Studies analysing events further away from the birth have
found that young maternal age and associated environmental factors,
such as poverty and the mother’s psychological immaturity
and lack of parenting skills, are related to childhood accidents
and illness.43
Furthermore, there is evidence to suggest that risk to the wellbeing
and development of the children of teenage mothers may
be exacerbated if the teenage mother lacks support44 and suffers
from depression.45-50
Research studies investigating maternal depression suggest
that it can have significant effects on the mother’s parenting abilities
and interactions with her infant. Findings indicate that not
only is the young mother’s well-being and ability to function
diminished by mental illness, but her behaviour also has direct
effects on the well-being and development of her offspring.45-50
Depression in adolescent mothers may be one factor contributing
to the lack of parenting skills and low responsiveness to their
infants that has been observed in studies of adolescent mothers.45
Infants raised by depressed mothers with little social support
may be at particular risk of experiencing cognitive and emotional
difficulties.46-50
However, not all teenage mothers have parenting problems.
Further research should explore variations in adaptation to early
parenthood among adolescent mothers, focusing on the adolescent
mother’s relationship with her family, her relationship with
the baby’s father and support from other agencies. These factors
are significant in terms of how they impact on the teenage mother’s
psychological well-being and the child-rearing
environment