Adolescent fathers: an approach for intervention

Many myths exist concerning the needs and problems confronting adolescent fathers. Research on adolescent pregnancy has proliferated in the last decade. We now have a substantial body of empirically-based findings in this area. Unfortunately, few substantive findings are available on adolescent fathers, yet the magnitude of this problem has reached epidemic proportion. This article will provide an overview of current research on adolescent fathers and their needs and offer suggestions for appropriate intervention.An overview of current findings on and suggestions for appropriate intervention for adolescent fathers are discussed. Topics are identified as follows: adolescent pregnancy and demographic factors; adolescent fathers and sexuality ad contraception, attitudes toward abortion, psychological correlates, the role of and commitments and concerns, competency in parenting, infant development, problems, and needs; and needs for research and services. Adolescent fathers are trapped by low levels of educational attainment and family instability. Judgmental behavior of families, schools, and providers is a further hindrance. Minorities are prominently involved and their futures are not promising. In order to strengthen the role and position of minority men within the family, the community, and society, strategies need to be developed that must involve family members, peers, health care services, schools, and organizations such as the Urban League, Planned Parenthood, and churches. Important components of programs are the teaching and modeling of responsibility along with sustaining group identity. Research needs to be conducted to go beyond the limitations of prior studies which 1) are based on small, biased samples recruited through pregnant or parenting females, 2) are cross-sectional observations of social and psychological factors of only teen fathers in a crisis situation, and 3) lack standardized measurement of the social and behavioral characteristics. Suggested future research should emphasize studies 1) with a longitudinal format and adequate samples that have predictive value; 2) of sexual attitudes, contraceptive knowledge, and behavior; 3) of adolescent couples and contraceptive intentions; 4) of gender differences in parenting and responsibility; 5) of what constitutes competent functioning for the teenage male; 6) of the role and influence of parents in the adolescent decision to continue or not to continue the pregnancy; and 7) of the nature and extent of father and infant play which facilitates infant development. Since males receive most of their sexual and contraceptive information from schools and the media, schools adopt curricula on family planning and sexuality. comprehensive health care services and evaluation should be provided by schools in a manner that supports abstention and contraception. Service programs need to involve males in prenatal and parenting classes, and maternity wards must meet adolescent fathers' needs in basic caretaking. Infant development and caretaking training classes in some school or other location need to involve adolescent males. Paternity leave is a must.