title: Selected psychosocial characteristics of black unwed adolescent fathers.
abstract: Adolescent fathers and nonfathers were compared as to their belief in a sense of personal control and responsibility for their own lives (locus of control); ability to optimistically trust others (interpersonal trust); taking an active orientation to life's demands and problems (coping style); and family/generational pattern of unwed parenthood. Participants were 24 unwed adolescent fathers and 27 unwed adolescent nonfathers, aged 15-19 years. Each participant completed a questionnaire containing a Rotter Internal-External Locus of Control Scale, the Rotter Interpersonal Trust Scale, the Behavioral Attributes of Psychosocial Competence, and a scale measuring family pattern of unwed parenthood. Results suggest that adolescent fathers are usually older, more likely to have been born out-of-wedlock, and less trusting than nonfathers. The implications for casework with adolescent fathers are discussed.
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D004219:District of Columbia; D005190:Family; D005220:Fathers / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007086:Illegitimacy; D007389:Internal-External Control; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D011581:Psychological Tests; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent