Paternal Involvement and Postpartum Fatigue: The Mediation Role of Perceived Maternal Parenting Self-Efficacy.
- 1Department of Maternity Ward, Jiangyin People's Hospital, Jiangyin, Jiangsu, China.
- 2School of Nursing, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China.
- 3Nursing Department, Jiangyin People's Hospital, Jiangyin, Jiangsu, China.
Abstract
Aims
Perceived maternal parenting self-efficacy is negatively correlated with postpartum fatigue, and paternal involvement is positively correlated with perceived maternal parenting self-efficacy. However, studies examining whether perceived maternal parenting self-efficacy exhibits a statistical mediating association between paternal involvement and postpartum fatigue are scarce. This study aimed to construct structural equation models to examine whether perceived maternal parenting self-efficacy shows a statistical mediating association in the hypothesized relationship between paternal involvement and postpartum fatigue.Design
A cross-sectional correlational research design was adopted.Methods
Mediation analysis was performed by structural equation modelling. Indirect effects were evaluated through bootstrapping.Data sources
A convenience sample of 584 women who attended routine 6-week postpartum follow-up was recruited from obstetric outpatient departments at two tertiary hospitals in Yangzhou, China. From September to December 2025, data were collected through a self-report questionnaire.Results
Paternal involvement was positively correlated with perceived maternal parenting self-efficacy. In addition, paternal involvement and perceived maternal parenting self-efficacy were negatively correlated with postpartum fatigue. Within the hypothesized mediation model, findings were consistent with partial statistical mediation: perceived maternal parenting self-efficacy was associated with an indirect statistical association linking paternal involvement to postpartum fatigue. This indirect statistical association accounted for 33.33% of the total statistical association.Conclusions
Paternal involvement showed not only a direct negative statistical association with postpartum fatigue, but also an indirect statistical association with postpartum fatigue via perceived maternal parenting self-efficacy, consistent with the hypothesized model.Implications for the profession
These findings provide empirical observational evidence for obstetric nursing practice and highlight the value of incorporating paternal involvement into family-centred postpartum care strategies. Targeted interventions designed to promote paternal involvement and perceived maternal parenting self-efficacy may help improve the physical and mental well-being of postpartum women; future longitudinal and intervention studies are required to verify their actual effectiveness.Reporting method
This cross-sectional observational study was reported following the STROBE reporting guideline.Patient or public contribution
No Patient or Public Contribution. Participants only took part in this study by completing self-reported questionnaires; patients or the public were not involved in the design, conduct, reporting or dissemination plans of our research.
Related
- Marital satisfaction and parent-reported emotional competence in Chinese preschoolers: serial indirect associations through mindful parenting and parental involvement
- The association between family support and maternal parenting stress: the potential mediating role of postpartum depressive symptoms.
- The relationship between parenting styles and emotional competence in Chinese young children: a moderated mediation model
- Perceived changes in mothers’ outcomes following a pilot parenting program for couples with young children in Mwanza, Tanzania: A longitudinal qualitative study
- The relationship between proactive health management, perceived social support, and symptoms in perimenopausal women: a latent profile and mediation analysis
BibTeX
@article{chen2026paternal,
title = {{Paternal Involvement and Postpartum Fatigue: The Mediation Role of Perceived Maternal Parenting Self-Efficacy.}},
author = {Rong Chen and Yuexia Liao and Xiaoyan Yao and Lili Bao and Jinghua Yang and Yanhua Miao},
journal = {Nursing open},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1002/nop2.70945},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42910437},
note = {CC BY-NC},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Paternal Involvement and Postpartum Fatigue: The Mediation Role of Perceived Maternal Parenting Self-Efficacy.
AU - Rong Chen
AU - Yuexia Liao
AU - Xiaoyan Yao
AU - Lili Bao
AU - Jinghua Yang
AU - Yanhua Miao
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/01
JO - Nursing open
DO - 10.1002/nop2.70945
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42910437
AB - Aims Perceived maternal parenting self-efficacy is negatively correlated with postpartum fatigue, and paternal involvement is positively correlated with perceived maternal parenting self-efficacy. However, studies examining whether perceived maternal parenting self-efficacy exhibits a statistical mediating association between paternal involvement and postpartum fatigue are scarce. This study aimed to construct structural equation models to examine whether perceived maternal parenting self-efficacy shows a statistical mediating association in the hypothesized relationship between paternal involvement and postpartum fatigue.Design A cross-sectional correlational research design was adopted.Methods Mediation analysis was performed by structural equation modelling. Indirect effects were evaluated through bootstrapping.Data sources A convenience sample of 584 women who attended routine 6-week postpartum follow-up was recruited from obstetric outpatient departments at two tertiary hospitals in Yangzhou, China. From September to December 2025, data were collected through a self-report questionnaire.Results Paternal involvement was positively correlated with perceived maternal parenting self-efficacy. In addition, paternal involvement and perceived maternal parenting self-efficacy were negatively correlated with postpartum fatigue. Within the hypothesized mediation model, findings were consistent with partial statistical mediation: perceived maternal parenting self-efficacy was associated with an indirect statistical association linking paternal involvement to postpartum fatigue. This indirect statistical association accounted for 33.33% of the total statistical association.Conclusions Paternal involvement showed not only a direct negative statistical association with postpartum fatigue, but also an indirect statistical association with postpartum fatigue via perceived maternal parenting self-efficacy, consistent with the hypothesized model.Implications for the profession These findings provide empirical observational evidence for obstetric nursing practice and highlight the value of incorporating paternal involvement into family-centred postpartum care strategies. Targeted interventions designed to promote paternal involvement and perceived maternal parenting self-efficacy may help improve the physical and mental well-being of postpartum women; future longitudinal and intervention studies are required to verify their actual effectiveness.Reporting method This cross-sectional observational study was reported following the STROBE reporting guideline.Patient or public contribution No Patient or Public Contribution. Participants only took part in this study by completing self-reported questionnaires; patients or the public were not involved in the design, conduct, reporting or dissemination plans of our research.
SN - 2054-1058
ER -