Fathering on Tenuous Ground: A Qualitative Meta-Synthesis on Teen Fathering

Although teen fathers are a vulnerable group of parents, they have received far less attention than teen mothers.

We conducted a systematic search of qualitative studies that examined their prenatal and postpartum experience to better understand teen fathers' concerns, strengths, and vulnerabilities.

We searched nine electronic databases through September 2017; 29 studies represented in 30 articles met study criteria. All authors independently extracted data from each article. Coding decisions were reviewed weekly and differences were settled by consensus.

From pooling the results of 29 primary studies, we describe how a tenuous ground contributes to teen paternity and imperils young fathers' involvement with their children. In the best of circumstances, the ground begins to stabilize for teens who become involved parents despite significant challenges and hardships.

Our results contribute to the visibility of teen fathers and the social disparities that imperil fathering. We provide clinical guidance for strengthening the ground for teen fathers and their families, recognizing that clinicians often encounter challenges such as interpersonal factors and sociocultural conditions that systematically erode fathers' ties to their children, partners, professional caregivers, and institutions.