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J Child Fam Stud (2017) 26:643651 DOI 10.1007/s10826-016-0582-7
ORIGINAL PAPER
http://crossmark.crossref.org/dialog/?doi=10.1007/s10826-016-0582-7&domain=pdf
Web End = Parenting and Child Rearing Attitudes of Unmarried Hispanic Teenage Mothers
Matthew Lee Smith1,2 Alethea L. Chiappone3 Kelly L. Wilson4
Published online: 18 October 2016 Springer Science+Business Media New York 2016
Abstract This study describes the personal characteristics and child rearing attitudes of unmarried, Hispanic teenage mothers and compares their risk for negative parenting attributes associated with child maltreatment. Data were analyzed from 111 participants enrolled in an in-home case management initiative. The Adult Adolescent Parenting Inventory-2 (AAPI-2) was used to assess parenting-related risk on ve constructs. Responses for each construct were converted to standardized sten scores ranging from 1 to 10. Paired t-tests were utilized to examine mean differences between AAPI-2 construct sten scores, and Pearsons r correlation coefcients were calculated to examine the strength and direction of construct relationships. Most AAPI-2 constructs were positively inter-correlated. Participants reported highest risk scores for Use of Corporal Punishment, Inappropriate Expectations of Children, and Oppressing Childrens Power and Independence. Findings indicate the need for parenting education programs to offset child maltreatment risk among Hispanic teenage mothers.
Keywords Pregnancy prevention Parenting Child rearing Teenage pregnancy Social services
Introduction
Teenage pregnancy and the delay of subsequent pregnancies among adolescent mothers is a public health issue (Langille 2007). Over the past two decades, disproportionately higher rates of teenage pregnancy have been reported among Hispanics, and this population has the highest teenage birthrate of any racial or ethnic group in the United States (Guttmacher Institute 2010; Hamilton and Ventura 2012; Martin et al. 2007). It is estimated that more than half (53 %) of Hispanic females in the United States will become pregnant at least once before age 20 (Martin et al. 2010; Ventura et al. 2008).
Complications and burdens associated with adolescent pregnancy and parenting impact teenage mothers and their ability to meet their childrens needs (SmithBattle 2007). Relative to adults, teenagers who become pregnant often encounter increased difculties because they are more likely to be emotionally immature (Koniak-Grifn et al. 2000). This is due, in part, to their young age and lack of personal responsibilities, such as holding a job or completing school (Perper et al. 2010). In addition to these difculties, teenage mothers tend to...