of higher birth order children, particularly girls. Analyzing new data, and taking into account issues relating to robustness to model specification, weighting and existing critiques of JP., we find: (1) Parameter estimates are sensitive to sampling design and model specification; (2) The gap between the heights of pre-school African and Indian children is closing; (3) The gap does not appear to be driven by differential associations by birth order and child sex; (4) The remaining gap is associated with differences in maternal heights. If Indian women had the heights of their African counterparts, pre-school Indian children would be taller than pre-school African children; and (5) Once we account for survey design, sibling size and maternal height, the coefficient associated with being an Indian girl is no longer statistically significant.
Topics: Child; Humans; Child, Preschool; Female; Malnutrition; Africa South of the Sahara; Asian People; India
PubMed: 36889253
DOI: 10.1016/j.ehb.2023.101237 -
Frontiers in Psychology 2021
PubMed: 34497571
DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.742186 -
Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews Aug 2020Sex differences in brain and behavior of animals including humans result from an interaction between biological and environmental influences. This is also true for the... (Review)
Review
Sex differences in brain and behavior of animals including humans result from an interaction between biological and environmental influences. This is also true for the differences between men and women concerning sexual orientation. Sexual differentiation is mediated by three groups of biological mechanisms: early actions of sex steroids, more direct actions of sex-specific genes not mediated by gonadal sex steroids and epigenetic mechanisms. Differential interactions with parents and conspecifics have additionally long-term influences on behavior. This presentation reviews available evidence indicating that these different mechanisms play a significant role in the control of sexual partner preference in animals and humans, in other words the homosexual versus heterosexual orientation. Clinical and epidemiological studies of phenotypically selected populations indicate that early actions of hormones and genetic factors clearly contribute to the determination of sexual orientation. The maternal embryonic environment also modifies the incidence of male homosexuality via immunological mechanisms. The relative contribution of each of these mechanisms remains however to be determined.
Topics: Animals; Female; Gonadal Steroid Hormones; Homosexuality; Humans; Male; Sex Characteristics; Sexual Behavior; Sexual Partners
PubMed: 32450091
DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.03.024 -
Sex Education 2019This analysis set out to identify associations between birth order and sexual health outcomes, focusing on family involvement in sex education and early sexual...
This analysis set out to identify associations between birth order and sexual health outcomes, focusing on family involvement in sex education and early sexual experiences. The third National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles is a stratified probability sample survey of 15 162 men and women aged 16-74 in Britain. Logistic regression was conducted to identify odds ratios for the association between birth order and sexual health outcomes. Multiple logistic regression was performed adjusting for socio-demographic factors and sibling number. Middle-born and last-born men had lower odds of reporting ease talking to parents about sex around age 14 and learning about sex from their mothers. Last-born women had lower odds of reporting a parental main source of sex education or having learned about sex from their mother. Findings represent an exploratory analysis in an under-researched area, and provide the basis for further research on the association between birth order and parental involvement in sex education, as well as the role and impact of sex education provided by older siblings.
PubMed: 30828263
DOI: 10.1080/14681811.2018.1509305 -
Archives of Sexual Behavior Aug 2021Birth order may foster specific roles for individuals within the family and set in train a dynamic that influences the development of specific behaviors. In this paper,...
Birth order may foster specific roles for individuals within the family and set in train a dynamic that influences the development of specific behaviors. In this paper, we explored the relationship between birth order, sex, timing of sexual initiation, and its consequences for risky sexual behavior and sexual health. We conducted a path analysis to simultaneously estimate direct and indirect effects using data from the National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles (NATSAL-3). Whereas women born as only-children were more likely to sexually debut at later ages, middle-child boys were significantly more prone to initiate sexual intercourse earlier compared with first-borns. As expected, early sexual initiation was associated with riskier behaviors and sexual health outcomes. These associations were partially moderated by siblings role as confidants about sexuality. Our findings have implications for preventive programs aimed at promoting healthy sexual debuts and behaviors over the life span.
Topics: Adolescent; Adolescent Behavior; Birth Order; Female; Humans; Male; Risk-Taking; Sexual Behavior; Siblings
PubMed: 34417640
DOI: 10.1007/s10508-021-01979-w -
PloS One 2023In working ages, sickness absence is strongly related to persons' health condition. We studied how birth order was associated with receipt of sickness allowance,...
BACKGROUND
In working ages, sickness absence is strongly related to persons' health condition. We studied how birth order was associated with receipt of sickness allowance, distinguishing between mental disorders, musculoskeletal disorders and injuries.
METHODS
A follow-up study based on the entire Finnish population was conducted for sibling groups born 1969-1982, in which each sibling was observed from age 35 years in the period 2004-2018. Focus was on within-family variation in first-time sickness allowance receipt.
RESULTS
Results of stratified Cox regressions revealed that each increase in birth order was associated with a slightly higher risk of sickness absence from any cause. For mental disorders, associations were stronger; the hazard ratio as compared to first borns was 1.03 (95% CI: 0.98-1.08) of second borns, 1.10 (0.99-1.22) of third borns, and 1.52 (1.25-1.85) of fourth or higher borns. Corresponding numbers for musculoskeletal disorders were 1.12 (1.07-1.17), 1.19 (1.09-1.30) and 1.15 (0.96-1.38), and for injuries 1.06 (1.01-1.12), 1.09 (1.21-1.14) and 0.96 (0.77-1.20), respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
Birth order effects were generally stronger for women than men, and to some extent influenced by educational level, occupation, income, and family composition. Possible latent mechanisms behind the associations may relate to within-family dynamics at childhood.
Topics: Male; Humans; Female; Child; Adult; Follow-Up Studies; Finland; Birth Order; Income; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Sick Leave
PubMed: 36649355
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0280532 -
Journal of Epidemiology and Community... Jan 2021While literature has documented strong gradients in child maltreatment (CM) by socioeconomic status and family composition in the general population, how these patterns...
BACKGROUND
While literature has documented strong gradients in child maltreatment (CM) by socioeconomic status and family composition in the general population, how these patterns extend to immigrants remain inconclusive. Using population-based administrative data, we examined, for the first time, whether gradients in CM by neighbourhood income and childbirth order vary by immigrant status.
METHODS
We used linked hospitalisation, emergency department visits, small-area income, birth and death records with an official Canadian immigration database to create a retrospective cohort of all 1 240 874 children born from 2002 to 2012 in Ontario, Canada, followed from 0 to 5 years. We estimated rate ratios of CM among immigrants and non-immigrants using modified Poisson regression.
RESULTS
CM rates were 1.6 per 100 children among non-immigrants and 1.0 among immigrants. CM was positively associated with neighbourhood deprivation. The adjusted rate ratio (ARR) of CM in the lowest neighbourhood income quintile versus the highest quintile was 1.57 (95% CI 1.49 to 1.66) for non-immigrants and 1.33 (95% CI 1.15 to 1.54) for immigrants. The socioeconomic gradient disappeared when restricted to children of immigrant mothers arrived at 25+ years and in analyses excluding emergency department visits. Compared to a first child, the ARR of CM for a fourth or higher-order child was 1.75 (95% CI 1.63 to 1.89) among non-immigrants and 0.57 (95% CI 0.44 to 0.74) among immigrants.
CONCLUSIONS
Immigrants exhibited lower CM rates than non-immigrants across neighbourhood income quintiles and differences were greatest in more deprived neighbourhoods. The contrasting birth order gradients between immigrants and non-immigrants require further investigation.
Topics: Birth Order; Child; Child Abuse; Emigrants and Immigrants; Humans; Ontario; Poverty; Retrospective Studies
PubMed: 32938615
DOI: 10.1136/jech-2019-212759