Objective: Unmarried mothers have high rates of smoking,
including during late pregnancy and after pregnancy, thus increasing
their children’s risk for negative health outcomes associated with maternal
tobacco use. Few studies have examined whether partners’ smoking
exacerbates or attenuates maternal smoking risk. The current study
examines how fathers’ behaviors during the third trimester of pregnancy
and after pregnancy influence maternal smoking across the first 9 years
of a child’s life. Method: Unmarried parents (N = 2,580 pairs) from the
Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study were measured four times.
Paternal and maternal tobacco use during the third trimester was assessed
via retrospective report at baseline (the time of the child’s birth).
Parents also reported tobacco use 1 year, 5 years, and 9 years later.
Paternal supportive behaviors were self-reported at baseline. Results:
Paternal tobacco use predicted maternal tobacco use. This association
was moderated by paternal supportive behaviors as reported by fathers (b
= 0.51, 95% CI [0.22, 0.81], p = .001; adjusted odds ratio = 1.67, 95% CI
[1.24, 2.25]). Paternal smoking predicted maternal smoking for fathers
who reported both high and low levels of supportive behaviors, but this
relationship was stronger for fathers who engaged in the highest levels
of support. Conclusions: Unmarried fathers’ smoking had a stronger
relationship to maternal smoking during late pregnancy and postpartum
when fathers engaged in more support behaviors. The results of this
study suggest that targeting fathers’ smoking cessation may help improve
the effectiveness of tobacco cessation programs for at-risk unmarried
mothers.
Peer Reviewed
https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/149446/1/2019 ALBUJA early paternal smoking.pdf