Fathers in two-parent families are becoming increasingly involved in infant care, highlighting the need to understand the determinants and influence of father-infant interactions. Paternal responsiveness is a core component of positive father-infant interactions. This study investigated associations between paternal responsiveness and infant development; and paternal low mood and paternal responsiveness. Participants were a sub-sample of father-infant dyads (n=47) from a UK community cohort study: The Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children. The Mellow Parenting Coding System was used to measure paternal responsiveness within a video-recorded father-infant interaction at 12 months. Infant development was assessed using the Griffiths scales at 18 months and paternal low mood was measured using the Edinburgh Post-Natal Depression Scale (EPDS) at 8 months. Linear regression analysis provided no evidence for an association between paternal responsiveness and infant development. Due to methodological limitations it is unclear whether this reflects a true null relationship. Unexpectedly, lower paternal mood (indicated by higher scores on the EPDS), was found to be associated with greater paternal responsiveness. For every standard deviation increase in EPDS score, fathers displayed approximately two additional responsiveness behaviours per minute in the observed interaction; this corresponds to a standardised effect size of 0.32 standard deviations. The mechanisms for this association are unclear, but possibilities are discussed. The finding requires replication within larger studies, but clinicians may wish to consider that fathers who achieve very low scores on measures of depressed mood may be at risk for low paternal responsiveness.

Bakgrund: Äldre är en växande befolkningsgrupp globalt och sjuksköterskors möte med äldre sker mer eller mindre överallt inom hälso- och sjukvården. Denna patientgrupp lider i många fall av multisjuklighet med fokus på fysiska symtom, därav kan det vara svårt för vårdpersonal att tolka symtom på depressivitet. Syfte: Att beskriva sjuksköterskors uppfattningar och erfarenheter av att identifiera depressiva symptom hos äldre personer. Metod: Allmän litteraturstudie med kvalitativ ansats baserat på åtta vetenskapliga artiklar vilka har analyserats med tematisk analys. Resultat: Två teman utvecklades med fyra underteman. ”En känsla av att vilja men inte kunna” – med underteman ”att sakna rätt förutsättningar” och ”att ha svårigheter att upptäcka symtom”; samt ”en vilja att förstå personen bakom patienten” – med underteman ”att skapa en trygg vårdrelation” och ”att skapa sig en helhetsbild”. Slutsats: Komplexiteten det innebär i vårdmötet för att identifiera depressiva symtom ställer krav på ett öppet förhållningssätt hos både den äldre och sjuksköterskan. Med kontinuitet, tid och lyhört lyssnande kan en trygg vårdrelation byggas, vilket är en förutsättning för att identifiera depressiva symtom. Att ta vara på tiden i alla omvårdnadssammanhang är en väg framåt. / Background: Older people are a growing population globally, which nurses encounter in almost all parts of the healthcare system. This patient group often suffers from multimorbidity with predominantly physical symptoms, which can make it more difficult for healthcare professionals to interpret symptoms of depression. Aim: To describe nurses’ perceptions and experiences of identifying depressive symptoms in older people. Method: A literature review with a qualitative approach based on eight scientific articles, which have been analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: Two themes were developed with four subthemes. “A feeling of wanting to help but not being able to” – with subthemes “to lack the right conditions” and “to have difficulty detecting symptoms”; and “a desire to understand the person behind the patient” – with subthemes “to create a safe caring relationship” and “to create an overall picture”. Conclusion: The complexity involved in identifying depressive symptoms requires an open approach from both patient and nurse. With continuity, time and attentive listening, a safe caring relationship can be established, which is a prerequisite for identifying depressive symptoms. Making use of the time at hand in all nursing contexts is a way forward.