Teen Fathers: Implications for School Counselors.

Researchers studying teen parenting have mainly concentrated on teen mothers while neglecting and negatively portraying teen fathers. Stereotypes confronting teen fathers include them being uncaring, absent, disinterested, unable to meet responsibilities, and unwilling participants in the lives of their children (Frewin, Tuffin, & Rouch, 2007). Within several studies, researchers have only included the teen mother's perspectives of the father and of her baby and have relied on the mother's opinions regarding the father's role and involvement (Reeves, 2007; Bunting & McAuley, 2004; Amin & Ahmed, 2004; Robbers, 2009). The behavior of the teen father is better understood within his internal and external environmental factors. Many times teen fathers are not allowed input in what happens with their children because they are treated with hostility from the child's mother's family (Fagan, Bernd, & Whiteman, 2007). When the teen mother's family disapproves of him and wants her to distance herself from the baby's father, her family is frequently discouraging an otherwise interested father from having a relationship with his child and with the mother of his baby (Wiemann, Agurcia, Rickert, Berenson, & Volk, 2006). These are very difficult and trying times in a teen father's life. Adolescence is a challenging and confusing developmental period where the adolescent experiences profound social, physical, and psychological changes. This is a time of pubertal changes, the evolution of abstract thinking, and increase in self-consciousness and self-concept (Frewin et al., 2007). It is also a period in the adolescent's life when he/she is establishing his/her independence from family, developing close bonds with friends, and becoming romantically involved. Becoming a father at this time means the teen must grow up quickly, and this period of time becomes a turning point in his life. The teen father can be propelled into adult roles and responsibilities when he is transitioned to fatherhood. Typically, teen mothers and fathers are limited in their educational attainment and are more restricted in their employment opportunities (Sipsma, Biello, Cole-Lewis, & Kershaw, 2010). The children of teen parents are often raised in lower-income homes and are at a greater risk for neglect and abuse than children of older parents (Sipsma et al., 2010). Sipsma et al. (2010) conducted a study of 1,496 teen fathers and found that "sons of adolescent fathers were 1.8 times more likely to become adolescent fathers than were sons of older fathers" (p. 517). Only recently have researchers begun to study this group. As a result of this new body of literature, specific indicators have been identified. For example, children without their father in their lives scored lower on measures of trust, self-esteem, socialization, and achievement (Amin & Ahmed, 2004). These children are also at a greater risk of early sexual experimentation, drug abuse, poor school performance, delinquency, and truancy. Frequently, this leads to more problems in their adult life including replication of the single parent template (Parker, 2011). Conversely, teen father's involvement with his child's mother and child increases the mother's sense of confidence in nurturing skills and raises the teen father's self-esteem (Amin & Ahmed, 2004). Review of Literature Historically, teen fathers have been thought of as outcasts and surrounded by negative stereotyping since few marry the mother of their children (Amin & Ahmed, 2004). Frewin et al. (2007) conducted a study of 12 teen fathers aged 18 and younger and in high school. Each teen father was well aware of his responsibilities as a father and was far from being disinterested. None of these teen fathers intentionally became fathers, and they would not recommend this life course (Frewin et al., 2007). These teen fathers were no longer able to participate in their former activities with their peers. …