Hispanic and White non-Hispanic adolescent fathers: an exploratory study using socio-cultural variables

Abstract

The study investigated a set of socio-cultural variables with young Hispanic and White non-Hispanic (WnH) fathers and non-fathers. The variables examined were gang involvement, legal involvement, cultural identification, and perceived caring among family, peers, and teachers. The sample for this study was selected to include actual and expectant adolescent fathers and adolescent non-fathers who only identified as Hispanic or WnH between the ages of 14 to 19 years. The total sample consisted of N=1,716 young males from a diverse Southwestern community. The study had twice as many Hispanic (N=1,159) than WnH (N=557) adolescent males. Specifically, there were N=246 Hispanic fathers and N=913 Hispanic non-fathers compared to N=37 White non-Hispanic fathers and N=520 White non-Hispanic non-fathers. Several statistical models were used to test the hypotheses within the study. Univariate analyses of variance (ANOVA) and chi-square techniques were conducted using age category, ethnicity, and paternity status across the variables of study. Only statistically significant differences and interactions were reported. The results indicated several statistically significant main effects and interactions between adolescent fathers and adolescent non-fathers across the variables of delinquency and perceived caring. Regardless of ethnicity, adolescent fathers were more likely to be have been arrested, jailed, or have lived in a juvenile home than non-fathers. Results also showed that fathers were more likely to have been in a gang compared to non-fathers. Although there were no significant differences using cultural identification, there were a limited number of ethnicity and paternity differences found with the variables of perceived family caring and perceived peer caring, respectively. Logistical regression was performed, but due to weak fit the results were inconclusive. Implications for future researchers and community health professionals were outlined. Recommendations for future research were addressed.