Impact of adolescent pregnancy on the future life of young mothers in terms of social, familial, and educational changes.

PURPOSE

We analyze the impact of adolescent pregnancy in terms of social, familial, and educational changes during the subsequent years.

METHODS

Study participants included all adolescents delivering at an age of 17 years or less within a time frame of 5 years. A telephone interview was performed by using 16 self-developed questions as well as a well-recognized questionnaire on Life Satisfaction (FLZ(M)-A). Out of these 186 adolescents, 131 (70%) adolescents were available for the study. The adolescents were split in two study subsamples: 0-2.5 years after delivery and 2.5-5 years after delivery.

RESULTS

We found significant differences concerning relationship/partner, education/educational level, employment status, means of subsistence, person in a position of trust, close friends and current contraceptive use. Apart from the domain "leisure time/hobbies" study participants were more satisfied compared with a population reference group of the same age.

CONCLUSION

Our study did not support the common assumption that adolescent pregnancy may be a disadvantage for young women. In our study a considerable number does achieve a higher level of education. Furthermore we have shown that adolescents are more satisfied in certain areas of life compared with a population reference group.