10 TEENAGE FATHERS: STRESS TRAJECTORY THROUGH PREGNANCY

Abstract

Previous work by the investigators demonstrated that some teenage fathers may have difficulty coping with the stresses surrounding pregnancy. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the trajectory of these stresses. Twenty prospective fathers (age range 17-18), were interviewed on an average of 1.5 times during gestation: 4 during 1st trimester (mean=12 wks.), 10 during 2nd trimester (mean=22.5 wks.), and 15 during 3rd trimester (mean=32.5 wks.). All pregnancies were conceived premaritally; 14 teens were married at 1st interview. Using a semistructured technique, subjects were questioned as to the type of stresses felt at the present time, and during each of the previous trimester intervals. The degree of each stress was rated from 1 (low) to 3 (high). A stress magnitude score was determined by a formula utilizing relative frequency and degree of each stress. The combined magnitude scores for each trimester were 6.05 (1st), 7.02 (2nd), 8.20 (3rd). Stresses were combined into 6 categories. Between 1st and 3rd trimester, concerns regarding mother/child health, vocation-education (predominently financial), and relationships rose in magnitude, while stresses resulting from the circumstances of pregnancy (predominently negative responses from parents) declined in magnitude. Concerns of parenthood increased between 1st and 2nd trimester and remained at that level, while miscellaneous concerns rose and then fell. These results demonstrate that the degree and nature of stresses affecting teen fathers change thru gestation.

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