This study aimed to describe how low social class male adolescents perceive the transition to parenthood. Participants were three teenage fathers from low socioeconomic background and first-time fathers of a healthy baby. Data collection was performed using a semi-structured interview conducted at two time points: soon after the birth of the baby and when the baby was six-months-old. The research design was a longitudinal and collective case study. Main results indicated that adolescents perceived fatherhood as an experience that brings maturity and personal growth. The teenage fathers recognized their responsibility to provide financially to the family as well as to care for their child. Support from their parents, friends, and work was highlighted as an important factor for them to properly perform the parental role and undertake the new responsibilities. The experience of adolescent fatherhood described in this study is possibly related to the socioeconomic level of the adolescents interviewed; however, some of its characteristics may be common to adolescent fathers from other socioeconomic backgrounds. For an adequate understanding of fatherhood during adolescence, it is important to consider the adolescent life context, as this experience is directly influenced by their social and economic conditions as well as family support.
Paternity; Adolescent