Experience of parenthood for adolescent mothers with toddlers

The purpose of this study was to build a knowledge base about the experience of parenthood for adolescent mothers with toddlers. Objectives were to elicit maternal perceptions of themselves as parents, selected childrearing practices, relationships with kin and significant others, daily routines and lifestyles, and the effect of parenthood on their life. The purposive sample consisted of 12 adolescent mothers, ranging in age from 14 to 21 years, and their children, ranging in age from 24 to 39 months. The variables of maternal age, age and gender of the child guided the sampling plan. The sample represented a cross-section of adolescent mothers with varying degrees of familial and paternal involvement. Focused and open-ended interviews were used to obtain demographic data, plus the mother's perceptions and experiences. The Home Observation for the Measurement of the Environment (HOME Inventory) and Denver Developmental Screening Test (DDST) were administered. Content analysis and similar techniques were used for interview data; descriptive statistics were used for demographic information. A computer program facilitated analysis of the data. Informed consent was obtained from each participant. Five research questions guided data collection and analysis. The maternal role was judged as being successfully attained by 10 informants. No developmental delays were seen among the children. Variations in childrearing practices and lifestyles were congruent with current literature about family structure and function. The impact of early childbearing had conflicting meanings for the mothers. Six themes were generated from the data: Being a teen mom is hard, but I wouldn't change it; Being a teen mom is a special responsibility, but I can do it!; Having your family's help is necessary; Being a mom is every day; Having a baby is a stabilizer; and Don't do it! Variation was noted among respondents for each theme. Existing conceptualizations about adolescent parents were partially supported. Based on this initial study, models of adolescent parenting can be tentatively extended to include parents of toddlers. Suggestions for future research include a comprehensive study of mothers of all ages who have toddlers. Implications for nursing practice emphasize a holistic, individualized approach to care.