Adolescent Mothers and Their Children's Early School Performance

Abstract

This study examined differences in child-mother interaction, classroom adjustment during kindergarten, and retention in kindergarten between 41 first-born children of adolescent mothers (18 years old or younger at the time of the child's birth) and 88 first-born children of adult mothers (20 to 24 years old at the time of the child's birth). Maternal education was included as a covariate in comparisons. The children of adolescent and adult mothers were generally indistinguishable in areas of classroom adjustment, retention in kindergarten, and child–mother interaction when mothers' education was considered. Results are discussed in terms of implications for research and policy.