Evaluation of an intergenerational program for pregnant and parenting adolescents.

PROBLEM

Poor life outcomes for teenage mothers

SUBJECTS

Young mothers (N = 65) several years after the birth of their first child. Half had mothers (called grandmothers) who attended the Teenage Mothers-Grandmothers program.

METHODS

A long-term evaluation study of the effects of the Teenage Mothers-Grandmothers Program on outcomes for the teens. Instruments used: demographic questionnaire, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, the Arizona Social Support Inventory Schedule, and an open-ended questionnaire.

FINDINGS

Teens whose mothers participated in the program were significantly less likely to drop out of school and had significantly better self-esteem.

CONCLUSIONS & IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: Including the mothers of pregnant and parenting adolescents in programs can be beneficial.