Factors Related to Early Subsequent Pregnancies and Second Births among Adolescent Mothers in a Family Support Program

Abstract

This study addressed the following questions: Did adolescent mother who were randomly assigned to receive more intensive family support services have lower rates of early subsequent pregnancies and second births than adolescent mothers who received less intensive services? What factors assessed early in the program were predictive of which adolescents ( N = 99) had subsequent pregnancies or second births by the time the firstborn child was 24 months old? Potential predictors of these outcomes were assessed at enrollment and when the firstborn children were 6 months old. No differences were found between the two treatment groups on rates of second pregnancies or second births. A number of factors were associated with having an early subsequent pregnancy or second birth. The best predictor of both outcomes was the family advocates' rating of the teens' personal resources at the 6-month assessment.