A Comparison of Teenage and Older Mothers with Preschool Age Children

Abstract

A comparison of teenage and older mothers when their oldest child was 2-4 years old was undertaken as part of an ongoing effort to delineate differences between the groups that might contribute to developmental differences attributed to their children. This study tested the claims of earlier studies that teenage mothers lack the knowledge or positive attitudes necessary for good parenting. 93 mothers took part--62 teenage mothers (average age 16.7 at childbirth) and 31 older mothers (23.4 average age at childbirth). A higher proportion of teenage mothers were members of minority groups (66% vs 20%). The teenage mothers were more likely to live alone or with their parents and were less likely to be married or cohabitating with a male than were the older mothers. Each mother was interviewed; then she completed the Child Development Questionnaire a multiple choice test developed for this study to measure knowledge of child development including the common developmental milestones. Attitudes toward children and the parenting role were assessed using the Parent Attitude Survey. The older mothers had completed significantly more education. Teenagers scored slightly but significantly lower than older mothers on the knowledge of child development. The 2 groups scored similarly on parental confidence and trust. Neither group felt highly confident nor trusting. The older mothers had significantly more positive attitudes on the scales for causation acceptance and understanding. Future research should examine the continuum of teenage parenting abilities more closely expecially what distinguishes a competent teenage mother from a less competent teenage mother.