Becoming Acquainted Through Touch: A Metaphorical Study of Fathers Meeting Their Newborns in the First 48 Hours

Cyprus Turkish Journal of Psychiatry & Psychology, Early View

Published Online: 29 July 2026, Doi:10.35365/ctjpp.26.3.17

RESEARCH ARTICLE / ARAŞTIRMA YAZISI

Becoming Acquainted Through Touch: A Metaphorical Study of Fathers Meeting Their Newborns in the First 48 Hours

Dokunarak Tanışma: Babaların Yenidoğan Bebekleriyle İlk 48 Saatte Tanışmalarının Metaforik Bir Çalışması

Yasemin Yücel¹ , Emine Kılıç Doğan² , Özgür Alparslan²

Abstract:

The aim of this study is to investigate, through metaphors, the perceptions of fathers who meet their babies by holding their hands within the first 48 hours after birth. The sample for this qualitative study, designed using a phenomenological approach, consists of 39 fathers who saw their babies within the first 48 hours after birth and held them in their arms. In the study, the “Personal Information Form” and “Metaphorical Perception Form,” developed by the researchers following a literature review, were used as data-collection tools, and data were collected through face-to-face interviews. Participants were asked to complete the statement “Holding my baby’s hand is like meeting them because…” to determine their metaphorical perceptions. Content analysis of the metaphorical data was conducted using MAXQDA 2022, while frequency and percentage analyses of the demographic data were conducted using SPSS 22.0. The average age of fathers participating in the study was 31.71±3.7. It was found that 43.6% were happy to have a baby, and 28.2% felt excited when they first held their baby’s hands. The study determined that 39 fathers produced 35 different metaphors, grouped into five categories: “Power, Source of Life, Happiness/Peace, Anxiety, and Eternity.” The findings show that most fathers have positive perceptions after holding their babies’ hands and meeting them for the first time, but some also experience negative feelings. The study suggests that early interaction between fathers and newborn babies can strengthen the father-baby bond.

Keywords: Father, Attachment, Metaphor, Newborn.

^*The research was conducted as part of the doctoral thesis of the first-named researcher. This research was presented as an oral presentation at the 10th International 14th National Midwifery Students Congress.

¹Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University, Graduate Education Institute, Department of Midwifery/ Sinop University Faculty of Health Sciences, Midwifery Department.

²Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University Faculty of Health Sciences, Midwifery Department.

Address of Correspondence/Yazışma Adresi: Yasemin Yücel, Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University, Graduate Education Institute, Department of Midwifery/ Sinop University Faculty of Health Sciences, Midwifery Department, E-mail: [email protected].

Date of Received/Geliş Tarihi: 21.10.2025, Date of Revision/Düzeltme Tarihi: 11.03.2026, Date of Acceptance/Kabul Tarihi: 19.03.2026, Date of Online Publication/Çevrimiçi Yayın Tarihi: 03.08.2026

Citing/Referans Gösterimi: Yücel, Y., Kılıç, E.D. & Alparslan, Ö. (2026). Becoming acquainted through touch: A metaphorical study of fathers meeting their newborns in the first 48 hours. Cyprus Turkish Journal of Psychiatry & Psychology, 1-8. https://doi.org/10.35365/ctjpp. 26.3.17

© 2026 The Author(s). Published by Cyprus Mental Health Institute / Cyprus Turkish Journal of Psychiatry and Psychology (www.ktppdergisi.com). This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited and is not used for commercial purposes. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/