The Educational Antecedents of Teen Fatherhood

Abstract

In attempting to identify the determinants of teen pregnancy, researchers have focused on risk factors for young women, largely ignoring teen fathers. This study examines the educational antecedents of teen fatherhood using the 1958 National Child Development Study. Results suggest that those less than 20 years old at onset of fatherhood are much more likely than those who had not fathered a child by age 23 to have experienced academic difficulties and that such difficulties antedate teen fatherhood by as much as a decade. Variables measuring parents' lack of interest in their sons' education were strongly associated with the risk of teen fatherhood as were teachers' negative assessment of boys' academic ability, and the boys' own desire to terminate education as early as possible. Social class was modestly important in explaining differences in educational experiences for teen fathers and non-fathers.

Le regard de jeunes pères sur leur enfance et leur adolescence

“…L'étude de Thornberry, Smith et Howard (1997), confirmée par d'autres (Stouthamer-Loeber et Wei, 1998;Capaldi, Pears, Patterson et Owen, 2003), montre aussi que d'être jeune délinquant augmente la probabilité de devenir père de façon précoce. Un bon nombre des jeunes pères participant à ces recherches étaient des adolescents présentant des problèmes de comportement (Dearden, Hale et Alvarez, 1992;Kiernan, 1992;Hanson, Morrison et Ginsburg, 1989). Les comportements antisociaux de différents ordres, comme la consommation de substances psychoactives ou des comportements sexuels à risque, sont souvent observés chez les adolescents avant qu'ils ne deviennent pères (Pears et al, 2005).…”

Paternidade na adolescência: uma breve revisão da literatura internacional

“…Dentre os resumos, são citados como fatores de risco específicos relacionados à paternidade adolescente: maus tratos precoces (Herrenkohl, Herrenkohl, Egolf & Russo, 1998), uso de substâncias (Krohn, Lizotte & Perez, 1997), distúrbios psiquiátricos (Kessler, Berglund, Foster, Saunders, Stang & Walters, 1997), fracasso escolar (Dearden Hale & Alvarez, 1992) e comportamento anti-social (Scaramella, Conger, Simons & Whitbeck, 1998). Alguns artigos trazem o tema dos fatores de risco de forma geral, considerando-os simultaneamente (Dearden, Hale & Woolley, 1995;Guagliardo, Huang & D'Angelo, 1999;Thornberry, Smith & Howard, 1997).…”

“…A grande maioria dos estudos tem caráter longitudinal (Dearden Hale & Alvarez, 1992;Dearden, Hale & Woolley, 1995;Guagliardo, Huang & D'Angelo, 1999;Herrenkohl et al, 1998;Krohn, Lizotte & Perez, 1997;Scaramella et al, 1998;Thornberry, Smith & Howard, 1997). Estes investigam a história de vida destes adolescentes, através de técni-cas variadas, a fim de melhor entender a relação entre um fator específico e a paternidade destes jovens.…”

“…As comparações entre estar esperando um filho ou não, são bastante freqüentes (por exemplo, Anderson, 1990;Buchanan & Robbins, 1990;Christmon & Luckey, 1994;Dearden, Hale & Alvarez, 1992;Dearden, Hale & Woolley, 1995;Fagot et al, 1998;Herrenkohl et al, 1998;Israel & Seeborg, 1998;Nesmith et al, 1997;Pirog-Good, 1995;Robinson & Frank, 1994;Stouthamer-Loeber & Wei, 1998;Thornberry, Smith & Howard, 1997). Visam verificar a influência do fator paternidade sobre diferentes variáveis, tais como deliqüencia, conseqüências sócio-econômicas, desempenho escolar, dentre outras.…”

“…A partir da Figura 5, pode-se constatar que o instrumento mais utilizado em pesquisas com pais adolescentes é o questionário (por exemplo, Buchanan & Robbins, 1990;Cervera, 1991;Christmon, 1990a;1990b, 1990cChristmon & Luckey, 1994;Dearden, Hale & Alvarez, 1992;Dearden, Hale & Woolley, 1995;Dellmann-Jenkins, Sattler & Richardson, 1993;Girard, Coll & Becco, 1991a;Guagliardo, Huang & D'Angelo, 1999;Harris, 1998;Israel & Seebrog, 1998;Ketterlinus et al, 1992;Lagges & Gordon, 1999;Miller, 1994;Nock, 19998;Heath & McKenry, 1993;Heath, McKenry & Leigh, 1995;Pirog-Goog, 1995;Pirog-Good, 1996;Showers, 1992;Stouthamer-Loeber & Wei, 1998;Thornberry, Smith & Howard, 1997). Seria possível supor que a grande utilização desse instrumento de pesquisa se deve ao tipo de população estudada.…”