I came across this news article that is relative to our study and found it very interesting. Researchers report that while teen pregnancies carry extra health risks to the mother and baby, teen fathers play a substantial role in the birth outcomes. Babies born to teen fathers are at greater health risks than babies born to men over the age of 40.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_60914.html

I came across this site supported by the NIH that disseminates practical research information, including advice on funding, study management, career advancement, etc.  We are also lucky to have one of our research team members, Dr. Ickovics, as a contributor! http://www.4researchers.org/  

Our first couple recently completed their second assessment 6 months postpartum.  I just can’t believe it has come around so fast.

Our second assessment includes many of the same constructs assessed at the first interview, including dyadic measures such as attachment and relationship power, sexual psychosocial measures such as condom attitudes and behavioral intentions, and other individual psychosocial measures such as depression and social support. 

Participants’ second interview also includes parenting measures (e.g. parenting sense of competence, breastfeeding, infant temperament, etc.), other new family measures, etc. 

We hope that the longitudinal design of this research will give us a glimpse into the dynamics of the transition to parenthood for young moms and dads.  The next thing I know I will be writing about our interviews 12 months postpartum!