College Students' Positivity Toward Teen Mothers

Abstract

Although teen pregnancy and parenthood are more visible in society than in the past, teen mothers are often stereotyped and stigmatized. The study examined positivity toward teen mothers among college students (N = 316) at a midwestern university. Although students responded positively to some items regarding teen mothers, other statements showed endorsements of stereotypes. Positivity toward teen mothers was positively related to empathy and classification (freshman, sophomore, etc.). Those who did not report having a teen mother in their family had higher levels of positivity than those who reported having a teen mother in their family. Research should examine perceptions of teen mothers among social workers and interventionists as a moderator of intervention effectiveness.

KEYWORDS:

• social stigma
• stereotypes
• teen mothers

Notes

^a a reverse-scored item.

GLM = Generalized Linear Model; MS = Mean Square.

R ² = .12.