Early interactive processes: Parenting by adolescent and adult single mothers

Abstract

The parenting skills of adolescent (15–18 years) and adult (19–37 years) single mothers were compared in terms of behavior frequencies, appropriateness, and vocal responsiveness. Corresponding behavior frequencies and vocal responsiveness of infants were also examined. Twenty-four adolescent mothers and 24 adult mothers were observed in their homes for 1 hour when their infants were 4 months old. At 12 months, similar observations were conducted with 17 of the mother-infant dyads in each group. All mothers were primiparous, Caucasian, and single at the time of their infants' births; adolescent and adult mothers were approximately matched on family background. Even with these controls, differences were evident in the parenting of adolescent and adult mothers. With their 4-month-old infants, adolescent mothers vocalized less, smiled less, and offered or showed toys less frequently than did adult mothers. When their infants were 12 months old, adolescent mothers were rated as less appropriate in their interactions and were significantly less vocally responsive than adult mothers. Infants of adolescent mothers, as compared with infants of adult mothers, exhibited less smiling and vocalizing at 4 months and an absence of vocal responsiveness at 4 and 12 months.