School outcomes for minority-group adolescent mothers at 28 to 36 months postpartum: a longitudinal follow-up

J Res Adolesc. 1996;6(4):629-48.

Abstract

PIP: This study examines the educational status of 120 adolescent postpartum women in the US during 1987-88. Mothers were 14-19 years old at delivery. 53.1% were African American and 42.5% were Puerto Rican. All but 2 deliveries were first births. 71.7% lived with their own mothers. 64.6% came from families on welfare. The average number of years of completed schooling was 9.5. At 28-36 months postpartum the average age was 19.7 years, 52.4% lived with their mothers, 52.4% lived off their mother's public assistance, and 17.9% supported themselves. 7.9% were married. Interviews were conducted at 3-4 weeks, 6 months, 12 months, and 28-36 months postpartum. 94% had completed interviews by 12 months, and 71% had completed interviews by 28-36 months. 33% of mothers had attended school or graduated through the pregnancy and the last follow-up period. 19% who were not in school at the first birth returned or graduated by 28-36 months postpartum. 12% dropped out before the pregnancy and never returned; 36% dropped out during the pregnancy and never returned. Greater risk of delayed grade placement by 28-36 months was significantly associated with age at delivery and reports of stressful life events 1 year postpartum. Mothers who were more grade-delayed reported more depressive symptoms, more repeat pregnancies, and lower work plans. At 1 year postpartum, school returners reported significantly fewer stresses and more child care support than dropouts. 41% of the mothers had a new mate. 25.7% reported a close relationship with the baby's father. About 80% reported problems with the fathers such as drugs, promiscuity, jail, death, machismo, or physical abuse. Only 39% of attenders had a repeat pregnancy compared to 68% of returners, 93% of dropouts during pregnancy, and 70% of dropouts before pregnancy. Only half of the mothers were likely to pursue educational and occupational goals.

MeSH terms

  • Achievement*
  • Adolescent*
  • Age Factors
  • Americas
  • Behavior
  • Black or African American*
  • Culture
  • Data Collection*
  • Demography
  • Depression*
  • Developed Countries
  • Disease
  • Economics
  • Educational Status*
  • Ethnicity
  • Family Characteristics
  • Family Relations
  • Fertility
  • Follow-Up Studies*
  • Hispanic or Latino*
  • Longitudinal Studies*
  • Mental Disorders
  • Minority Groups*
  • Mothers*
  • North America
  • Parents
  • Population
  • Population Characteristics
  • Population Dynamics
  • Pregnancy in Adolescence*
  • Psychology
  • Research
  • Sampling Studies
  • Sexual Behavior
  • Social Class
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Students*
  • United States
  • Urban Population*