Perceived and Performed Infant Care Competence of Younger and Older Adolescent Mothers

Abstract

The investigators examined differences in perceived and performed infant care competence for younger (less than 17 years of age) and older (17 to 19 years of age) adolescent mothers. Associations were tested between perceived infant care competence measured at several time points and performed mothering at 12 to 18 months infant age. A convenience sample of 78 adolescent mothers was recruited from two major teaching hospitals in Winnipeg, Canada. The Infant Care Questionnaire (ICQ), a self-report measure of infant care ability, was completed during the 3rd trimester and the 1st and 4th postnatal weeks. Performed mothering was assessed with Caldwell's HOME scale administered in the adolescent mother's home when the infant was 12 to 18 months old. Significant increases in competence perceptions over time were demonstrated for both ICQ subscales, the Mom&Baby, F(2, 47) = 22.73, p = 0.000, and Emotionality, F(2, 47) = 43.16, p = 0.000. This increase in infant care competence mirrors the maternal role competence trajectory reported in studies with older mothers. While no significant age group differences were found for Mom&Baby or Emotionality, older adolescent mothers were rated significantly higher on one of the HOME subscales, Variety in Daily Stimulation, t(n = 45), = 2.12, p =.04, and a second approached significance, Responsiveness, t(n = 45) = 1.86, p =.07. Pearson correlations between the Mom&Baby and Emotionality and the HOME subscales, Responsiveness and Environment, ranged between -0.30 and -0.37. Future research is required to further explain the negative correlations between perceived and performed infant care competence, establish clinical validity of self-report methods with adolescent mothers, and assess the influence of social, cultural, and economic factors not considered in this study.

Self-Perceptions of Parenting Among Adolescent Mothers

“…Differentiating between ages in adolescent mothers is important because younger and older adolescents may be different in emotional maturity and emotional support opportunities (Secco, Atech, Woodgate, & Moffatt, 2002). Whereas previous studies have combined age groups into one category, grouping all adolescents together (Hudson, Elek, & Fleck, 2001;Spears, 2001), this study sought to differentiate between younger and older adolescent mothers to determine what important empirical differences might be revealed.…”

How Adolescent Mothers Feel About Becoming a Parent

“…Researchers identify the significance of role identity, social support relationships, and developmental perspectives for the adolescent mother as she adapts to the demands of parenting (Clemmens, 2001(Clemmens, , 2003Gee & Rhodes, 2003;Rentschler, 2003). In addition, an adolescent's positive self-perception of parenting is influenced by having dependable social support relationships (Clemmens, 2003), feeling confident (Kretchmar & Jacobvitz, 2002), and being satisfied in her role as a mother (Secco, Atech, Woodgate, & Moffatt, 2002).…”

Transition of Maternal Competency of Married and Single Mothers in Early Parenthood

“…Many factors affect the development of maternal competence, including: parity and previous child care experience (Mercer, 1995;Salam, 1995); sense of mastery (Mercer, 1994(Mercer, , 1995Mercer & Ferketich, 1995); the mother's mental state (Mercer, 1995;Tarkka, 2003); and the mother's age (Mercer, 1995;Secco, Ateah, Woodgate, & Moffatt, 2002). Self-esteem (Mercer, 1994;Mercer & Ferketich, 1995) and selfefficacy have both been shown to be key predictors and mediators of maternal competence (Reece & Harkless, 1998;Teti & Gelfand, 1991).…”

“…Support groups for single mothers (Butcher & Gaffney, 1995) and nurse-initiated telephone support (Ruchala & Halstead, 1994) identify and accept the strengths of the single mother in order to help her recognize and understand her own strengths (Ford-Gilboe, 2000). Nurses need to recognize and understand more about the role of culture and ethnicity in motherhood and to develop culturally competent interventions that promote positive and nurturing mother-infant interactions (Secco et al, 2002). Further, investigation of the ''processes'' or the ''meaning'' of maternal competence among single mothers is needed, especially from a cultural and societal context (Spear & Lock, 2003).…”