Their perspectives on fatherhood * Nearly 50 % of the conceptions were
described as a complete surprise, and only three were planned * Nearly two - fifths (37 %) of the prospective fathers had had previous children; most still had some contact with the children but only two were still living with them and were engaged as actively involved fathers * Two - thirds (65 %)
described themselves as having a low or medium sense of reality
about their impending fatherhood * Three - quarters were expecting the baby to have a noticeable impact on their way of life * Three - quarters were motivated to learn more
about pregnancy and fatherhood, with
partners, family and friends seen as the most important source of information * Very few thought
about health professionals as a
potential source of support and advice, and some would have liked to have talked to one but felt awkward
about it.
To investigate these possibilities, more than 750 participants read one of two paragraphs
about a same - sex
potential friend («Joan» for women and «Jim» for men) where the friend was
described as a 20 - year - old student with either 20 lifetime sexual
partners (permissive condition) or 2 past
partners (non-permissive condition).