Psychometric Properties of the Paternal Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale–Short Form Among Brazilian Fathers During the Immediate Postpartum Period

The dataset includes anonymized sociodemographic variables, paternal cohabitation status, paternal and maternal breastfeeding self-efficacy scores, item-level responses to the paternal BSES-SF, and prospective breastfeeding outcomes, including exclusive breastfeeding at 1 month and duration of exclusive breastfeeding. Data collection occurred between November 2024 and September 2025 through in-person baseline assessments and monthly follow-up via WhatsApp messaging.

The data demonstrated that paternal self-efficacy scores presented limited variability and ceiling effects during the immediate postpartum period. Internal consistency was slightly below commonly recommended thresholds when estimated using Cronbach’s alpha, although omega coefficients suggested moderate reliability. Confirmatory factor analysis supported a unidimensional structure with partial model fit.

Paternal self-efficacy was moderately associated with maternal self-efficacy but was not significantly associated with exclusive breastfeeding outcomes. Additional exploratory analyses suggested differences in internal consistency according to paternal cohabitation status, with higher reliability observed among cohabiting fathers. These findings suggest that timing of assessment and contextual factors may substantially influence how paternal breastfeeding self-efficacy is expressed and measured during the early postpartum period.

The dataset may be useful for researchers interested in breastfeeding self-efficacy, paternal involvement in breastfeeding, psychometric validation studies, postpartum family dynamics, and contextual influences on health behavior measures. The data may also support secondary analyses, methodological comparisons, and cross-cultural psychometric research.