Australian Father’s Study: Anxiety, depression and quality of life in teenage fathers. Is education the key?
Abstract
Background: There is limited research on fathers in the setting of teenage pregnancy. Most studies report data from regions where social disadvantage is high and levels of education are low. We report on the levels of anxiety, depression and quality of life of fathers in the setting of teenage pregnancy in an area where the background unemployment rate is low.
Methods: Observational study of 50 fathers in the setting of teenage pregnancy and 150 fathers not in the setting of teenage pregnancy, but living within the same metropolitan healthcare region where unemployment levels are below the National average. Fathers were enrolled within the larger Australian Father’s Study. Institutional ethics approval and consent were obtained via mothers. Fathers were recruited from antenatal clinics and community settings. Researchers administered the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Satisfaction with Life Scales (SWLS) questionnaires in the antenatal period.
Results: There were many demographic differences between fathers in the setting of teenage pregnancy and control fathers (p<0.05). However, there were no significant employment or educational differences adjusted for age. The majority of younger fathers had either completed or were completing twelve years of education or continuing with further education through an Institute of training, apprenticeship or Certificate in workplace training. After adjusting for demographic variables, fathers in the setting of teenage pregnancy did not have levels of anxiety, depression or quality of life that were significantly different to control fathers.
Conclusion: Fathers in the setting of teenage pregnancy, when engaged in further education through an Institute of training, apprenticeship or Certificate in workplace training, and with employment, have levels of anxiety, depression and quality of life comparable to older fathers.
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