‘I Wouldn’t Change Having the Children—Not at All.’ Young Women’s Narratives of Maternal Timing: What the UK’s Teenage Pregnancy Strategy Hasn’t Heard

Middleton, Sue

doi:10.1007/s13178-011-0058-x

Cited by 14 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…It is important to reiterate that not all stories of young motherhood involve mental health problems, hardship or psychological distress. Indeed, for some young women having a baby is a way of finding love; helping them to overcome and restore their lives [82].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

No straight lines – young women’s perceptions of their mental health and wellbeing during and after pregnancy: a systematic review and meta-ethnography

et al. 2019

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BackgroundYoung mothers face mental health challenges during and after pregnancy including increased rates of depression compared to older mothers. While the prevention of teenage pregnancy in countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom has been a focus for policy and research in recent decades, the need to understand young women’s own experiences has been highlighted. The aim of this meta-ethnography was to examine young women’s perceptions of their mental health and wellbeing during and after pregnancy to provide new understandings of those experiences.MethodsA systematic review and meta-ethnographic synthesis of qualitative research was conducted. Seven databases were systematically searched and forward and backward searching conducted. Papers were included if they were from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries and explored mental health and wellbeing experiences of young mothers (age under 20 in pregnancy; under 25 at time of research) as a primary research question – or where evidence about mental health and wellbeing from participants was foregrounded. Nineteen papers were identified and the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme checklist for qualitative research used to appraise the evidence. Following the seven-step process of meta-ethnography, key constructs were examined within each study and then translated into one another.ResultsSeven translated themes were identified forming a new line of argument wherein mental health and wellbeing was analysed as relating to individual bodily experiences; tied into past and present relationships; underpinned by economic insecurity and entangled with feelings of societal surveillance. There were ‘no straight lines’ in young women’s experiences, which were more complex than dominant narratives around overcoming adversity suggest.ConclusionsThe synthesis concludes that health and social care professionals need to reflect on the operation of power and stigma in young women’s lives and its impact on wellbeing. It adds to understanding of young women’s mental health and wellbeing during and after pregnancy as located in physical and structural factors rather than individual capacities alone.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

No straight lines – young women’s perceptions of their mental health and wellbeing during and after pregnancy: a systematic review and meta-ethnography

et al. 2019

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“…While pregnancy and the birth of a child can be a disruptive transition for young parents and their families, young women often report that being a good mother provides value to their lives and allows them to provide value to others. Multiple qualitative research studies have shown that for adolescents, the transition to motherhood, while challenging, is often accompanied by increased self‐esteem, sense of purpose, pride, and joy (e.g., Arenson, ; Edin & Kevalas, ; Kirkman, Harrison, Hillier, & Pyett, ; Lamanna, ; Middleton, ; Phoenix, ; Salusky, ; Schultz, ; Williams, ). Young mothers often report their experience of motherhood as positively transforming (Clemmens, ).…”

Section: Alternative Frames For Teenage Childbearingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Teenage Childbearing, Reproductive Justice, and Infant Mental Health

Hans

White

2019

Infant Mental Health Journal

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Reproductive justice advocates emphasize the rights of women to choose to have children, to decide the conditions under which they give birth, and to parent their children with support, safety, and dignity. This article examines what a reproductive justice perspective contributes to infant mental health work with teenage mothers and their families. It explores the historical framing of teenage pregnancy in which young mothers are the cause of a variety of social problems and in which the primary policy and practice approach is pregnancy prevention. The article offers alternative framings of teenage childbearing, based on reproductive justice principles, which focus on social conditions surrounding teenage parenthood and the meaning of motherhood in the lives of young women. These alternative frames shift the practice agenda to eradicating unjust social conditions and providing supports for young women in their roles as parents. The article then describes ways in which two infant mental health programs have incorporated reproductive justice principles into their work with young families: Chicago's community doula model and Florida's Young Parents Project for court‐involved teenage parents. Finally, the article extracts a set of principles deriving from a reproductive justice perspective that are relevant to infant mental health work with young families.

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“…Others defi ed stereotypes by describing how mothering strengthened their aspirations and improved their lives (Brubaker & Wright, 2006;Warnes & Daiches, 2011). Inspired by new priorities, they returned to school, avoided risky behavior, and left harmful relationships (Gregson, 2009;Middleton, 2011;Yardley, 2008). Teens whose lives were transformed by mothering expressed determination and pride in their accomplishments, which may protect them against a tarnished identity (Gregson, 2009;Yardley, 2008).…”

Section: Teen Mothers' Experience Of Stigmamentioning

confidence: 99%

Reducing the Stigmatization of Teen Mothers

SmithBattle

2013

McN: The American Journal of Maternal/Child Nursing

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Teen mothers are stigmatized by stereotypes that they are unmotivated, irresponsible, and incompetent parents. In spite of the pervasiveness of these stereotypes, stigma is rarely described as a contributing factor to teen mothers' difficulties and their health and social disparities. After tracing how teen mothers have been misrepresented and stereotyped over the last half century, I describe what is known about the stigma associated with teen mothering, reasons for its persistence, efforts to reduce it, and its potentially harmful effects. Stigma should be of concern to nurses because stigmatizing practices impede effective clinical care, contribute to teen mothers' many challenges, and violate the nursing ethic that patients be treated with respect and dignity. Recommendations for restoring dignity and reducing stigma in healthcare focus on developing recognition practices that are predicated on respect and concern for the teen's well-being and her capacity as a mother. Nurses are also urged to advocate for services and policies that reduce the stigmatization and marginalization of teen mothers.

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‘I Wouldn’t Change Having the Children—Not at All.’ Young Women’s Narratives of Maternal Timing: What the UK’s Teenage Pregnancy Strategy Hasn’t Heard

Cited by 14 publications

References 40 publications

No straight lines – young women’s perceptions of their mental health and wellbeing during and after pregnancy: a systematic review and meta-ethnography

No straight lines – young women’s perceptions of their mental health and wellbeing during and after pregnancy: a systematic review and meta-ethnography

Teenage Childbearing, Reproductive Justice, and Infant Mental Health

Reducing the Stigmatization of Teen Mothers

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