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Perceptions of Parental Support and Depressive Symptomatology Among Black and White Adolescent Mothers

CLEOPATRA HOWARD CALDWELL, PhD, is an assistant professor of health behavior and health education, School of Public Health, University of Michigan. Her current research focuses on issues of the mental health consequences of family transitions to early child-bearing. Address: Cleopatra Howard Caldwell, M5515, School of Public Health II, 1420 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI 48109–2029.

Toni C. Antonucci

TONI C. ANTONUCCI, PhD, is a professor of psychology and director of the Life Course Development Program at the Survey Research Center, Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan. Her current research focuses on the nature of social relationships across the life course.

James S. Jackson

JAMES S. JACKSON, PhD, is a professor of psychology, director of the Research Center for Group Dynamics, and director of the Program for Research on Black Americans, University of Michigan. His research areas include the mental health of African Americans and relationships within three-generation families.

Monica L. Wolford, AM

MONICA L. WOLFORD, AM, is a research associate with the Program for Research on Black Americans, University of Michigan. Her research interests include methodological issues in analysis with family data.

Joy D. Osofsky

JOY D. OSOFSKY, PhD, is a professor of pediatrics and psychiatry, School of Medicine in New Orleans, Louisiana State University Medical Center. Her research areas include teenage childbearing in African American and White families, and violence.

Parental support and conflictual relationships in a sample of 48 Black and White adolescent mothers between the ages of 14 and 19 were examined. Adolescent mothers were interviewed when their babies were 3 months old. Most adolescent mothers reported close relationships with both their mothers and fathers before and after the births of their babies. The perception of a supportive relationship with the mother after the birth of a baby increased more than the perception of a supportive relationship with the father. Perceptions of conflict were much higher for mothers than for fathers, and less conflict with parents was reported by Black than by White adolescent mothers. Older White adolescent mothers rated their fathers as more supportive than did younger White mothers, but these differences did not exist among Black adolescent mothers. The effects of self-esteem and parental relationships on adolescent depressive symptomatology were also examined. Self-esteem and supportive relationships with fathers were both negatively associated with depressive symptomatology among adolescent mothers. These data highlight the need to consider multiple factors that contribute to the emotional adjustment and psychological well-being of adolescent mothers. Implications of findings for mental health service delivery are discussed in this article.

Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, Vol. 5, No. 3, 173-183 (1997)
DOI: 10.1177/106342669700500305


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