Understanding Stress Associated with Adolescent Pregnancy and Early Childbearing

Immediate and Longer-Term Connections Between Support and Stress in Pregnant/Parenting and Non-Pregnant/Non-Parenting Adolescents

“…Pregnancy and the birth of a child can create many changes for young mothers, on top of the normal changes and transitions of adolescence (Gee and Rhodes 2003;Langfield and Pasley 1997). The transition to parenthood for adolescents often produces stress from role ambiguity, balancing competing developmental tasks, and having to negotiate multiple transitions simultaneously (Birkeland et al 2005).…”

“…The presence of social support, in particular, has been found to help pregnant and parenting adolescents adjust to the potential stress of pregnancy and parenthood (Langfield and Pasley 1997). Studies have shown that social support can also promote maternal well-being (Logsdon and Koniak-Griffin 2005) and improve mother-infant interactions (Clemmens 2001).…”

“…Teen mothers, on average, have lower educational attainment, are more likely to make-up singleparent families, and to be dependent on public assistance, often during their children's important developmental years (National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy 2002). Their children may suffer poor cognitive development, and social-behavioral adjustment problems (Klein and the Committee on Adolescence 2005; Langfield and Pasley 1997). Also, a disproportionate number of these children are low birth-weight babies, and teen mothers are at greater risk for premature labor and fetal and maternal death (Rickel 1989).…”

Predictors of Parenting and Infant Outcomes for Impoverished Adolescent Parents

“…Specifically, adolescent mothers are at risk of depression (Horwitz, Bruce, Hoff, Harley, & Jekel, 1996; Barnet, Joffe, Duggan, Wilson, & Repke, 1996), parenting stress (Emery, Paquette, & Bigras, 2008; Passino et al, 1993), increased likelihood of child maltreatment (Britner & Reppucci, 1997; Schellenbeck, Whitman, & Borkowski, 1992; Leventhal, 1981), lower educational attainment (National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, 2002; Leadbeater, 1996), and reduced economic stability (Devereux et al, 2009; Hoffman, Foster & Furstenberg, 1993). Children of adolescent mothers have been found to be at risk of developmental delays and social-behavioral problems (Hoffman et al, 1993; Langfield & Pasley, 1997). Due to the high birth rate for adolescent mothers, these negative outcomes represent an important social and public health problem and more research is necessary to develop effective programs for and enhance outcomes of children and adolescent mothers.…”

Interpersonal psychotherapy with pregnant adolescents: two pilot studies

“…Prevalence of depressive disorder in pregnant adolescents is over twice that of 10–12% found among pregnant adults (Gotlib, Whiffen, Mount, & Milne, 1989; O’Hara, Zekoski, Philipps, & Wright, 1990) or that of 8–12% found in non‐pregnant adolescents (Lewinsohn, Clarke, Seeley, & Rohde, 1994; Rutter, Graham, Chadwick, & Yule, 1976; Weissman, Warner, Wickramaratne, & Moreau, 1997). Perinatal depression poses risk for post‐partum depression (Beck, 1996; Green & Murray, 1994), which in turn poses risks for poor maternal–infant bonding, infant attachment style, and behavior problems in offspring (Coyl, Roggman, & Newland, 2002; Hubbs‐Tait, Osofsky, Hann, & McDonald, 1994; Jameson et al, 1997; Langfield & Pasley, 1997; Leadbeater, Bishop, & Raver, 1995; Petterson & Albers, 2001; Righetti‐Veltema, Bousquet, & Manzano, 2002).…”