An assessment of the adolescent father-non-father enrolled in the Holmes County public school district

The purpose of this research was to assess whether significant differences exist between adolescent fathers and non-fathers in their relation to levels of sex knowledge, self-image, and attitudes held toward adolescent fatherhood.

Four instruments, (1) an adaptation of the McHugh Sex Knowledge Inventory, (2) Offer Self-image Questionnaire, (3) Attitudes Held Toward Adolescent Fatherhood, and (4) a socioeconomic questionnaire, were administered to 52 students enrolled in the high schools of Holmes County Public School District, Holmes County, Mississippi, during February 1987. There were 25 adolescent fathers and 27 non-fathers in the study group.

Two statistical tests were used to address the major research questions under consideration. The t-test for independent samples and Chi-square were utilized to determine whether significant differences existed between the adolescent fathers and non-fathers.

Based on the findings of the analyzed data, the following major conclusions were derived:

1. The adolescent fathers and non-fathers in this study have very low levels of sex knowledge. The highest score on the sex knowledge inventory for either group represented only 52 percent of the best responses. Sex knowledge demonstrated appears to have been received through experience rather than through the classroom setting.

2. Adolescent fathers are less well adjusted than non-fathers on self-image. Adolescent fathers have particularly poorer family relationships than non-fathers in the study.

3. Adolescent fathers hold more realistic attitudes toward adolescent fatherhood than non-fathers in terms of financial responsibilities and short-term and long-term consequences associated with fatherhood.