First-time Adolescent Mothers Research Articles

Child development knowledge, childrearing attitudes, and social support among first- and second-time adolescent mothers

This paper compares the parenting characteristics of first-and second-time adolescent mothers. Using a case control design, immediately alter delivery and at two months postpartum we administered a pretested questionnaire to 51 second-time adolescent mothers, 47 first-time adolescent mothers, and 25 second-time adult mothers. The questionnaire measured the subject's social support system, contraceptive use, and education level. Scales measuring stressful life events, knowledge of child development, and childrearing attitudes were included. The adolescent groups were similar except that significantly more second-time adolescent mothers dropped out of school ( p ≤ 0.05). Greater maternal education and higher infant five-minute Apgar scores were associated with less negative childrearing attitudes immediately after the birth ( p ≤ 0.05). At two months postpartum, the age of the father and the time he spent with the child were associated with positive childrearing attitudes ( p ≤ 0.05). Increased paternal involvement and completion of high school may enhance adolescent attitudes toward childrearing and improve mother-child relations.

Social Support and Adaptation to the Parent Role in First-time Adolescent Mothers

The relationship between social support and adaptation to parenthood for first-time adolescent mothers was investigated in this descriptive correlational study. The outcomes of adaptation were defined as the synchrony of parent-infant interaction and the level of stress related to parenting. A nonprobability sample of 18 adolescent, first-time mothers who had an uncomplicated perinatal experiences and delivered healthy, term newborns were selected. Data were collected during a home interview at one month postpartum. The measure of social support was significantly related to parent-infant reciprocity. Total functional support scores were inversely, but not significantly, correlated with total scores of stress related to parenting (r = -.31). Finally, the measure of reciprocity and the measure of stress related to parenting were inversely but not significantly related.

Interpersonal Problem Solving and Its Relation to Adolescent Mothering Behaviors

The objective of this study was to deterinine whethler-means-end thinking was related to adolescent maternal initeractions. One huundred twenty-eight single, low-income, first-time adolescent mothers were administered the Means-End Problem Solvinig Scale (MEPS) during their third trimester of pregnancy. Observationts of materntal-inifant interactions durinig teaching and feeding situations were assessed at one month postpar-tum. As predicted, higher MEPS scores indicating greater problem-solving skills were significantly correlated with more optimal maternal intleractions, even when the effects of age were statistically partialled out. This relation was no longer significant, however, when adjusted for socioeconomic status and grade level. Consistent with previous work, increasing age was significantly related to more optimal maternal interactions. However, MEPS scores were not correlated with increasing maternal age. It was emphasized that further research was nieeded to clarify whether developmenital change in meansenid thinking continuies to occuir throughout adolescence.

Parenting knowledge among adolescent mothers

The parenting knowledge of first-time adolescent mothers who chose to receive special services from the public school system was measured. These data are thought to be the first reported on the adolescent's awareness that parenting influences the present and future well-being of the infant and mother. Knowledge level was high and no different from that of adult primiparous mothers of comparable socioeconomic status. Correct response to individual items on the infant Caregiving Inventory (ICI) ranged from 84% to 96% for adolescents. These results are contrary to the previous reports of deficient parenting by adolescents. They reflect the need for continuing investigation of adolescent mothers' parenting knowledge in evaluating their effectiveness as parents.