Adolescent Childbearing as Career “Choice”: Perspective From an Ecological Context

Why is young maternal age at first childbirth a risk factor for persistent delinquency in their male offspring? Examining the role of family and parenting factors

BACKGROUND

Children born to mothers who were younger than average at their first childbirth are at increased risk for future persistent delinquent behaviour, but explanations for this remain unclear.

AIMS

Our aim was to identify possible family and parenting variables that may help explain this relationship. We hypothesised that parental stress, large number of children in the home, low socioeconomic status (including neighbourhood problems) and poor parenting would account for the link between early first motherhood and their offspring's delinquency.

METHODS

Four hundred and sixty-two boys were selected from the Pittsburgh Youth Study, a longitudinal study of a random sample of school boys in Pittsburgh, initially assessed half-yearly and then annually from 7 to 19 years of age, using self-reporting and other reporting methods. Indirect effect models were used to test relationships between variables.

RESULTS

Higher levels of parental stress, poorer parent-child communication and caring for a larger number of children all mediated the relationship between maternal youth and persistent delinquency by their boys, but only explained about 20% of it.

DISCUSSION

At least partial explanations of the relationship between a mother's age at first childbirth and persistent delinquency in her male offspring suggest that future research should test whether early interventions with younger mothers to decrease their sense of stress in parenting and improve their capacity for communication with their child(ren) may help to prevent persistent delinquency in their boys. Programmes designed to help young women make more informed and planned decisions about their pregnancies should also be evaluated. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Optimal Development in Adolescence

Psychologists have traditionally focused on the problems experienced by what constitutes a minority of adolescents. In this article, attention has been directed to the optimal development of adolescents' potential across six domains: biological, cognitive, emotional, social, moral, and vocational. Criteria are proposed and consideration is given to the role that counseling psychologists can play in enhancing the development of individuals in the 12- to 18-year-old age group.

Risk factors for pregnancy and childbearing in single young women: Evidence from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health

This study investigated psychosocial predictors of early pregnancy and childbearing in single young women, consistent with the Eriksonian developmental perspective. Two mail-out surveys assessing reproductive behaviour and sociodemographic, education/competence, psychosocial well-being, and aspiration factors were completed 4 years apart by 2635 young women, aged 18 to 20 when first surveyed. Young women in the “emerging adulthood” developmental period were selected from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health. Longitudinally, lower investment in education over low-status paid work, experiencing unemployment, greater psychosocial distress, stress and alcohol use, and high family aspirations combined with low vocational aspirations were risk factors for early single pregnancy and childbearing. Several mediational relationships also existed between these predictor variables. It was concluded that psychosocial factors play an important role in understanding early pregnancy and childbearing in single young Australian women, and that the findings provide some support for investigating early pregnancy and childbearing from an Eriksonian developmental perspective.

The accumulation of problems of social functioning as a long-term process: Women and men compared

Structural equation modelling was used to analyse the developmental processes involved in the accumulation of problems of social functioning from age 8 to age 36 in men ( n = 152) and women ( n = 145). The accumulation of risk factors in childhood and adolescence, including low control of emotions (aggressiveness and anxiety), school problems (poor adjustment, success, and motivation), and problems in the family (parental drinking and low socioeconomic status), predicted career instability, early timing of parenthood, and a sense of failure at age 27 in both sexes. Similarly, the accumulation of problems of social functioning (e.g. poor financial standing, poor intimate relationships, and drinking problems) tended to continue from age 27 to 36, and be reciprocally associated with career instability at a corresponding age in both men and women. Risk factors in childhood and adolescence directly explained the accumulation of problems of social functioning at age 27 only in men. For women, the relationship was indirect: Asense of failure and the early timing of motherhood mediated risk factors to problems of social functioning at age 36.

African American Adolescent Mothers' Vocational Aspiration-Expectation Gap: Individual, Social and Environmental Influences

This study investigated the vocational aspirations and expectations of 160 African American adolescent mothers living in urban poverty. Discriminant function analysis was used in an attempt to distinguish between participants with, and those without, a discrepancy between their vocational aspirations and expectations. The two groups were found to be distinct in several ways. Depressive and anxious symptoms along with childcare provided by relatives, were associated with a gap between aspirations and expectations. Higher grade point averages, living with biological parents, and having a career mentor were more often associated with a match between expectations and aspirations. A combination of factors, including psychological functioning, social support, achievement, and contextual factors specific to the tasks of teen parenting, should be considered in future attempts to understand and describe adolescent mothers' vocational development.

Teen pregnancy and parenting: a qualitative study into attitudes and behaviours of teenaged long-term Hispanics in New Mexico

Introduction:

Teen pregnancy in Hispanic youth is a poorly understood phenomenon with numerous and overlapping sociocultural influences. Hispanics have had the highest teen pregnancy rates in the United States since 1995 and pregnancy rates that have declined much more slowly when compared to every other ethnic group. Literature investigating long-term Hispanic youth of the United States and the factors influencing their decision-making processes and sexual behaviours is limited.

Purpose:

This study aimed to explore and describe attitudes and behaviours related to teen pregnancy and parenting in Hispanic female teens from long-term families in New Mexico, whose primary language was English and who have experienced pregnancy and motherhood in the 12 months prior to participation.

Methods:

This was a focused-ethnographic qualitative study conducted in areas of New Mexico with high rates of teen pregnancy and where the population is majority Hispanic with long-term residency. Data were collected in interviews with 10 adolescent mothers and 10 adults, and through participant observation. Data were analysed inductively through immersion and crystallisation.

Results:

Key findings of the study include chaos/instability characterising the homes of youth, low levels of communication related to reproductive issues, disappointment expressed by families and community in response to teen pregnancy and community goals for the future.

Conclusions:

The study results will aid in increasing the knowledge base related to long-term Hispanic youth and the many sociocultural factors affecting their sexual decisions and behaviours.

Perceptions of teen motherhood in Australian adolescent females: life-line or lifederailment

PURPOSE

The findings presented in this paper describe the beliefs and attitudes of three different groups of adolescent females about teen motherhood. These were elicited from a larger analysis that explored and theorized contraceptive pathways in a sample of young Australian women.

METHODS

A purposive sample of females aged 14 to 19 years was recruited from three distinct populations in the city of Perth, Western Australia: (1) never-pregnant; (2) pregnant-terminated; and (3) pregnant-continued. Grounded theory principles were used to analyze data generated from 69 semi-structured interviews conducted over a 21 month period (2006-2008).

RESULTS

Two categories that described teenagers' attitudes to pregnancy and motherhood were elicited from the analysis. These explained the level of priority that teenagers placed on using contraception and postponing the transition to parenthood. The category labeled 'life derailment' represented how those who had never had a pregnancy or had terminated a pregnancy constructed teen motherhood as potentially restricting their personal, career and social transition to adulthood. The alternative category, 'life-line', reflected how those who continued with their pregnancy perceived teen motherhood as a positive and transformative experience that fostered personal growth.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings from this study contribute further insight into the complex nature of adolescent contraceptive use and pregnancy risk. The analysis has strengthened evidence of the critical role of self-perceptions of pregnancy and childbearing on teenagers' fertility outcomes. It has also emphasized the broader life circumstances that shape these attitudes, intentions and related behavior. Strategies directed toward academic support and vocational skill development may broaden teenage girls' perceived future options and achievement capacity, thus influencing key reproductive health outcomes.

How Australian Female Adolescents Prioritize Pregnancy Protection

Grounded theory principles were systematically employed to reveal key differences in pregnancy risk and underlying disparities in contraceptive use in (a) never-pregnant (b) pregnant-terminated and (c) pregnant-continued teenagers. Analysis of 69 semistructured interviews revealed a bicausal model of pregnancy protection that accounted for variation in contraceptive use across the sample. Diverging pregnancy/childbearing desires and risk perceptions were conceptualized into three behavioral patterns that represented higher and lower levels of commitment to prevent pregnancy. The various ways that teenagers made sense of their behavior highlight the importance of acknowledging and respecting diversity in perspectives and experiences and provide a useful framework for educational and practitioner-delivered interventions with greater relevance and impact.

Contextual Affordances of Rural Appalachian Individuals

Vocational psychology has recently begun examining the career development of marginalized and underrepresented populations. Social cognitive career theory provides a theoretical understanding of how cultural differences, resources, and barriers may affect the vocational choices and actions of individuals from minority populations. Contextual affordances, in particular, provide psychologists with a mechanism through which both distal and proximal environments influence vocational outcomes. This article examines the contextual affordances of Appalachian individuals from a social justice perspective. Implications for interventions and future research are proposed.

Social ecological predictors of repeat adolescent pregnancy

CONTEXT

Women with multiple pregnancies in adolescence may experience medical, psychological and social complications. Improved understanding of the individual-, dyad-, family-, peer/community- and social system-level risk factors for repeat pregnancy may lead to the development of more effective prevention strategies for adolescent mothers in a variety of settings.

METHODS

Between 1993 and 1996, white, black and Mexican American adolescent mothers at a labor and delivery unit in Texas were interviewed after delivery and completed written surveys prospectively for up to 48 months. Logistic regression analyses were used to determine predictors of repeat pregnancy within 24 months, using social ecological theory as a guide.

RESULTS

Forty-two percent of adolescent mothers experienced a repeat pregnancy within 24 months; 73% of these delivered a second child. Individual-level predictors were planning to have another baby within five years (odds ratio, 1.6) and not using long-acting contraceptives within three months of delivery (2.4). Dyad-level predictors were not being in a relationship with the father of the first child three months after delivery (2.0), being more than three years younger than the first child's father (1.6) and experiencing intimate partner violence within three months after delivery (1.9). Peer/community-level predictors were not being in school three months postpartum (1.8) and having many friends who were adolescent parents (1.5).

CONCLUSION

Adolescent mothers are at high risk for a rapid subsequent pregnancy. Interventions that address the complex and multifaceted aspects of the lives of adolescent mothers are needed to prevent repeat pregnancy.

Factors influencing intent to get pregnant in HIV-infected women living in the southern USA

This descriptive study sought to identify factors that influence HIV-infected women's intent to get pregnant. Interviews were conducted with a convenience sample of n = 322 HIV-infected women at risk for pregnancy. Participants were predominantly African-American (84.4%), single (57.9%), and ranged in age from 17 to 48 years. Forty per cent (n = 128) of the women had been pregnant since becoming HIV-positive. Potential factors influencing intent to get pregnant that were examined included demographic characteristics, HIV-related factors and personal beliefs and attitudes. In simple logistic regression models, younger age, increased motivation for child bearing, decreased perceived threat of HIV, decreased HIV symptomatology, higher traditional gender role orientation, and greater avoidance coping were all associated with greater intent to get pregnant. Following a model selection procedure, motivation for child bearing (OR = 16.05, 95% CI 7.95, 30.41) and traditional sex roles (OR = 4.49, 95% CI 1.44, 13.55) were significantly associated with greater intent to get pregnant. Traditional gender role orientation and motivation for childbearing are significant factors in predicting intent to get pregnant among HIV-infected women. These factors, as well as other non HIV-related factors, need to be routinely assessed by health care providers in developing plans of care for HIV-infected women.

Australian adolescents' attitudes and beliefs concerning pregnancy, childbirth and parenthood: the development, psychometric testing and results of a new scale

Recent research suggests that many adolescents hold unrealistic and idealised beliefs about the likely consequences of pregnancy and parenthood. Such attitudes potentially play an important role in the aetiology of adolescent pregnancy. Disillusionment with reality may also contribute to postnatal depression, domestic violence and child abuse. This paper reports on the development of a scale to measure the prevalence of such beliefs. The scale was administered to a sample of 1546 Australian adolescents. Between one-quarter and one-third of the sample exhibited idealised beliefs, with males having higher levels of idealization. On factor analysis, the idealization construct comprised an overestimation of positive aspects and an underestimation of negative ones. Subjects reported that very few of their beliefs derived from formal educational input.

Perceived consequences of teenage childbearing among adolescent girls in an urban sample

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to examine the perceived positive consequences of teenage childbearing among female adolescents, and to determine whether perceived consequences of teenage childbearing are associated with other attitudes and sexual risk behaviors.

METHODS

The sample consisted of 584 female students attending three urban high schools in Los Angeles, California. The respondents' mean age was 15.8 years, and 72% were Hispanic/Latina. Respondents completed a paper-and-pencil survey assessing their attitudes and risk behaviors relevant to teenage pregnancy. Multiple regression and logistic regression analyses were used to examine the associations between perceived consequences of teenage childbearing and demographic variables, educational variables, parental characteristics, psychosocial variables, attitudes, and sexual behavior.

RESULTS

Higher scores on a scale of perceived positive consequences of teenage childbearing were associated with increased risk of sexual intercourse and unprotected sexual intercourse. Higher scores on this scale were found among girls who were Latinas, were non-U.S. natives, had low levels of expected educational attainment, had low parental monitoring, had good communication with parents, and wished to have many children.

CONCLUSION

Potential strategies for preventing adolescent pregnancy include educating girls about the difficulties of teenage childbearing, countering their positive illusions about the expected benefits, and teaching them more adaptive ways to meet their emotional needs.

Adolescents' description and management of pregnancy and preterm labor

OBJECTIVE

To describe adolescents' experiences with pregnancy and preterm labor.

DESIGN

Naturalistic inquiry, a qualitative study using intensive, open-ended, tape-recorded interviews and constant comparative data analysis.

SETTING

Antepartum units of two hospitals in the southeastern section of the United States.

PARTICIPANTS

Eight African American and five white adolescents, ages 14-19 years, hospitalized for preterm labor.

RESULTS

The findings are broadly conceptualized as (a) describing pregnancy and preterm labor and (b) managing pregnancy and preterm labor. "Responding to Pregnancy" consisted of descriptions of the adolescents' reactions to pregnancy (initial concern and dislike) and pathophysiologic responses that put the adolescents at risk for preterm labor. "Responding to Preterm Labor" included the various ways that adolescents became aware of preterm labor and their various understandings of the causes and consequences of preterm labor. Vignettes illustrate how adolescents managed pregnancy and preterm labor with ease or with difficulty. Adolescents who received support from others, especially their mothers, tended to deliver near or at full-term.

CONCLUSIONS

Nurses can use the findings from this study as a guide for assessing and monitoring adolescents throughout pregnancy. Advanced practice nurses may have the educational background and philosophy of care to provide the most appropriate prenatal care to pregnant adolescents. Research is needed to further explore stressful experiences and support in adolescents' lives and how these are related to preterm labor and birth.

Predicting contraceptive vigilance in adolescent females: a projective method for assessing ego development

PURPOSE

To test the hypothesis that ego development would predict contraceptive use. Problems in ego development were defined in terms of three factors: (1) realism, (2) complexity, and (3) discontinuity.

METHODS

Forty-one respondents aged 14-17 years were selected from a group of 233 adolescents who were administered a projective pregnancy scenario and participated in a 12-month follow-up. Twenty of these adolescents were randomly selected from the group determined to be effective contraceptive users, while 21 were randomly selected from the group of poor contraceptors.

RESULTS

Chi-square test revealed a significant association (p < .0005) between the composite ego maturity (EM) measure and contraceptive outcome (chi 2 = 13.82, with df-1). Low scores on the ego maturity measure predicted poor contraceptive use. EM was unrelated to age but was associated with race (chi 2 = 7.535, .025 < p < .05). However, EM predicted contraceptive use when controlling for the effects of race.

CONCLUSIONS

A simple, time-efficient projective pregnancy scenario is an effective way of determining adolescent females at risk for poor contraceptive effectiveness and, therefore, untimely pregnancy. These stories are analyzed using factors related to the ego development of the adolescent. Subjects who scored lower on this measure have poor contraceptive effectiveness while subjects with higher levels demonstrated effective contraception use, at 1-year follow-up.

Acculturation, perceived social support, and self-esteem in primigravida Puerto Rican teenagers

The purpose of this study was to explore acculturation, perceived social support, and self-esteem in 63 primigravida adolescents of Puerto Rican background living in the mainland United States. Although more teenagers of Puerto Rican background become pregnant than do those of all other Hispanic mainland groups, few studies have viewed pregnancy within this subculture. Mainland acculturation was not related to either perceived social support or self-esteem among the study sample. The study elucidates the importance of recognizing the dual cultural influence on mainland-dwelling adolescents of Puerto Rican background. The study findings suggest that exploration be continued beyond acculturation, as measured in this study, to understand the differences in adolescent pregnancy rates among the specific cultures of the Hispanic megaculture of the United States.