Teenage Moms Living in Nova Scotia, Canada: An Exploration of Influences on Their Decision to Become a Mother
Currently, there is an extensive North American literature outlining the social, economic, and cultural background of women who become teen moms. However, relatively little is known about the nature of the influences on teen women's decisions to become mothers. This qualitative study sought to add to the literature on teenage motherhood by exploring, from the perspective of the young women, the social, economic, and cultural influences on their decision to become a mom. The research is based on 40 semi-structured interviews with teen moms living in Nova Scotia, Canada. The results underline the fact that there are multiple and complex reasons why some teens decide to become a mother. In addition, the findings point to the importance of examining the neighborhood and societal-level forces influencing teens' decisions to become a mother.