Adolescent Childbearers in Later Life
In a study of child maltreatment, mothers who began childbearing as younger adolescents (age 17 years or younger), older adolescents (age 18 to 19 years), or adults (age 20 to 24 years) did not differ regarding child maltreatment or maternal self-perceptions of competence, depressive symptoms, or most aspects of social support. Sociodemographic risk factors persisted into later life for adolescent childbearers. Among younger adolescent childbearers (age 17 years or younger), mothers of maltreated and nonmaltreated children did not differ on self-perceptions of social support, competence, or depressive symptoms. Sociodemographic differences between these two groups suggested that younger adolescent childbearers who do not overcome sociodemographic deficits common to early childbearing are at greatest risk for child maltreatment.