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Citation |
Lemay CA, Cashman SB, Elfenbein DS, Felice ME. Public Health Nurs. 2010; 27(3): 221-231. |
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Affiliation |
R.N., M.P.H., is Research Nurse Coordinator, Office of Community Programs, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts. |
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Copyright |
(Copyright © 2010, John Wiley and Sons) |
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DOI |
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PMID |
20525094 |
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Abstract |
Objective: To explore the beliefs, attitudes, and needs young men have regarding their role as a father. Design and Sample: Exploratory, descriptive, qualitative design. Young fathers/young expectant fathers were recruited from service sites within a city in Massachusetts. Men were considered young fathers/young expectant fathers if they were or would be <20 years old at the birth of a first child or the mother of their baby was or would be <20 years old at the baby's birth and the young man was <25 years old. Measures: Participants were interviewed utilizing open-ended questions, which included the following: the characteristics of good fathers, goals/needs for self and child, and whether or not they planned to raise the child as their father raised them and why. Results: Responses regarding fathering clustered into the following themes: being available; providing support; and self-improvement, including completing education and becoming a positive role model. Forty-seven percent believed that being employed or finishing school would help them be better fathers; 77% reported they would not raise their child as their own father had raised them, citing physical and/or emotional abuse/abandonment. Conclusions: Young men in this study identified several challenges to being "good" fathers. These included lack of employment, education, and positive role models. Language: en |