Being young, having an offspring and being male : the impact of fatherhood on young dads

Abstract

Literature has focussed on the mother's experience of teenage pregnancy and therefore I felt I should voice the male's experience by conducting this research. My research question is: What is the impact of fatherhood on young dads? I carried out a semi structured, in depth interview with three males who stayed with their partner and another three who abandoned her, delving into their experiences in order to compare the impact of such an event. The information was gathered and reviewed, in order to project the focus on the main issues experienced in adjusting to the sudden, unexpected responsibility of fatherhood that these young males were faced with. The results show the difference in the participants' attitudes and perception of their peers, partners, sex and life in general, before and after the pregnancy. The most common finding was that the pregnancy affects the father greatly, changing his life style and deeply moulding his character. This study was done in order to research the impact of a teenage pregnancy on the father both if he chooses to stay and if he chooses to abandon the partner and offspring. It will hopefully open a door in research in Malta and show that a support group for these males is much needed.