A Comparison of Parenting Education Approaches for Adolescent Fathers

A Randomized Feasibility and Acceptability Study Comparing In-person to On-line Parenting Education for Adolescent Fathers

This feasibility and acceptability study will compare in-person to web-based parenting education for adolescent fathers on the outcomes of parenting confidence and participation in parenting activities.

This is a randomized feasibility and acceptability study using a block generator for randomization of participants aged 15 to 21 into either in-person parenting education or on-line parenting. Outcome measures include parenting self-efficacy and participation in daily parenting activities. Participants will take part in approximately twelve hours of parenting education, whether in-person or on-line. Recruitment flyers will be placed in two primary care clinics and a large regional hospital's Labor & Delivery and Postpartum (Mother-Baby) Units. Participants will seek out the opportunity to participate by calling the phone number or sending an e-mail to the investigators to learn more about the study and their potential participation. If participants meet eligibility criteria and elect to participate, baseline measurements will be completed after enrollment, with follow-up measures at one month and two months.

Inclusion Criteria:

• age 15 to 21,
• be able to read and understand English (as determined by having the individual read a brief, eighth grade reading level paragraph),
• able to begin the intervention within six weeks of their infant's birth,
• be able to participate in an intervention over two weeks, requiring approximately a 12-hour time commitment: either in-person on two Saturdays for six hours each, or a self-paced content of videos and resource materials over two weeks,
• own or have access to a device with internet access and
• have a working e-mail address.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Any condition that might prevent the father's infant from reaching normal developmental milestones will participation, including congenital malformations or prematurity requiring prolonged/ ongoing infant hospitalization.