“I Know That It's Something That's Creating a Bond”: Fathers' Experiences of Participating in Baby Theater With Their Infants in South Africa
In many African countries, particularly those with largely patriarchal societies like South Africa, promoting father-child interaction can pose a challenge. An informative medium that could potentially encourage active participation in pleasurable interactions between fathers and babies may prove to...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2020-11-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.580038/full |
| _version_ | 1818529034674372608 |
|---|---|
| author | Brenda Cowley Anusha Lachman Elvin Williams Astrid Berg Astrid Berg |
| author_facet | Brenda Cowley Anusha Lachman Elvin Williams Astrid Berg Astrid Berg |
| author_sort | Brenda Cowley |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In many African countries, particularly those with largely patriarchal societies like South Africa, promoting father-child interaction can pose a challenge. An informative medium that could potentially encourage active participation in pleasurable interactions between fathers and babies may prove to be an important way in which to stimulate fathers' awareness of their infants' abilities. A Cape Town based theater company created the first ever South African baby play for care-givers and their babies between the ages of 2 weeks to 12 months. The play is performed in a contained, relaxing space and offers carers and babies time to relate to each other in a pleasurable atmosphere, while specially trained actors model sensitive and responsive interactions. Baby Theater could be a way to encourage fathers' involvement with their infants, however, no research is currently available documenting fathers' perceptions about Baby Theater experience.Aim: To explore fathers' experience of participating in Baby Theater.Method: This qualitative study involved six fathers who, with their infants, participated in the Baby Theater production. A week later the fathers were divided into two focus groups to give them the opportunity to discuss their thoughts about the experience and to reflect on whether it had any subsequent impact on their interactions with their babies. The audiotaped, transcribed material was thematically analyzed using an interpretative phenomenological approach.Results: The fathers described the experience as educative and enjoyable. They reported that the program had a positive impact on the way they interacted with their infants and also positively influenced their relationship with them. Additionally, they reported feeling more confident about coping with their babies on their own, and appreciated the connection with the other fathers in the group. Cultural, societal, and gender issues were also considered.Conclusions: The subjective experience of the fathers was positive. Further research is needed to assess the lasting effects of the Baby Theater experience. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T06:57:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2894ffe64b92461499a0acb7516ddbd0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-0640 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T06:57:51Z |
| publishDate | 2020-11-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj.art-2894ffe64b92461499a0acb7516ddbd02022-12-22T01:16:41ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychiatry1664-06402020-11-011110.3389/fpsyt.2020.580038580038“I Know That It's Something That's Creating a Bond”: Fathers' Experiences of Participating in Baby Theater With Their Infants in South AfricaBrenda Cowley0Anusha Lachman1Elvin Williams2Astrid Berg3Astrid Berg4Department of Psychiatry, University of Stellenbosch, Cape Town, South AfricaDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Stellenbosch, Cape Town, South AfricaDepartment of Occupational Therapy, University of Stellenbosch, Cape Town, South AfricaDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Stellenbosch, Cape Town, South AfricaDivision of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South AfricaIn many African countries, particularly those with largely patriarchal societies like South Africa, promoting father-child interaction can pose a challenge. An informative medium that could potentially encourage active participation in pleasurable interactions between fathers and babies may prove to be an important way in which to stimulate fathers' awareness of their infants' abilities. A Cape Town based theater company created the first ever South African baby play for care-givers and their babies between the ages of 2 weeks to 12 months. The play is performed in a contained, relaxing space and offers carers and babies time to relate to each other in a pleasurable atmosphere, while specially trained actors model sensitive and responsive interactions. Baby Theater could be a way to encourage fathers' involvement with their infants, however, no research is currently available documenting fathers' perceptions about Baby Theater experience.Aim: To explore fathers' experience of participating in Baby Theater.Method: This qualitative study involved six fathers who, with their infants, participated in the Baby Theater production. A week later the fathers were divided into two focus groups to give them the opportunity to discuss their thoughts about the experience and to reflect on whether it had any subsequent impact on their interactions with their babies. The audiotaped, transcribed material was thematically analyzed using an interpretative phenomenological approach.Results: The fathers described the experience as educative and enjoyable. They reported that the program had a positive impact on the way they interacted with their infants and also positively influenced their relationship with them. Additionally, they reported feeling more confident about coping with their babies on their own, and appreciated the connection with the other fathers in the group. Cultural, societal, and gender issues were also considered.Conclusions: The subjective experience of the fathers was positive. Further research is needed to assess the lasting effects of the Baby Theater experience.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.580038/fullfather-infant interactioninvolvementfather's experienceSouth AfricaBaby Theater |
| spellingShingle | Brenda Cowley Anusha Lachman Elvin Williams Astrid Berg Astrid Berg “I Know That It's Something That's Creating a Bond”: Fathers' Experiences of Participating in Baby Theater With Their Infants in South Africa Frontiers in Psychiatry father-infant interaction involvement father's experience South Africa Baby Theater |
| title | “I Know That It's Something That's Creating a Bond”: Fathers' Experiences of Participating in Baby Theater With Their Infants in South Africa |
| title_full | “I Know That It's Something That's Creating a Bond”: Fathers' Experiences of Participating in Baby Theater With Their Infants in South Africa |
| title_fullStr | “I Know That It's Something That's Creating a Bond”: Fathers' Experiences of Participating in Baby Theater With Their Infants in South Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | “I Know That It's Something That's Creating a Bond”: Fathers' Experiences of Participating in Baby Theater With Their Infants in South Africa |
| title_short | “I Know That It's Something That's Creating a Bond”: Fathers' Experiences of Participating in Baby Theater With Their Infants in South Africa |
| title_sort | i know that it s something that s creating a bond fathers experiences of participating in baby theater with their infants in south africa |
| topic | father-infant interaction involvement father's experience South Africa Baby Theater |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.580038/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT brendacowley iknowthatitssomethingthatscreatingabondfathersexperiencesofparticipatinginbabytheaterwiththeirinfantsinsouthafrica AT anushalachman iknowthatitssomethingthatscreatingabondfathersexperiencesofparticipatinginbabytheaterwiththeirinfantsinsouthafrica AT elvinwilliams iknowthatitssomethingthatscreatingabondfathersexperiencesofparticipatinginbabytheaterwiththeirinfantsinsouthafrica AT astridberg iknowthatitssomethingthatscreatingabondfathersexperiencesofparticipatinginbabytheaterwiththeirinfantsinsouthafrica AT astridberg iknowthatitssomethingthatscreatingabondfathersexperiencesofparticipatinginbabytheaterwiththeirinfantsinsouthafrica |