Motherhood during the teen years: A developmental perspective on risk factors for childbearing

The role of peer relations in childhood and behavioral and family characteristics in early adolescence as risk factors for adolescent childbearing was investigated. Sociometric surveys across third, fourth, and fifth grade and parent and child measures of behavioral and family functioning at sixth and eighth grade were collected in a lower income, urban sample of 308 African American females. Results replicated earlier findings on the role of childhood aggression as a predictor of teen motherhood. In addition, girls who displayed stable patterns of childhood aggression were at significantly higher risk not only to have children as teenagers but to have more children and to have children at younger ages. Results also indicated that females who were depressed in midadolescence were at greater risk to become parents between age 15 and 19 years. These findings demonstrate the need to take a differentiated approach to understanding teen childbearing and varying developmental pathways in the prediction of teen motherhood.

[1]  M. Underwood Childhood Peer Sociometric Status and Aggression as Predictors of Adolescent Childbearing. , 1996 .

[2]  R. Windle,et al.  The onset and cross-temporal patterning of sexual intercourse in middle adolescence: prospective relations with behavioral and emotional problems. , 1996, Child development.

[3]  B. Leadbeater,et al.  Quality of Mother-Toddler Interactions, Maternal Depressive Symptoms, and Behavior Problems in Preschoolers of Adolescent Mothers. , 1996 .

[4]  J. Frost,et al.  Understanding the impact of effective teenage pregnancy prevention programs. , 1995, Family planning perspectives.

[5]  R Jessor,et al.  Successful adolescent development among youth in high-risk settings. , 1993, The American psychologist.

[6]  J. Coie,et al.  Predicting early adolescent disorder from childhood aggression and peer rejection. , 1992, Journal of consulting and clinical psychology.

[7]  B. Leadbeater,et al.  Predicting School Outcomes for Minority Group Adolescent Mothers: Can Subgroups be Identified? , 1991 .

[8]  J. Coie,et al.  Preadolescent peer status, aggression, and school adjustment as predictors of externalizing problems in adolescence. , 1990, Child development.

[9]  J. Brooks-Gunn,et al.  Teenaged pregnancy and childbearing. , 1989, The American psychologist.

[10]  D. Culler,et al.  Comparison of methods , 2000 .

[11]  J. Fortenberry,et al.  Early Initiation of Sexual Intercourse: The Influence of Psychosocial Unconventionality , 1995 .

[12]  G. Albee,et al.  On "the science of prevention." , 1994 .

[13]  J. Coie,et al.  The role of social context in the prevention of conduct disorder , 1993, Development and Psychopathology.

[14]  J. Jaccard,et al.  The Family Environment , 1991 .