Social skill and social support among young mothers

Abstract

This study tests the direct and indirect contributions of molecular social skills, global social skill, residence, age, race, and participation in a steady relationship to the social support of young mothers (N = 109). The average age of respondents was 16.8 years, and 67% were non‐White. Participants completed role‐play measures of skill in conflict resolution and written measures of social support. A correlational analysis supports the hypothesis that molecular social skills increase overall social skill and that these, together, contribute significantly to better social support.

Predicting Adolescent Mothers' Transition to Adulthood

“…This particular sample may be more at risk than others given that an overwhelming percentage of the individuals' IQs fell below 100 (90%), and the majority was recruited from a school-age mothers program (80%), which may have attracted pregnant teenagers most in need of support. Both past theory and research suggest that adolescent mothers are at risk for a variety of negative developmental sequelae, especially in the first few years after the birth of their first child (Barth, 1983;Brown et al, 1981;Radloff & Rae, 1979;Whitman et al, 1987). The results of this study provide further support for this position, documenting in some detail the problems faced by high-risk teen mothers and the predictors of these problems 3 years after childbirth.…”

“…Research has suggested that adolescent parenting may have long-term effects on the adjustment of adolescent mothers (Barth, 1983;Brown, Adams, & Kellam, 1981;Radloff & Rae, 1979). Their education is typically curtailed, their career opportunities are restricted, and their likelihood of becoming dependent on public assistance are increased (Card & Wise, 1978;Furstenberg et al, 1987;Moore, 1978;Mott & Marsigliano, 1985).…”

“…Particularly worrisome are the data that associate adolescent parenting with increased risk for child abuse and neglect. Although less is known about the psychological costs of early parenthood for the mother herself, young mothers appear to struggle more with low self-esteem, anxiety, and depression than do adult mothers (Barth, 1983;de Anda, Darroch, Davidson, Gilly, & Morejon, 1990).…”

Social Support in Postpartum Adolescents: Guidelines for Nursing Assessments and Interventions

“…If it is determined that the adolescent has inadequate social support, further analysis of the support system and the young mother's social skills (Barth, 1988) is indicated. Are there an inadequate number of providers?…”

Multigenerational coresidence and welfare policy

“…A similar trend was evident in a predominately White (79%) sample of nearly 200 teenage mothers drawn from high school clinics and teen service programs, wherein Spieker and Bensley (1994) found that those sharing a household with the grandmother tended to receive more child care assistance, although the association was not statistically significant at conventional levels. 4 Young mothers who share a household with adult kin have been found to be more likely to receive other kinds of support as well, including financial assistance (Colletta, 1981;Parish, Hao, & Hogan, 1991;Presser, 1980), practical help (Brunelli, Wasserman, Rauh, Alvarado, & Caraballo, 1995;Wasserman, Brunelli, & Rauh, 1990) and emotional support (Barth, 1988;Brunelli et al, 1995;Colletta, 1981). (As an exception, Field, Widmayer, Adler, and DeCubas (1990) found that mothers in extended households reported support levels similar to mothers living alone but lower than mothers living with a husband or partner).…”