National Center for Fathering

Gaining Knowledge About Teen Dads:
The Orlando Teen Fathering Project

The Community Foundation of Central Florida, Inc., and the National Center for Fathering (NCF) collaborated on a project in 1997 to identify the needs and attitudes of teen-age fathers. The project was a response to a grant from the Danforth Foundation to encourage local community initiatives to promote and encourage responsible fathering.

Following a literature review, NCF developed an assessment survey to obtain quantitative measures on the status of teen fathers. Based on existing data, NCF developed scales [sets of questions] in eight areas: Acquisition and development of parenting skills, Family of origin issues, Emotional maturity and bonding with the baby, Educational and job opportunities, Relationship with baby's mother/father, Family supports, Self-esteem and Legal and paternity issues (see appendix, Jan. 8, 1997 memo from Ken Canfield).

Diane Sandquist and Nancy Peed met with an advisory committee representing a number of Orlando-area agencies working in the field. The committee carefully evaluated each question. Questions were selected for each scale and the focus of some scales were refined. NCF proceeded to construct an initial draft from these recommendations. This draft was revised (see appendix, Young Parenting Survey - Draft I), and then tested by the NCF on teen-age parents in the Kansas City area. After further committee review, the final survey was pared to 32 questions (two of which, nos. 31 and 32, had a substantial number of sub-questions). The final survey instrument (See appendix, untitled survey instrument headed with "Directions" box) was condensed to fit on the back and front of a sheet of paper. The instrument focused on seven scales, as well as specific obstacles to a teen-age dad's involvement in his child's life and methods of discipline in his family of origin and a number of demographic variables. The seven scales were: Parent-child interaction, Family of origin feelings, Relationship to other parent, Extended family support, Parental feelings, Friends and support and rejection.

A pretest of the instrument (n = 87) showed the statistical reliability of each of these scales. Five of the seven scales had Cronbach's coefficient alphas of .81 or better (see appendix, Survey Scales). Only one (The "Social/Skill Support" scale at .7167) fell below 0.75.

The Community Foundation administered surveys to teen-age parents and their partners during April-May 1997 (n = 204). Because of the difficulty of reaching teen age dads, as well as for the additional insight provided, moms were also included in the survey. Data was analyzed by the NCF using SPSS software.

RESULTS

General Demographics

An early challenge in any project like this is defining "teen dad." For purposes of this survey, dads who were partners of teen moms were included. As other literature has reported, many partners of teen moms are older, sometimes considerably older. (PPT (Pregnant and Parenting Teens) Express, Vol. 5:2, Summer 1995, p. 4, reported on 1990 records from the California Vital Statistics Section showing 74 percent of the fathers of children born to school-age mothers were age 19 or older at the time of conception.) 61 of the respondents to the survey were 20 and older. The range for all respondents was from 13 to 38, with the median being 18.

Family of Origin Issues

There was a dramatic difference in reports on the feelings of respondents' fathers and mothers. For the sample as a whole, only 48.6% could "strongly agree" that "My father likes me," while 74.0% strongly agreed "My mother likes me." Interestingly, both genders showed a slight drop from the overall average for the same gender parent. Only 72.3% of females could only "strongly agree" that "My mother likes me." Only 46.0% of males could agree with the same statement about their father. Although there was no specific question about father absence in the sample, other questions suggest a substantial number experienced this. Father absence was suggested in part by a 20 point gap between "My father likes me" and the response to the question, "The person I spent most of my growing-up time with likes me." 69.3% of all respondents strongly agreed with this statement, with a nearly even gender division. The only respondents to disagree with this statement: "I like the person(s) that I spent my growing-up time with" were unemployed females.

Self Esteem

All four questions dealing with self-esteem and rejection issues were among the ten statements with the greatest variance, and can be termed "marker items." The four questions were:

-- I struggle with shame and rejection. -- 15.4% agreement among males
-- I feel abandoned by my family and friends. -- 17.0% agreement among males
-- My parents criticize me often -- 27.3% agreement among males
-- Many of my childhood memories are painful. -- 31.8% agreement among males
(Agreement combines both "agree" and "strongly agree" responses)

Social/Skill Support

One of the five questions in this scale was a "marker item." Those in strongest agreement on that question were males and those who were employed:

	Strongly Disagree	Disagree	Agree	Strongly Agree
I have friends whom I can call on to help me through a difficult situation.	2.0	15.9	40.3	41.8
MALE	1.8	14.0	38.6	45.6
FEMALE	2.3	16.1	41.3	40.6
EMPLOYED	1.1	11.4	44.3	43.2
UNEMPLOYED	2.8	18.9	36.8	41.5

One statement which revealed a small core of people in despair was this statement: "I am hopeful about my future." 7.1% of the male respondents strongly disagreed with this statement, and interestingly, 3.4% of the respondents who were employed strongly disagreed as well.

Extended Family Support

Male respondents were slightly more confident of relatives' support than friends' support.

Relationship to Other Parent

Another marker item, showing distinct differences within the sample, was this statement "I have discussed plans I have for my child with the child's other parent." Here the gradations of "strongly agree" as opposed to "agree" may be of particular interest in revealing gender differences.

Although only 3.0% of the sample disagreed in any way with the statement "My current girlfriend/boyfriend likes my child," more than twice that number, 7.5%, reported "I have a new boyfriend or girlfriend" as a problem in seeing the child. 7.6% reported that the other parent having a new boyfriend or girlfriend was a problem in seeing the child.

Parental Feelings

Three question from the scale also emerged as "marker items."

	Strongly Disagree	Disagree	Agree	Strongly Agree
I am often depressed since becoming a parent.	36.2	34.1	25.4	4.3
MALE	45.8	29.2	16.7	8.3
FEMALE	33.1	36.0	27.9	2.9
FEMALE	33.1	36.0	27.9	2.9
EMPLOYED	39.0	32.5	24.7	3.9
UNEMPLOYED	36.6	35.6	23.8	4.0
I am afraid that I will not be a good parent.	46.2	36.0	14.7	3.7
MALE	49.1	36.4	10.9	3.6
FEMALE	44.7	36.2	14.2	5.0
EMPLOYED	42.4	41.2	14.1	2.4
UNEMPLOYED	49.5	31.4	12.4	6.7
I have had a hard time keeping my mind on school work since I have had a child.	20.9	34.0	30.1	15.0
MALE	26.3	31.6	18.4	23.7
FEMALE	18.4	35.1	34.2	12.3
EMPLOYED	19.7	37.7	23.0	19.7
UNEMPLOYED	20.9	31.4	34.9	12.8

(This last question had high "Does not apply" answers, since many aren't in school.)

Parent-Child Interaction

As might be expected, females were significantly higher in agreeing with three of the statements from this scale.

Obstacles to Parent-Child Interaction

Some gender differences emerged where asked about obstacles to parent-child interaction:

Top Five Obstacles "Often" A Problem
Obstacle	MALES	Obstacle	FEMALES
Work schedule	23.1%	Work schedule	5.3%
No money	11.5%	No transportation	3.8%
No money	11.5%	No transportation	3.8%
No transportation	7.8%	No money	3.7%
My family/other parent's family	7.7%	School schedule	3.0%
Don't want to see child	5.9%	Personal problems (tie) Don't have time	2.3%

Top Five Obstacles "Sometimes" or "Often" A Problem
Obstacle	MALES	Obstacle	FEMALES
Work schedule	48.1%	Work schedule	36.4%
Personal Problems	34.6%	School schedule	30.3%
No transportation	33.3%	No money	13.3%
No money	32.7%	Personal problems	11.3%
Don't have time	26.9%	No transportation	9.8%

The statement "Don't know what to with child" drew a similar response from males and females. Among the overall sample 1.6% said it was "Often" a problem, and 9.8% "Sometimes" a problem. The difference between males and females was 0.3 on "Often" and "0.4" on "Sometimes." Since this is one obstacle which could be impacted by training for mothers and fathers, the response is fascinating since it indicates an equal need among both sexes.

Methods of Discipline in Family of Origin

When asked "How were you disciplined when you were growing up?" these patterns emerged. Among the overall sample being "Talked to" was just barely the most common form used "Sometimes" or "Often" while the respondent was growing up. Being "Talked to" was followed by being "Spanked," "Restricted privileges," and "Being yelled at." All four of these methods were closely clustered together in the percentage responding "Sometimes" or "Often."

These methods were followed at some distance by "Sent to room," and "Extra chores." Respondents saw a distinction between being "Hit or slapped," and being "Spanked" as 41.6% said they were "Never" hit or slapped, while only 14.1% said they were "Never" spanked.

There were a couple of gender distinctives. Females were more likely to be "Ignored" (31.3% mentions by females versus 25% mentions by males) or "Yelled at" (88.1% to 76.8% for males). Males on the other hand were much more likely to be "Sent out of the house" (28.1% mentions by males versus 14.6% for females). They were also slightly more likely to report being given "Extra chores" (70.9% for males to 64.6% for females) and being "Sent to room" (80.3% mentions by males versus 76.9% for females).

ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION

-- I have had a hard time keeping my mind on school work since I have had a child.

-- I am often depressed since becoming a parent.

-- I need to see my child more.

-- I have discussed the plan I have for my child with the child's other parent.

-- I struggle with shame and rejection.

-- I am afraid that I will not be a good parent.

-- I have friends whom I can call on to help me through a difficult situation.

-- I feel abandoned by my family and friends.

-- Many of my childhood memories are painful.

-- My parents criticize me often.

Females were significantly higher in four items: