Adolescent Mothers And Affects On Child Development

Much research has been done on the influence of a mother on a child’s well-being and development (Pougnet, Serbin, Stack, & Schwartzman, 2011). However, research has shown that an engaged and loving father can contribute greatly to a child’s cognitive, social, and psychological development (Bronte-Tinkew, Carrano, Horowitz, & Kinukawa, 2008; Duursma, Pan, & Raikes, 2008; Pancsofar & Vernon-Feagans, 2010; Wilson & Prior, 2010).

Research in parenting styles has found a large amount of correlation between parenting behavior and certain long-term outcomes for children. Specifically, parenting styles have been shown to correlate to a child’s obedience level, school competence, delinquency, violence, sexual activity, antisocial behavior, alcohol and substance abuse, depression, anxiety, and self-perception. The members of your family are the most prevalent relationships you will have in your life. Therefore, they will have the most influence in your future behavior. This paper examines the similarities and differences among authoritarian, authoritative, permissive, and neglecting parenting styles and the effects on a child’s development and the resulting adolescent’s behavior.

Much emphasis has been placed in the field of child development and the role that early providers possess when it comes to the needs of children at the early stages of life. Whether conceptualizing socialization and priming with Locke’s “tabula rosa/blank slate” or Rousseau’s “preassembled moral schema” approach to child development, this “window of opportunity” is both fleeting and permanent. Every interaction molds the individual into the person they are to become, and the bond that the dependent child forms with the caregiver is a precedent to the numerous relationships and attachments they will create as an adult. Granted that the provider/nurturer fulfills the needs of attachment and attentiveness for the offspring, this will determine the success of progressing through child developmental stages, and leads to a higher propensity of social adaptiveness. Inversely, if the aforementioned things are absent in a child’s early years, detrimental effects could occur, including stints in physical, social, and mental development. This is dependent upon the severity and duration of neglect, and has been seen in clinical cases that appears as psychological phenomena to both the general public, and researchers alike.

“The relationship between mothers and infants is critical for child development. For whatever reason, in some cases, that relationship doesn’t develop normally. Neglect and abuse can result, with devastating effects on a child’s development” (Strathearn, 2008)

As a 20th century phenomenon the post-parental phase of development, also known as the empty nest period, has been commonly used to describe a specific phase of the adult life cycle that occurs when children leave home for the first time. Within the past 40 years it has represented a key developmental and unbearable stage in parents’ lives. For some parents, often mid-life mothers who are the primary caregivers, the end of formal childbearing can be a traumatic stage of life, during which they are forced to cope with many life transitions. Since motherhood is considered to be a primary family role, “the advent of the empty nest places them in a transitional period, at risk for another mysterious occurrence,”

While reading the third chapter of Development of Children and Adolescents, I gained insight into the cold hard facts of prenatal development. I found this section of the reading to be important for a several reasons. As a young woman, I hope to one day settle down and have a family. By becoming better educated on the topic, I now have a grasp on how an unborn child is conceived, the stages in which they develop, and the environmental factors a mother contributes to health risks.

According to the ANMI News, research from beyond blues, about a third of women aged 14-24 reported that they experienced depression or anxiety within the past 12 months. Beyond Blue Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Georgie Harman says, “Young mothers face higher risks of developing depression due to a range of reasons such as social isolation, financial pressures, relationship problems and family turmoil. “The figures show young mums are at risk of experience depression and anxiety if they don’t get the help they need early” (ANMI, p 1). In addition, Dr. Stacy Hodgkinson, PHD, Dr. Lee Beers, MD, Cathy Southammakosane, MD, and Amy Lewin, PysD, call attention to the Office of the American Academy of Pediatrics and clearly states that young parents needs mental health services. Dr. Hodgkinson asserts that young parenthood is associated with a range of outcomes for young mothers, including mental health problems, such as depression, substance abuse, and posttraumatic stress disorders. Dr. Hodgkinson emphasize that teen mothers are poor and reside in communities and families that are socially and economically disadvantaged. As Dr. Hodgkinson mentions, these circumstances can affect their maternal mental health, their parenting ability, and the behavior outcomes for their children. According to this scholarly journal, Dr. Hodgkinson believes that most adolescent mothers are more likely to be poor and disproportionately African-American and Latina; live in low-income communities or be born to parents who have very little education and employment instability or who have a history of child abuse; reside in chaotic home environments; have poor interpersonal relationships; and have a limited social support

The primal importance of a child's bond to its mother has captivated people for thousands of years, written about by ancient playwrights like Sophocles, modern day writers like Esther Freud and current day proprietors such as Oprah Winfrey. It is a topic that continues to draw attention with psychologists and researchers devoting time, research and suppositions to understanding it and the importance it holds in the development of offspring. It is well established that children require a consistent and dependable

Mothers who do not properly engage with their child hold their future in their hands with future problems with behaviorally, socially, and cognitively.

Sadler, L. S., Swartz, M. K., & Ryan-Krause, P. ( March 2007). Promising Outcomes in Teen Mothers Enrolled in a School-Based Parent Support Program and Child Care Center. Journal of School Health Vol. 77, No. 3, 121-130

One study found that when mothers are successfully treated for depression, their children also are less likely to be diagnosed with or show symptoms of depression in the future. (England, 2009)The effects of maternal depression on a child’s future consequences may also be toned-down by higher levels of maternal sensitivity, suggesting that policies aimed at increasing parental compassion and sensitivity, in addition to those reducing parental depression, may be effective in improving child outcomes. Another factor moderating the negative implications of maternal depression on child behavior may be enrollment in proper child care. It was also found that as little as a half-day per week in standard child care at age two buffered the effects of recurrent maternal depression on children’s behavior problems by the time they were ready for elementary school.(England, 2009)

In the first years of a child’s life, love may be as nourishing as food. Psychologists widely agree with parental psychopathology is a crucial risk factor for the development of their child across multiple domains (Sanders 2002). Nonorganic failure to thrive (NOFTT) describes the delayed growth and development of infants due to factors extrinsic the infant. Sometimes referred to as growth faltering or weight faltering, most definitions of NOFTT include a weight less than the 5th percentile on the growth chart or a decreasing rate of weight gain (Powell, 1988). Growth faltering is the most common category of FTT in the United States and can occur even when infants are properly nourished (Powell, 1988). These infants tend to be apathetic and

The main concepts of this article are based on the ideology that the amount of time mothers spent with children or adolescents matter. Mothers engaged in accessible time and engaged time with their children. Accessible time between child and mother present was not directly participating with child. Engaged time is total participating time the child spent with mother. Children’s developmental outcomes are important in two key forms. Being there and being directly engaged in activities with their children. “Mommy Wars” seemed to be a dispute between homemakers and employed mothers. Homemakers felt employed mothers were being selfish and harming their children by being away from the home to long. Another interesting concept is whether the amount of time mothers spends with children and adolescents impacts their developmental, behavioral, emotional and academic performance. As a mother myself, it’s not easy to live up to the expectations of intensive mothering, especially if the mothers are employed. They have a hard time achieving this ideology. If your there for your children, meaning being accessible it’s considered good mothering. Giving your children hugs, reassurance or answers to questions a definite type of security.

Carr and Cortina provide a powerful explanation of Self-Psychology, “Heinz Kohut and John Bowlby, working independently, contributed to a paradigm shift within psychoanalysis. Their combined work dramatically changed the way many psychoanalysts understand the effect of parent–child relationships on human development, as well as the very nature of psychopathology. This, in turn, transformed clinical practice as their ideas spread and many analysts became more emotionally responsive, creating a friendlier, more respectful therapeutic ambiance.” (Carr & Cortina, 2011, pg.42) Kohut was able to notice patients who were not doing well with the classic Freudian theories and he began to listen to those same patients who were suffering from low self-esteem, lack of motivation and many difficulties on social and sexual spheres. The presented patient’s self-concept includes the above descriptions of what Kohut points out as well as, “feelings of worthlessness, inadequacy, and helplessness” which “pervades functioning in negative ways (Hepworth, Larsen, Rooney, Strom-Gottfried, 2011, p. 209).” And some of that damaging thinking has led the patient to continue to self-harm and abuse substances because she feels that this is what she deserves and that it is too late to start her outlook on over.

Teen pregnancy is an important issue all over the country. This is an ongoing problem that must be dealt with. Teenage pregnancy can ruin a teen’s life and also the life of an infant. In this paper I will discuss the many aspects of teenage pregnancy and how it affects the life of a teenager.