Adolescent pregnancy and parenting

A comparison of young women's psychosocial status based on age of their first childbirth

This 12-year longitudinal study examined the psychological status; social relationships; and home, work, and parenting stress and satisfaction in their young adulthood for a sample of rural women who were teen mothers compared to their cohort who had their first child in their twenties. Differences in depression, loneliness, and self-esteem were explained by prior psychological status as teens. Home stress/satisfaction factors and parenting satisfaction and efficacy were also similar after controlling for number of children. Service providers need to understand psychosocial outcomes of first childbirth in order to more effectively meet the physical and mental health needs of all young mothers.

Perceived stress, social support, and affectionate behaviors of adolescent mothers with infants in neonatal intensive care

INTRODUCTION

This article focuses on affectionate behaviors of adolescent mothers with their infants in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Hypotheses derived from behavioral science theory posited the direct influence of social support and perceived stress on affectionate behaviors, the statistical interaction of social support and perceived stress on affectionate behaviors, and perceived stress as a mediator of the relationship between social support and affectionate behaviors.

METHOD

Subjects were enrolled from July 1993 through September 1994. Information about perceived stress and social support was obtained twice by means of an interview. Affectionate behaviors were measured by NICU nurse observations. Analyses were conducted on subsamples ranging from 57 to 107 subjects.

RESULTS

All hypotheses were rejected. Neither social supports nor perceived stress were related to affectionate behaviors, and no statistical interactions among the 3 variables were identified.

DISCUSSION

The findings are considered in the context of the methodology used, stress and social support theory, and implications for practice and future research.

Annotation: on the grandmothers' role in the adjustment and maladjustment of grandchildren

The present annotation explores the impact of grandmother involvement on their grandchildren's adjustment. A review of relevant research suggests that the impact of such involvement is conditional on a range of factors, including (a) the level of need experienced by the mother and child, (b) the mother-grandmother relationship history, (c) the developmental stage and life circumstances of the grandmother, (d) the levels of disagreement between mother and grandmother over child-related issues, and (e) the perceived appropriateness of involvement in cultural and interpersonal terms. Under most circumstances grandmother involvement is not a pre-requisite for grandchild adjustment. Where a genuine need for support exists and the support offered is tailored to meet that need, then grandmother involvement can represent a protective feature of the family environment. However, in situations where no such need exists, or the grandmother-mother relationship history precludes a harmonious relationship, then grandmother involvement can represent a risk factor and have a negative effect on family functioning and child adjustment.