Dimensions of paternal involvement of

Selected teenage fathers on their child:

Implications to Adolescent Counseling

Paulito V. Hilario, M.A.

Eva A. Castronuevo, M.S.

Judy Ann Sanchez

San Beda College, Alabang

Abstract

Generally, the efforts aimed at reducing teen pregnancy in most countries have been confined largely to teen mothers. Consequently, the etiology of young fatherhood is not well understood. Popularly held notions that a pregnancy during adolescence adversely affects the subsequent development of teenage fathers and that these males are poor husbands and inadequate fathers are premature.

This research explored the various unique experiences of young fathers (n=3) in Southern Manila by the analysis of their paternal involvement in child rearing. The research employed the “pakikipagkwentuhan” as specific source of gathering data through an in-depth interview session. Implications for adolescent counseling, interventions in preventing teenage pregnancy and parenting are discussed.

Until you have a son of your own... you will never know the joy, the love beyond feeling that resonates in the heart of a father as he looks upon his son. You will never know the sense of honor that makes a man want to be more than he is and to pass something good and hopeful into the hands of his son. And you will never know the heartbreak of the fathers who are haunted by the personal demons that keep them from being the men they want their sons to be.~ Kent Nerburn

Parenthood is hard work at the best of times, but being a young parent is one of the most difficult situations to be in. For sure this is one of the toughest jobs anyone can take on. Not counting the socio-economic impact of raising a family, the increasing number of young men and teenagers becoming father at a very early age is deeply disturbing. Schwarts (1999) emphasized that being a father at a young age is a difficult proposition. Because teenage fathers almost never plan pregnancies, their initial reactions may be denial, fear, and a desire to escape.

A young father’s involvement with his family particularly his children is made complex by several factors. The studies of Batten & Stowell (1996) and Knitzer & Bernardin (1997) noted that young fathers frequently face family rejection, barriers to contact with child and mother, a lack of ways to contribute financially, and an inability to envision future achievements enabling them to function effectively as a father. They also may believe that they are simply unwelcome and inadequate as parents. Their emotional state is further complicated by the need to reconcile the contradictory roles of adolescent and father and assume the responsibilities of adulthood before they are sufficiently mature (Kahn & Bolton, 1986).

An increasing amount of research throughout the world (Argys, Peters, Brooks-Gunn, & Smith, 1998; Lerman & Sorenson, 2000; Rhein et al., 1997) has shown that lack of paternal involvement can increase the likelihood of poverty, crime, school problems, and cycles of repeat pregnancy. The negative impact of father absence upon children has brought father involvement to the forefront in social policy and research.

According to Nord, Brimhall, & Westin (1997) there are compelling reasons to promote the involvement of fathers in their children's lives: the value of their positive influence, their effectiveness in increasing children's academic achievement, and the importance of their financial support. Teenage and young adult males may need extra help to assume the full fatherhood role, but most, if aided, will work hard to be successful parents. Public interest in fostering fathers' involvement is increasing because of the recognized benefits of fathers' contributions to their families

Though this study does not advocate for all young teenage fathers to assume their parenting role, (there are instances when this is not desirable), the study aims to present the different factors that positively impacts the involvement of young fathers with their child. Specifically, the study attempts to explore and describe the different psychological dimensions (cognitive, behavioral and affective) experienced by teen fathers in dealing with their transition to fatherhood. Likewise, the study aims to enumerate and describe

practical dimensions in family interactions and support structures that lead to healthier ways of dealing with teenage pregnancy.

Review of Related Literature

Literature about teenage pregnancy has been devoted mainly on the adolescent mother. The etiology of teenage fatherhood is largely on the sidelight though its importance to the formation of stable families and society has long been acknowledged.

Teenage Father Involvement

The literature on paternal involvement on their children is not definite. Some studies reveal that contrary to common belief, teenage fathers are not always keen to avoiding their responsibilities. Instead, they were “often very enthusiastic about the prospect of becoming an involved parent, wanting to learn how to do the job properly” (Speak 1997, Rivara 1986). These same studies however qualify that “as the subjects of these studies were often the teenage fathers that cared enough to go to prenatal clinics, the findings obviously do not apply to all teenage fathers.” Similarly, Speak et al (1997) qualifies that “it is important to acknowledge that not all fathers – whatever their age - want to be involved with their children and that not all children would benefit from their father’s involvement. Fathers are no more homogenous as a group than mothers are."

In the study of Rivara et al (1986) found that “teenage fathers who lived with the mother and child were in the minority, and the percentage decreased further with time.

Eighteen months after the birth, thirty seven percent of the teenage parents studied lived together or had daily contact. Although at thirty six months only one father had no contact with his child, only twelve percent still lived with the child and twenty five percent still saw the child daily.”

The most common reasons given for not living with the child were that the baby was too young, finances, and problems in the relationship with the woman. Speak et al (1997) found that “there were various external factors that were barriers to the fathers' contact with their children, such as the mothers' or her parents' attitudes, lack of support and encouragement from health professionals, the fathers' accommodation, and his financial situation”.

The Effect of the Teenage Father on Mother and Child.

Some teenage father’s report that the teenage mothers are reluctant to let them become involved The inexperience and immaturity of a young father was found to be a factor in his relationship with the child and the mother Dallas (2000).

Jaffee et al (2001) found that background and behavioral problems were a factor in teenagers becomes uninvolved fathers, and that they would need serious help before their involvement with their child should even be encouraged.

Furthermore, Dallas et al (2000) believe “the lack of developmental knowledge and unrealistic expectations for their children’s behavior shown by the subjects they studied might lead some young parents to mistake their children’s developmental immaturity for deliberate misbehaviors, which could then lead to inappropriate discipline”. The teenage fathers thought physical discipline appropriate for children under three, even under one year old. The children of adolescent parents experience higher rates of physical abuse and infant homicides, but this is also statistically true for children of single parents overall (Overpeck,1998).

Previous study like Speak et al 1997 “believed that simply encouraging young absent fathers to be more involved in their children's lives is not necessarily in the best interests of the children unless significant help can be given to the fathers: “Otherwise they may simply exacerbate the difficulties already faced by single mothers and their children.” However, the researcher emphasis that many of the young fathers in their sample study were highly involved parents who were have a good relationship with their in laws, and supportive of the mothers of their children, and that their “data clearly demonstrates that it is not early fatherhood that marks a young man as an uninvolved father, but rather the combination of individual and family-of-origin risk factors that situate him on a path ending in under-involved.

Effects on the Father

Having a child is a life changing event for a teenage mother, but the teenage father may be little affected physically, if he is out of the picture for whatever reason. Emotionally, however, the birth of his child can have a big impact on the teenage father. Fifty five percent of the ninety five adolescent fathers interviewed by Hendricks (1983) “were unhappy with not being able to see the child as much as they wanted. Less than ten percent said they were having a problem coping with being a father. Fourteen percent said they had not yet faced any problems as an unmarried adolescent father”.

Nevertheless, Rivara (1986) established “there was no difference in the employment status of teenage fathers compared to non-fathers of a similar age, although the teenage fathers left school earlier than non fathers. Teenage fathers, regardless of their marital status at conception or age at first birth, were much more likely to have been high school dropouts than were other male teenagers. Those with a maritally conceived child had a particularly high drop-out rate - almost sixty two percent. (Marsiglio 1987).”

However,Rhein.(1997) found “that lack of employment was one of the factors That contributed to the absent teenage fathers disinterest in his child.”

Stouthamer-Loeber (1998) “also investigated what effect fatherhood had on the behaviour of teenage males. Although they found out that fatherhood did not reduce

delinquent behaviour in teenagers, fathers were more than twice as likely to be delinquent than non-fathers, but being a father didn't necessarily cause the delinquency, rather, the factors related to young fatherhood were a subset of those for delinquency.”

The Mother Factor

The most common reason given by the fathers for not having more contact with their children was the mothers' reluctance to let them, or problems in their relationship (Rivara,1986 et al).

Similarly, in a study of 173 teen fathers, 167 teen mothers, 76 paternal grandmothers and 79 maternal grandmothers the teenage fathers interviewed were more likely to attribute their lack of involvement to resistance from mothers and maternal grandmothers than to other factors. With the Information derived from the other interviewees, however, the researcher concluded that it was the young fathers' own disinterest in child rearing that most consistently predicted uninvolvement. Of those fathers who cited disinterest, there was an with association lack of money and lack of knowledge of child care. (Rhein 1997)

The National Network of Health found in their study based on research from1976 to 1997 that teenage fathers were less likely than the mothers to care about their education: less likely to have wanted a child or to have considered abortion, but that most teenage fathers planned on being involved with the life of their child, including wanting to take part in childcare training. Factors found that contributed to teenage fathers not becoming involved or losing contact were parental disapproval (both sets of parents), the teen mother's rejection of the father's involvement, and the failure of health care professionals to encourage paternal involvement.

As presented in the Review of Related Literature there were different factors that affect the involvement of the young fathers with their child such as Speak et al (1997) found out that the mothers' or her parents' attitudes, lack of support and encouragement from health professionals, the fathers' accommodation, and his financial situation. While Jaffee et al (2001) emphasized out that the background and behavioral problems were factors in teenagers becomes uninvolved fathers, and that they would need serious help before their involvement with their child should even be encouraged. On the other hand based on the data gathered by the researcher it was found out that either the own mother or the mother of the partner was very supportive with their role as a young father, either emotional or financial, some of them even praised their in laws for being understanding and supportive.

Another factor given in the Literature was that AsRhein (1997) established that lack of employment was one of the factors that contributed to the absent teenage fathers disinterest in his child, differed from the result of the case study done by the researcher one of the respondent said that their being unemployed give them a chance to have more time to spend with their child since he was staying at home all day. Some of them even confessed that it was the parents of his partner who gives financial support for their child.

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

Factors that could affect the involvement of the young fathers with their childFigure 1.

PATERNAL INVOLVEMENT

PARENTAL DISSAPROVA

L

FINANCIAL STABILLITY

UNEMPLOYMENT

LACK OF MATURITY

BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS

PROBLEMS IN THE RELATIONSHIP

WITH THE MOTHER

CONCEPTUAL BACKGROUND

Previous studies on young fathers indicate that it is common for them to experience multiple barriers to paternal involvement. These include lack of maturity due to lack of developmental knowledge and unrealistic expectations for their children’s behavior shown by the subjects they studied might lead some young parents to mistake their children’s developmental immaturity for deliberate misbehaviors, which could then lead to inappropriate discipline.

Due to lack of economic support, young fathers also experience resistance from maternal and paternal grandparents, as well as from the mothers, therefore, providing economic support to their children becomes a monumental challenge for young fathers(Rhein, 1997). Despite the barriers these fathers face, it has been found that many desire to be involved with their children (Barret & Robinson, 1985; Glikman, 2004).

The unemployment, and low educational attainment found by Rivara et al (1986) is one of the given factor for the young father being uninvolved parent. Few studies among low-income fathers indicated that these fathers still tend to view the provider role as their primary duty. For example, some low-income fathers, who are unable to provide for their families due to poverty or job loss, seem to have negative or decreased interactions with their children (Harold-Goldsmith, Radin, & Eccles, 1988; LaRossa & Reitzes, 1993).

Paternal involvement of middle-class young fathers has been in the forefront; much less is known about paternal involvement among low-income fathers (Summers et al., 1999) or young fathers (Johnson, 2001; Miller, 1994). Few studies among low-income fathers indicated that these fathers still tend to view the provider role as their primary duty. For example, some low-income fathers, who are unable to provide for their families due to poverty or job loss, seem to have negative or decreased interactions with their children (Harold-Goldsmith, Radin, & Eccles, 1988; LaRossa & Reitzes, 1993). ).

However, the roles and levels of involvement of middle-class fathers in the family have expanded since the 1970s. Fathers are no longer seen only as breadwinners, but may take on other roles as caretakers and nurturers. This could include feeding the child, playing with the child or other caretaking activities. It does not include merely being in the same house as the child. Availability is a father's presence with the child which provides opportunities for other types of interactions. This dimension does not require face-to-face interaction and an example includes a father cooking while a child plays at his feet or is in the same room. Responsibility is defined as arranging for resources and meeting the needs of the child. Ensuring that the child has clothes to wear, and that the child visits the pediatrician when she is sick are examples of responsibility. It is important to note that the authors do not define responsibility as a breadwinner/provider

role, rather they characterize it as responsibility for everyday caretaking. (Cabrera, Tamis-Lemonda, Bradley, Hofferet, & Lamb, 2000; Pleck, 1997; Pleck & Pleck, 1997; )

The last factor is the problems in the relationship with the mother, that Although both parents thought the father should be involved in the child’s life, they differed in what form that involvement should take. The male providing financial support and the woman caring for the child at home, the females felt the father should provide emotional support for the child and mother share basic childcare tasks with the mother. In contrast the fathers saw their relationship to the mother as separate to their relationship to the child.

Method

Research Design

Qualitative research method was used in the study. Qualitative interviewing is a versatile approach to doing research. Every step of the interview gives information and opens windows into the experiences of the people you meet. It can understand experiences and reconstruct events in which the researcher did not participate. (Rubin, 1995).

Participants

Participants were 3 single young male adults and not living with their partner, whose age range falls between seventeen to twenty one (17-21) years old at the time they became father, the said age range represent the young adults stage, and a Filipino citizen. The entry criterion for the interview was for the participant to have had his first child at age 21 or younger, from a middle-class family, the status of his relationship with the mother of the child or with the child himself did not matter.

Sampling Procedures

Purposive Sampling was used for the purpose of selecting the individuals that will provide the information for the study and often used in qualitative research. Initially the researcher aimed to have 5 participants However, to complete the case study in a reasonable amount of time only 3 young adults were interviewed. The dimensions or factors according to which the sample is drawn up are analytically and theoretically linked to the research question(s) being addressed.

Instruments

The instrument used is the interview guide made by the researcher. The questionnaire has 3 parts; first part is the demographic profile which includes the respondents’ age, civil status and the socio economic status. The second part of the questionnaire is the kind of relationships the father have with his child, wife or live in partner and to his in laws. And the third part would be the questions regarding his experiences concerning his social life before and after he had a child, the problems he encountered during the pregnancy of his wife/live in partner. To validate the answers of the three respondents the researcher did an added interview with the mother of the child and with the parents of the mother.

Data Gathering Procedures

Participants were approached by the interviewer and were asked for consent to participate in this research, and they were informed that they could stop the interview at any time or refuse to answer specific questions without repercussions. The participants were interviewed confidentially at a place of their own choice, which often was their home. A video camera was used to record the interview to enable the researcher to observe closely all the verbal and non-verbal communications and actions of the respondents. The first phase of the interview was the rapport building, to establish trust with the researcher.

The second phase of the interview was the structured interview. An interview guide was used to gather information regarding the relationship and involvement of the respondents with his child, partner, in laws and the different factors that would affect their involvement with his child. As the interviews progressed most of the young men needed only little encouragement to extend on specific points. Interviewer generally allowed the young men to talk about the questions at length or deviate from the actual question, and the questions were not necessarily asked in the order they appeared on the interview guide, as the interviewer considered it more important to let the respondents voice their issues than stick to the structure of the interview. The interviewers encouraged the participants to elaborate on points that seemed important to them, and sometimes asked about their stories and their lives. Some questions and concepts were explained by the interviewer if the respondent did not seem to understand them, and the wording of the question was often deviated from during the interviews to make the meaning of the questions clearer. The interview lasted approximately 10 to 20 min. for every respondent.

After all the data has been gathered, the researcher transcribe the interview, prepared a table representation and the analysis of the data.

Data Analysis

Data was interpreted by reading each transcript of interview responses. Each answer was categorized according to the most common factors that could affect their involvement with their child up to the very least answers.

Results and Discussions

1.1 Demographic Profile

Name Respondent A Respondent B Respondent CAge 21 20 21Civil Status Single Single SingleSocio economic status

Middle-class Middle-class Middle-class

Occupation Food Service Assistant

Student Unemployed

No. of Children 1 1 2

3 single male young fathers were participated in this study, of these 2 of them aged and the 21 and the other is 20. All of them are in the middle-class family. One of the respondents is presently a college student with a 1 and half year old son, another is already working with a 3 year old daughter and the last respondent is unemployed with 2 children, a boy and a girl ages 3 and 1 and a half

1.2 Relationship with the mother of the child and in laws

Questions Respondent A Respondent B Respondent CIs your relationship with your in laws plays an important role in fulfilling your duty as a father to your child?

Yes, bec. If you don’t have a good relationship w/ your n laws, it’s awkward that they meet you in angry manners bec. He get scared.

No

What kind of relationship do you have with regard to your in laws?

Since the parents of my girlfriend are abroad, she stays with her grandparents, we have a good relationship and in their own way I can see that they have accepted me.

I have a good relationship w/ my in laws. Bec. The parents of my girlfriend were both nice.

Yes, when it’s my Sometimes when its

Do you spend time for your family?

day off at work, sometimes we go to the mall, we bond we watch tv.

Sunday the 4 of us go to church & and sometimes we also go out

How’s your relationship with your wife?

It’s nice, happy although sometimes we fight but it’s ok its normal.

We’re ok, I love her so much

Those in a relationship with the mother at the time of the interview consistently answered the mother of the child amongst the most important factors, and often elaborated that she was his most important support person, with regards with their relationship all of them said that they have a good relationship although respondent A admitted that sometimes they were having problems, contrary to what Rivara,(1986), Speak (1997), Cohen (1993) said that the mothers' of the child were reluctant to let them become involved, or they were having problems in their relationship.

Mothers were often highly praised: either the own mother or the mother of the partner. Some young men related the story of how the mothers of their then-partners had received the news of their daughters' pregnancies as a complete shock, but had gradually accepted the fathers into the family, and sometimes supported them even in their financial situation. Opposite to what Speak (1997) found out that the mothers or her parent’s lack of support could be one of the external factors that were barriers to the fathers' contact with their children.

Only 1 out of 3 respondent said that the parents of the mother of the child could be one of the factor that could affect his involvement with their child, since the parents of her partner are both abroad during the pregnancy happened,

1.3 Parenting

Questions Respondent A Respondent B Respondent CWhat are your involvements in rearing the child?

We played every now & then, we’re happy

How would you compare your involvement with the mother in terms of rearing the child?

Given that the mother is more responsible and closer to the child bec. There always together.

We are the same

What are positive and negative effects

I’m happy when I see my children, my

of having a child? exhaustion disappear. Sometimes the kids are naughty and out of control

What are some of the activities that you do together?

We watch tv, play computer games, and bond together.

Most fathers wanted more input, although most of them were hands-on in handling their child, as respondent A said

When asked, however, what is the positive and negative effect of having a child? Respondent C said that one of the negative effect of having a child is that the impact on social life, such as going out or staying late at night with friends, While Respondent A

1.4 Support

Questions Respondent A Respondent B Respondent C

What is your mean to support the child?

Financially, its your responsibility to buy the milk and diapers and other necessity of the child.

Sometimes I can support my family but if there’s nothing to give my in laws are always there for fall back.

Do you think this is sufficient?

I believe its not sufficient, but there will come a time that my means of support that my mean of support will be enough for my family.

What are the paternal privileges that you enjoy?

I am welcome In their house.

How much time do you spend with your child?

I’m with them the whole day since I don’t have work, but before I only see them in the morning before I go to work.

What do you do to strengthen your bond with your child?

I will prove to them that I’ll love them, and I will do anything for my children so that our bond gets stronger.

Respondent C confessed that he is unemployed during the interview happened and acknowledged that his in laws is their major source of financial support, while respondent B a college student also said that his parents are the one who gives financial support to his child and only respondent A is employed and gives financial support to his child though he also said that it is still not sufficient because he wanted to give more such as seeing his child go to a exclusive school in the future. Differed from what Rhein (1997) found that lack of employment was one of the factors That contributed to the absent teenage fathers disinterest in his child, such as respondent C have told the interviewer that he has much more time to spend with his children because he stayed all day in the house rather than before when he used to have a worked.

1.5 Outside Factors

Questions Respondent A Respondent B Respondent C

What are the factors that could affect your involvement with your child?

My in laws were never a bother in fact they help us through hard times.Yes

"Work/School" was amongst the given factors impacting on time and bond with baby for the young fathers. 2 out 3 respondent said that work is one of the factors that affect their involvement with their child as respondent C said, while respondent B said that his studies is one of his given factor that could affect his involvement with his child. Only respondent A said that work could not affect his involvement with his.

“Friends” was one of the given factors by respondent B because he could not refuse to go along with his friends sometimes and stay with them until late at night.

Conclusions

Contrary to the theories and studies of Rivara (1986), Speak (1997) and Cohen (1993) that young fathers involvement decreases over time, the researcher has proven with the course of this study that it is otherwise and that young father become more involved with

the life of their child regardless of their civil status. The interviews with young fathers suggested that fathers feel appreciated and supported in their role, and their increasing involvement over time may have something to do with the feeling of usefulness and self worth.

Virtually, all of the young fathers acknowledge the fact that the mother of the child is indeed a major key person for their own bonding and strengthening of relationship. If they are together in a relationship, they expect their partners to be their main source of support in their new role as a father. Most commonly, it is the mother’s prerogative to make or break a father’s relationship with the child, thus enabling the safety and welfare of the child and not for personal gain. Both parents should be aware that their involvement has a deep impact in the lives of their children. Certain actions and circumstances during this period can instil an irreparable damage to the relationship to both parents. There are theories stating that most of the relationship of young fathers with the mother of the child did not work (Rivara 1986, Speak 1997) but with the findings in this case study all of the relationship of the three respondents did work out.

Although at present the fathers acknowledge that they are in no position to support the child alone and the mother, most of them say that having a child is a major change in this lifestyle, goals and everyday living. Setbacks are usually not allowed and a more promising future should be planned ahead for their family’s sake. The actions taken upon very rampantly were to find fulltime and long-term jobs. Save up money for the family to repay reward. Quit addictive vices like alcohol and cigarettes. They had personal reasons why they wanted to change but more so because of the child that is now giving them a sense of direction to do it right and well with their lives. This symbolized their eagerness to live up to stereotypes of a proper, responsible father.

Implications

Adolescent counselling

In counseling adolescent fathers, the findings suggest the use of systemic approach in coaching the adolescent to positively deal with his new responsibilities as a father. The family presents a very potent vehicle for guiding the teenage father to learn healthy and positive behaviors that would inevitably impact the development of his child. From the narrations of the respondents, family members played a significant role in fostering self confidence, persistence and sense of responsibility of the teenage father through his increased paternal involvement.

Given the situations similar to the respondents, counselors can utilize the experience of paternal involvement as an opportunity for the teenage father to see themselves from a more mature perspective, hence improve self-concept. The counselor however should be cautious in encouraging or pushing for more paternal involvement in cases where the teenager clearly demonstrates destructive behaviors.

Interventions in preventing teenage pregnancy

The campaign for preventing teenage pregnancy has traditionally focused on the female vulnerability to be coerced. Advocacies could focus on educating male teenagers of the value of restraint and patience.

Parenting

Counselors can further empower the parents to maintain a stance of a tough but unconditional love of assisting but not totally taking over the parenting responsibility from the teenage parents.

The implications of this study are that young fathers can live up to be mature individuals when the going gets tough. They acknowledge their new responsibilities and change for the better. They plan ahead of time for the welfare of their family. They put aside their personal likings and prioritize the child or the family first ahead of everything. They secure the relationships with the key persons involve and are highly present for the growth of the child.

The researcher has therefore stated with this study that young fathers involvement increase over time due to their specific and personal perspectives.

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