‘I want to be better than you:’ lived experiences of intergenerational child maltreatment prevention among teenage mothers in and beyond foster care

Abstract

The growing body of research on teenage motherhood in foster care has largely focused on the risks involved for both mother and child, yet these mothers depict a much more complex picture of their own experience of becoming and being mothers. The current study employed interpretative phenomenological analysis to explore 18 in-depth, qualitative interviews from six participants on the meaning and experience of motherhood among teenage mothers in foster care and in the years immediately after ageing out. This study focused on a particular dimension of motherhood: participants' efforts to break the cycle of child abuse and neglect with their own children. Two themes emerged as characteristic of these experiences: (i) treating children well/parenting differently and avoiding the system; and (ii) reducing isolation and enhancing support. Given the increased likelihood of the children of teen mothers -particularly those who have been maltreated -becoming involved with the child welfare system, study findings suggest possible strategies for disrupting cycles of intergenerational child welfare involvement generated by young mothers themselves. Practice implications for addressing possible substance abuse, mental health and relational and parenting needs are discussed.

Me, myself and I: perceptions of social capital for mothers ageing out of the child welfare system

“…Complementing Max & Paluzzi's () findings, providers suggested that mothers often lacked the ability to identify, let alone establish healthy relationships. As with earlier work (Aparicio In press), mothers recognized they should not emulate their own parent‐child relationships with their children. Also, they felt that although their child's father was far from ideal, he was ‘there’ sometimes when they needed assistance.…”

“…Mothers ageing out of the child welfare system have much to gain from social capital (Connolly et al ; Aparicio In press). This study examined social support among mothers ageing out from the perceptions of both mothers and service providers.…”

“…The importance of social capital for well‐being coupled with its non‐universal availability, particularly among vulnerable populations, makes social capital among mothers ageing out a valuable area of study. Indeed, these mothers are a vulnerable population with much to gain, including strong ties and informal support (Connolly et al ; Aparicio In press).…”

“…A recent meta‐synthesis of 17 qualitative studies on pregnant and parenting mothers ageing out of care revealed a central theme that ‘support contributes to a positive motherhood experience’ (Connolly et al , p. 625). However, analyses of qualitative interviews indicate that mothers ageing out report inconsistent, unstable and unreliable relationships (Mantovani & Thomas ; Aparicio In press).…”

The ‘good mother’ struggles: Obstacles to the attainment of motherhood ideals among adult women formerly placed in residential care

“…One explanation could be that socially accepted standards regarding the “good mother” have a pervasive impact among these women who feel they are perceived as unfit, because of their history of being in care. Indeed, qualitative explorations of former welfare/justice‐involved women on their experiences of parenthood highlighted generalized beliefs that they are expected to fail as mothers and that they are parenting under surveillance (Aparicio, ; Connolly et al, ; Maxwell et al, ; Pryce & Samuels, ). Such a mistrust of others and perceived stigma might very well be founded.…”