Factors IDENTIFIERS *Unmarried Parents

preliminary findings are presented to address the issue of the extent to which measOres of external locus of control, contraception use, educational achievement, and relligiosity discriminate betweem black unmarried adolescent fathers and nonfathers. Forty-eight unmarried adolescent fathers and 50 unmarried adolescent nonfathers were identified by social service workers. Data were collected by an adult black male isIerviewer in a face-to-face private interview. Questions'pertainedifo the social and demographic characieristics of the subjects; their sexual knowledge, attitudes, and practices; the problems they encountered as adolescent males; and the ways they coped with their problems. Results indicate that if a black adolescent male's locus of control, contraceptive use, church attendance, and school status are known, his status as a father can be predicted. Policy implications of this research include the suggestion that unmarried black adolescent fathers should be given birth control counseling and, if other forms of cgunseling are warranted, atteption should be paid to issues of locus of control. Concluding remarks point out weaknesses of the study limiting its generalizability. (RH) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. L