Eni Rindi Antika, Abi Fa'izzarahman Prabawa, Jasmine Aulia Ivani
Fathers of infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) frequently experience emotional exclusion, psychological strain, and pressure to suppress distress despite the widespread adoption of family-centred care models. While existing literature highlights the importance of father involvement, structured approaches to supporting paternal emotional regulation remain limited in routine neonatal practice. This correspondence proposes the integration of self-compassion principles and brief compassion-informed mind skills training as a practical and scalable framework to enhance father-inclusive care. Drawing on evidence from paternal mental health research and compassion-based regulatory models, we outline how neonatal nurses can incorporate micro-interventions into everyday clinical interactions. These skills can strengthen paternal emotional resilience, support parent–infant bonding, and promote healthier family adjustment without requiring intensive psychological services. Embedding self-compassion-informed strategies into neonatal nurse education and practice may represent a feasible step toward more comprehensive father-inclusive neonatal care. © 2026 Neonatal Nurses Association.
Guidance and Counseling Study Program, Faculty of Science Education and Psychology, Universitas Negeri Semarang, Indonesia; Islamic Education Guidance and Counseling Study Program, Faculty of Education and Teacher Training, Universitas Islam Negeri (UIN) Salatiga, Indonesia; Medical Education Program, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Jember, Indonesia
