Fathers and sleep: Formative intervention research

August 2019
Staff: 

NDRI
Associate Professor Nyanda McBride (Lead Investigator)

Other investigators: 

Professor Sarah Blunden, Central Queensland University
Dr Eileen Dowse, University of Newcastle
Dr Dawson Cooke, Curtin University
Associate Professor Richard Fletcher, University of Newcastle
Dr Tess Knight, Cairnmillar Institute
Jacqueline Walker. Tresillian Family Care Centre
Natalie Pierssene, Darling Downs Health
Sherrian Price, Tresillian Family Care Centre
Nicole Stephenson, Darling Downs Health
Dr Elaine Bennett, Ngala
Dr Greg Fairbrother, Sydney Local Health District

Project description: 

The Australian Fatherhood Research Consortium (AFRC) exists to: 1. Advance the science of fatherhood; 2. Inform practice and policy that supports men and their families; 3. Promote healthy inclusion of fathers in family life.

The Intervention Group is one of four arms of the AFRC and aims to conduct intervention research that will eventually lead to the development of evidence-based interventions to reduce the impact of sleep deprivation/disturbances on family functioning.

This study will conduct formative research to identify intervention delivery methods, components and strategies around fathers sleep, mental health and family functioning in families with an infant between the ages of 6-36 months with an identified night time sleep problem. The objectives of the study are:

  • To conduct focus groups with fathers of children aged 6-36 months whose night time sleep is identified as problematic, to ascertain fathers perspectives on delivery, strategies and components of public health interventions;
  • To conduct an online survey with mothers (with children aged 6-36 months whose night time sleep is problematic) to identify mothers perspective on delivery, strategies and components they think should be included in a fathers intervention, to improve fathers sleep, mental health and family functioning;
  • To develop and pilot intervention strategies for fathers of children aged 6-36 months whose night time sleep is identified as problematic.