Abstract:

Preterm birth is a major public health challenge that affects children’ s survival and development as well as endangers parents’ mental health. Premature infants require admission to the neonatal intensive care unit （NICU） for treatment due to immature development. The consequent parent-child separation can easily lead to delayed or even impaired parent-child bonding，which poses a potential threat to the self-development of premature infants，parents’ mental health and overall family function. However，most of the existing studies have focused on maternal-infant bonding，the key role of fathers in the establishment of parent-child relationships has long been neglected. This article reviews the establishment process and positive effects，assessment tools，multi-dimensional influencing factors and targeted interventions of father-preterm infant bonding，and puts forward the insights and recommendations，aiming to provide theoretical basis and practical guidance for early identification and intervention of father-preterm infant bonding disorders.

Key words: Infant, Premature, Intensive Care Units, Neonatal, Fathers, Parent-Child Bonding, Pediatric Nursing, Review