Social Networks and Help‐Seeking Experiences of Pregnant Teens

Teenage mother's predictions of their support levels before and actual support levels after having a child

“…Their main source of any support was their own mother, followed by the father of their unborn child. 13 A similar outcome was reported in a U.S. study of 78 teenage mothers. 14 The level and quality of social support is important, as it can influence the teenager's attitude and ability to return to education and consider alternative career pathways.…”

“…12 A descriptive, cross-sectional study of 31 teenage mothers from Arizona, USA, reported a negative correlation in between advancing gestational age and various forms of social support and network size. 13 Pregnant teenagers reported that they required emotional and financial support that was not forthcoming. Their main source of any support was their own mother, followed by the father of their unborn child.…”

Adolescents’ Description and Management of Pregnancy and Preterm Labor

“…Unlike literature that reports that adolescents tend to enter prenatal care late in pregnancy (after 20 weeks gestation) (May, 1992;Stevens-Simon & McAnarney, 1996), in this study eight of the adolescents started prenatal care in the 1st trimester. Similar to findings by Lee and Grubbs (1999, these eight adolescents commented about the importance of early prenatal care.…”

Social Support During Adolescent Pregnancy: Piecing Together a Quilt

“…Receiving adequate social support has been associated with positive outcomes for both the pregnant adolescent and her baby. These outcomes include improvement in the adolescent's health and fewer pregnancy complications (Henley, 1997;May, 1992;Renker, 1999) and improvements in her life satisfaction and school performance (Stevenson, Maton, & Teti, 1999). Conversely, inadequate social support during pregnancy is frequently associated with adverse outcomes such as depression (Miller, 1998).…”

“…Pregnant adolescents can vary in age from 13 to 19 years. Most studies of social support in pregnant adolescents have focused on either 16-year-olds (Barnet et al, 1996;Chen, Telleen, & Chen, 1995;Connelly, 1998;Stevenson et al, 1999) or 17-year-olds (Davis & Rhodes, 1994;May, 1992;McGowan & Kohn, 1990). Differences in the pregnancy experience of social support by age remain unexplored.…”