Effects of Age and the Pre-Term Birth of an Infant on Adolescent Mothers' Psychological Adjustment

Abstract

This study examined the psychological impact of pre-term birth among adolescent mothers and how it compared to the psychological impact of pre-term birth among adult mothers and full-term birth among adolescent mothers. Fifty-two mothers completed a survey immediately prior to the discharge of their infants from hospital and approximately three months later. Contrary to our hypotheses, adult mothers of pre-term infants reported higher levels of psychological distress and threat appraisal pre-discharge than did adolescent mothers. Post-discharge this difference had dissipated. At the same time, there was no difference between the mothers in the reported helpfulness of social support, although all groups reported a decline in support from pre- to post-discharge. These findings help challenge prevailing assumptions about the transition to motherhood and have implications for service delivery and interventions.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We also acknowledge the support for this project of Ms. Kirsty Sloan, Ms. Tara Becker and Ms. Anita Hosking and funding from a Griffith University Research Grant and a Department of Communities Priority Research Program Grant.