Patterns and Predictors of Involvement Among Fathers of Children Born to Adolescent Mothers

Abstract

Father involvement may be an important support for children born to adolescent mothers. This study examines patterns and predictors of father involvement, as reported by adolescent mothers, from their child's infancy through toddlerhood. Data were collected from urban, primarily African American, adolescent mothers (N = 138) in four interviews, over a 24-month period. The percentage of fathers categorized as “highly involved” decreased significantly from baseline to 12-month follow-up and was stable through 24 months. The romantic status of the mother–father relationship was the strongest predictor of whether father involvement was consistently high, consistently low, or decreased over time.

KEYWORDS:

• adolescent mother
• father involvement
• mother-father relationship
• toddlerhood

Acknowledgments

This project was supported by a grant from the Office of Adolescent Pregnancy Programs, Office of Population Affairs, Department of Health and Human Services (APH PA 006026), and the DC-Baltimore Research Center on Child Health Disparities (P20 MD00165). Additional support was received from the Center for Clinical and Community Research at Children's National Medical Center. The contents of this manuscript are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the funding agencies. The funders did not have a role in the design and conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data; nor preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript.

Notes

AOR = adjusted odds ratio.

Note. OR = odds ratio.

Low-Low (n = 43), Low-High (n = 5), High-Low (n = 22), High-High (n = 27). Empty cells indicate a lack of variability in the predictor variable within one of the comparison groups.

Note. AOR = adjusted odds ratio; RRR = relative risk ratio.

Low-Low (n = 24); High-Low (n = 21); High-High (n = 24).