Following the ongoing increase in nonmarital fertility, policy makers have looked for ways to limit the disadvantages faced by children of unmarried mothers. Recent initiatives included marriage promotion and welfare-to-work programs. Yet policy might also consider the promotion of three generational households. We know little about whether…

Using data on low-income mothers in Boston, Chicago, and San Antonio, we test three propositions regarding mothers' attitudes toward childbearing, marriage, and divorce. These are drawn from K. Edin and M. J. Kefalas (2005) but have also arisen in other recent studies. We find strong support for the proposition that childbearing outside of…

Using data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Survey (N= 3,567), we examine the links between relationship status, relationship quality, and race and ethnicity in breastfeeding initiation. We consider four relationship types: married, cohabiting, romantically involved but not cohabiting (termed visiting), and nonromantically involved…

The historical context of teen pregnancy in the US and its evolution to the present embodiment of the predominantly urban "welfare mother" developed from specific socio-historical contexts that deemed early childbirth, especially illegitimate pregnancies, as morally and socially deviant. Two conceptual elements missing within the literature on…

Two aspects of teenage fertility are examined in this paper: (1) teenage fertility, in general, does not follow the conventional family formation process in which conception follows marriage; and (2) there are considerable differences between White and non-White teenagers in proportions either pregnant outside of marriage or single at delivery.…

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a major mental health disorder that affects at least 13 percent of new mothers and has detrimental consequences for populations that are of concern to social workers, such as low-income women, women of color, young women, and single mothers. Despite the relevance of PPD to multiple social work problems and…

This article presents a program to meet educational and other needs of pregnant adolescents and adolescent mothers. The program includes a regular curriculum, a health unit, social services, and a child/day care unit. (Author/DB)

Describes a Youth Service Project Program for teen mothers in Chicago. The program uses a bicultural approach that provides teens with a supportive social network and the opportunity to acquire parenting and literacy skills. (PCB)

This study examined changes in mothering behavior associated with remarriage or cohabitation by single mothers using data from National Survey of Families and Household. Mothers and children agreed that mothers used harsh discipline less when they remained in new partnerships. Children reported better relationships with mothers in partnerships at…

Focuses on marital histories of young mothers and whether the family structure into which children (N=940) of young mothers are born, and the stability of that arrangement, affects the child's academic abilities. Results suggest that young mothers marital histories do influence the educational achievements of their elementary-school-aged children.…

Explored the relationship between adolescent motherhood and child neglect. Obtained information from subjects (n=102) using in-home interviews. Found that 5 of 11 characteristics, such as age at first birth, were associated with neglect, independent of race. Also identified a model that was modestly successful for predicting neglect. Other…

Reports the results of an event history analysis of rapidly repeated pregnancies among a sample of 170 adolescents. Results show that the best fitting model for these girls included two proximate determinants of pregnancy, contraceptive use, and other factors. Findings indicate that such pregnancies among teenagers are somewhat predictable. (RJM)

A study of 23 inner city adolescent and 32 older mothers was conducted to test the hypothesis that the simultaneous occurrence of adolescence and motherhood would result in special infant rearing attitudes, concerns, and support systems which interfere with mothering. Journal available from The C.V. Mosby Company, 11830 Westline Industrial Drive,…

Uses nationally representative, longitudinal data from Great Britain to examine the fertility patterns of daughters (N=2,183) of teen mothers. Explores how early motherhood is reproduced across generations, including an earlier inherited age of menarche, poor family and educational environments, and an early ideal age of childbearing. (RJM)

Three measures (Demographic Data, Support System Questionnaires, Michigan Screening Profile of Parenting) compared 28 teen parents (mothers) in a special school program with 27 nonprogram teen parents. Program participants showed more independence; less isolation; more interest in activities, education and work; more realistic expectations of…