Studied partner status, social support, and psychological adjustment of pregnant women. Administered Brief Symptom Inventory to predominantly minority and lower-income pregnant women (N=157) categorized as married, single/partnered, or single/unpartnered. Found single/partnered women were at least risk for emotional disequilibrium and suggested…

Examined quality of child care provided by adolescent mothers vs. older mothers and whether maternal child-rearing beliefs predict supportive care mothers. Administered inventory to adolescent mothers (N=20) and older mothers (N=65). Found higher supportive care scores among older mothers and found both supportive-care older and adolescent mothers…

Evaluated effects of a year-long, school-based program for 126 white adolescent girls. Program was designed to improve self-concept, expectations for future, educational plans, perceptions of maternal acceptance, and other perceptions. Intervention participants revealed less traditional sex role orientations, improved self-concept, and lessened…

This investigation examines whether access to social capital reduces the chance that teens will cohabit or have a nonmaritally conceived birth. Using data from a nationally representative panel study of eighth-grade girls and their parents, we hypothesize that girls who have (and whose families have) dense community ties as well as greater access…

Qualitative study of 30 employed single mothers replicated previous findings of challenges in managing shortages of time, money, and energy. Revealed serious concerns about failure to meet perceived family and societal expectations for living in "normal" family with 2 parents. Behavior subjects perceived to be expected of single parents…

Compares the psychological adjustment of adolescent mothers (n=27) with that of adolescent nonmothers (n=27), single adult mothers (n=27), and married adult mothers. Adolescent mothers reported greater life enjoyment and well-being than adolescent nonmothers, but more mental health problems and less well-being than married adult mothers. (SR)

Examined interviews with 43 White single mothers for thematic content relating to economics of single parenthood, feelings about single parenting, the children's fathers, and stigmatization. Results showed that these women had developed coping strategies and were proud of their ability to survive under adverse circumstances, but that they felt…

Examined factors related to the quality of home environments that 83 teenage mothers provided for their 12-month-old infants. Findings show that teens who fostered supportive environments were less depressed and more empathic, had infants who were heavier at birth, received more support from the father, and lived in relatively safe neighborhoods.…

Compared the social support of 92 homeless and 115 permanently housed low-income mothers. Results reveal that homeless mothers had less contact with their friends/relatives, could count on fewer people for help and child care in times of need, and felt their social networks were less helpful than housed mothers. (RJM)

Assessed the parenting behaviors of 193 white and African American mothers 15-24 years of age when their children were 12 and 36 months old. Cluster analysis of three dimensions of parenting was used to identify five types of parenting patterns. The strongest discriminating factor--maternal IQ--was associated with more positive parenting behavior…