This study examined the psychopathological and psychosocial risk profile and the quality of mother–infant interaction in 98 adolescent and young mother–infant dyads. At their infant’s age of 3 months, mothers filled in a socio-demographic form and completed a test battery: EPDS for depression, STAY-I for anxiety, PSI-SF for parenting stress, MPSS for social support, AAI for maternal attachment and reflective functioning, CECA for adverse childhood experiences, Care-Index and Mind-mindedness coding system for mother–infant interaction. Results showed that motherhood in adolescence was associated with several psychosocial risk factors. Adolescent and young mothers have depression (25%), anxiety (29%) and insecure attachment (65%), with low reflective functioning, of whom 18% have disorganized attachment. A total of 54% of the mothers had at least one adverse childhood experience. Furthermore, adolescent mothers had low sensitivity and mind-mindedness and high intrusiveness, and their infant had low responsiveness and high passive behaviors. Mothers under 18 have experienced more sexual abuse, are more likely to be single and have been followed by child social services more than mothers aged 18–21. Adolescent mothers have a high-risk psychopathological and psychosocial profile that affects their ability to mentalize and build an adequate relationship with the child. It appears to be important to support the adolescent mother–child relationship.
Background - Motherhood in adolescence is associated with numerous risk factors that could have a negative effect on the well-being of the mother, on her parenting skills and on the relationship with her child. Aims - To assess the psychopathological profile and psychosocial risk factors of 104 adolescent and young mothers (age range 13-21) who were recruited at the Child Neuropsychiatric Unit of ASST “Santi Paolo and Carlo” Hospital (Milan, Italy). Materials and method - 3 months after giving birth, mothers filled in a personal data sheet; maternal attachment models and reflective functioning were evaluated with Adult Attachment Interview and the presence of maternal adverse childhood experiences were analysed with CECA. Depressive risk with EPDS, anxiety risk with STAI-Y and parenting stress with PSI-SF were also assessed. Results - 75% of mothers have a low socio-economic level and 80% have low levels of education. In 79% of the cases, the mothers do not work and 50% of them interrupted their studies. Pregnancy is mostly not desired (76%) and the majority of them have a family history of parenthood in adolescence. On a psychopathological level, depressive and anxious risks are high. Most adolescent and young mothers have an insecure attachment model with low reflective functioning; moreover, 51% of the mothers have experienced at least one adverse childhood experience and adverse experiences are often cumulative. Conclusion - The study shows a high-risk psychopathological and psychosocial profile of motherhood in adolescence, which can have an effect on the mother's health, affecting her ability to interact and build an adequate relationship with her child. It is therefore important to implement early interventions to support the child-adolescent mother relationship from the earliest phases, promoting maternal mentalization and sensitivity.
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