1. Australian Father’s Study
Australian Father’s Study: Anxiety, depression and quality of life in teenage fathers. Is education the key?
Andrea Atkinson1, Rodney Petersen2, Julie Quinlivan1,3.
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Joondalup Health Campus, Joondalup, WA, Australia ; 2Mothers and Babies Division, Women’s and Children’s Hospital, North Adelaide, SA, Australia. ; 3Institute for Health Research, University of Notre Dame Australia, Fremantle, WA, Australia.
Introduction
There is limited research on fathers in the setting of teenage pregnancy (1,2). We have previously observed high rates of anxiety and depression in teenage fathers living in low socioeconomic areas with high unemployment.
The aim was to explore the psychological status of fathers in the setting of teenage pregnancy exposed to greater employment opportunities.
Results
Table 1 Displays the demographic characteristics of the study group of 50 teenage fathers versus the control group. Significant differences are demonstrated for age, birth in Australia, smoker status and a higher prevalence of teenage group fathers were of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander origin. Significantly fewer teenage fathers were living with their partners and only 12% of teenage group fathers had received more than 12 years education, perhaps reflecting limited opportunities due to their younger age compared to controls.
There were no significant differences in levels of overall employment or in employment as a fly in, fly out worker between teenage and control fathers. The majority of teenage group fathers (88%) were employed or studying or training. Almost all teenage group fathers were first-time fathers (teenage 96% versus 52%, p<0.0001), and the rate of unplanned pregnancy was significantly higher (teenage 78% versus 19%, p<0.0001).
Table 2 Demonstrates no significant difference in overall HADS scores and subscale anxiety and depression scores used as a measure of anxiety and depression between teenage group fathers versus control fathers. Similarly differences in mean scores for the Satisfaction With Life Scale were not significant with a mean score of 27.5 for the control group and 27.6 for the teenage fathers group. In multivariate analysis, age was not a significant predictor of overall psychological symptomatology, anxiety, depression or quality of life score.
Australian Father’s Study
Conclusions
Expectant fathers in the setting of teenage pregnancy reported levels of anxiety, depression and quality of life outcomes similar to control fathers.
This result is different to our earlier study (1). The difference may be due to the greater engagement with employment and further education opportunities in this present cohort compared to the earlier cohort.
Education and employment may act as protective factors for expectant fathers in the setting of teenage pregnancy.
Table 1: Characteristics of study vs. control
Table 2: HADS and SWLS survey results of study group vs. control
Methods
Observational study of 50 fathers in the setting of teenage pregnancy and 100 control fathers who lived within the same metropolitan healthcare region that offered high employment opportunities. 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.
Descriptive statistical analysis was performed. The key outcomes were levels of psychological symptomatology and quality of life.
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Literature Cited
Quinlivan JA, Condon J. Anxiety and depression in fathers in teenage pregnancy. ANX J Psych 2005; 39:
Quinlivan JA, Tan LH. J. Domestic violence, single parenthood, and fathers in the setting of teenage pregnancy. Adol Health Mar;38(3):201-7.
ANZCTR
The primary trial was registered with ANZCTR Number: