Absent fathers as providers: Race/ethnic differences in support for adolescent mothers

Constance M. Wiemann; Carolyn A. Agurcia; Vaughn I. Rickert; Abbey B. Berenson; Robert J. Volk

doi:10.1007/s10560-006-0078-1

Absent fathers as providers: Race/ethnic differences in support for adolescent mothers

Constance M. Wiemann, Carolyn A. Agurcia, Vaughn I. Rickert, Abbey B. Berenson, Robert J. Volk

Obstetrics & Gynecology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

29 Scopus citations

Abstract

Race/ethnic differences in the prevalence of and characteristics associated with low support provided by fathers of babies born to pregnant adolescents were examined among 719 adolescent mothers who were interviewed postpartum. Low support was reported by 41.9% of African-American, 26.2% of Mexican-American, and 19.4% of Caucasian adolescent mothers. Across race/ethnic subgroups, fathers who provided limited support were characterized by chronic substance use, gang or police involvement, or partner-directed violence. Policies advocating universal father involvement without concomitant programs designed to address their many needs may ultimately be detrimental to the welfare of mother and child.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	617-634
Number of pages	18
Journal	Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal
Volume	23
Issue number	5-6
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s10560-006-0078-1
State	Published - Dec 2006

Keywords

Adolescent fathers
Adolescent mothers
Adolescent pregnancy
Social support

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Social Sciences (miscellaneous)
General Social Sciences

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10.1007/s10560-006-0078-1

Cite this

@article{b9a65de20e554f479bc0a44b5e4ec104,

title = "Absent fathers as providers: Race/ethnic differences in support for adolescent mothers",

abstract = "Race/ethnic differences in the prevalence of and characteristics associated with low support provided by fathers of babies born to pregnant adolescents were examined among 719 adolescent mothers who were interviewed postpartum. Low support was reported by 41.9% of African-American, 26.2% of Mexican-American, and 19.4% of Caucasian adolescent mothers. Across race/ethnic subgroups, fathers who provided limited support were characterized by chronic substance use, gang or police involvement, or partner-directed violence. Policies advocating universal father involvement without concomitant programs designed to address their many needs may ultimately be detrimental to the welfare of mother and child.",

keywords = "Adolescent fathers, Adolescent mothers, Adolescent pregnancy, Social support",

author = "Wiemann, {Constance M.} and Agurcia, {Carolyn A.} and Rickert, {Vaughn I.} and Berenson, {Abbey B.} and Volk, {Robert J.}",

note = "Funding Information: We are indebted to the many adolescent participants who shared their experiences with us and to the interviewers who spent hundreds of hours collecting this information. Supported by grants DA09636 and DA08404 from the National Institute on Drug Abuse and The Hogg Foundation for Mental Health (#3777) (Dr. Wie-mann). The findings presented herein do not reflect the views of either granting organization. Data were presented in part at the Annual Meeting of the Society for Adolescent Medicine, Arlington, VA, March 22, 2000.",

year = "2006",

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doi = "10.1007/s10560-006-0078-1",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "23",

pages = "617--634",

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AU - Wiemann, Constance M.

AU - Agurcia, Carolyn A.

AU - Rickert, Vaughn I.

AU - Berenson, Abbey B.

AU - Volk, Robert J.

N1 - Funding Information: We are indebted to the many adolescent participants who shared their experiences with us and to the interviewers who spent hundreds of hours collecting this information. Supported by grants DA09636 and DA08404 from the National Institute on Drug Abuse and The Hogg Foundation for Mental Health (#3777) (Dr. Wie-mann). The findings presented herein do not reflect the views of either granting organization. Data were presented in part at the Annual Meeting of the Society for Adolescent Medicine, Arlington, VA, March 22, 2000.

PY - 2006/12

Y1 - 2006/12

N2 - Race/ethnic differences in the prevalence of and characteristics associated with low support provided by fathers of babies born to pregnant adolescents were examined among 719 adolescent mothers who were interviewed postpartum. Low support was reported by 41.9% of African-American, 26.2% of Mexican-American, and 19.4% of Caucasian adolescent mothers. Across race/ethnic subgroups, fathers who provided limited support were characterized by chronic substance use, gang or police involvement, or partner-directed violence. Policies advocating universal father involvement without concomitant programs designed to address their many needs may ultimately be detrimental to the welfare of mother and child.

AB - Race/ethnic differences in the prevalence of and characteristics associated with low support provided by fathers of babies born to pregnant adolescents were examined among 719 adolescent mothers who were interviewed postpartum. Low support was reported by 41.9% of African-American, 26.2% of Mexican-American, and 19.4% of Caucasian adolescent mothers. Across race/ethnic subgroups, fathers who provided limited support were characterized by chronic substance use, gang or police involvement, or partner-directed violence. Policies advocating universal father involvement without concomitant programs designed to address their many needs may ultimately be detrimental to the welfare of mother and child.

KW - Adolescent fathers

KW - Adolescent mothers

KW - Adolescent pregnancy

KW - Social support

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ER -

Absent fathers as providers: Race/ethnic differences in support for adolescent mothers

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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