Lesser J, Koniak-Griffin D, Anderson N L
School of Nursing, University of California, Los Angeles 90095-6919, USA.
Issues Ment Health Nurs. 1999 Mar-Apr;20(2):131-49. doi: 10.1080/016128499248718.
Although there is a growing body of research in the area of adolescent pregnancy and parenting, little is known about the more personal experiences of these teens. Ethnographic research methods were used in the present study with the goal of narrowing existing gaps in knowledge about the affective component of adolescent mothers' role attainment. The sample consisted of 15 voluntary informants who reported depressive symptoms during pregnancy or postpartum. The findings suggest that for some adolescent mothers the experience of motherhood may help them improve their previously self-destructive lives. Many adolescent mothers have engaged in impulsive high-risk activities prior to their pregnancies. Through the establishment of a maternal identity and simultaneous development of a strong sense of maternal protectiveness these young women are making realistic, future-oriented decisions that are motivating them to leave gang life, finish high school, go to college, and get vocational training. However, a subset of adolescent mothers who experience chronic depressive mood along with social isolation in the postpartum period may be at increased risk for development of problematic maternal behaviors.
尽管在青少年怀孕和为人父母领域的研究越来越多，但对于这些青少年更为个人化的经历却知之甚少。本研究采用了人种志研究方法，目的是缩小关于青少年母亲角色获得情感成分的现有知识差距。样本包括15名在孕期或产后报告有抑郁症状的自愿参与者。研究结果表明，对于一些青少年母亲来说，为人母的经历可能有助于她们改善之前自我毁灭的生活。许多青少年母亲在怀孕前曾从事冲动的高风险活动。通过建立母亲身份并同时培养强烈的母亲保护意识，这些年轻女性正在做出现实的、面向未来的决定，促使她们离开帮派生活、完成高中学业、上大学并接受职业培训。然而，一部分在产后经历慢性抑郁情绪并伴有社会隔离的青少年母亲，出现有问题的母亲行为的风险可能会增加。
