Teen Fathers

Young men who father a child before the age of 20 years are considered teen fathers. Despite a vast amount of research focused on understanding and [Page 1664]explaining teen pregnancy and parenting, little attention has been devoted to appreciating contributions of teen fathers. Instead, much of this research has focused on young women, with a secondary focus on their partners, who are often in their 20s or 30s. The lack of a solid research base leaves room for speculation that often stigmatizes teen fathers and interferes with the provision of needed support. This entry compares rates of teen fathers by country, summarizes the social contexts of teen fatherhood, reviews the causes and consequences of teen fatherhood, emphasizes the need for support, and concludes with a ...