Course of adolescence pregnancy: A longitudinal study when the children are adolescents

Abstract

Research on adolescence pregnancy (AP) indicated heterogeneity regarding to associated causes and consequences to the development of mothers and children. This paper presents the fourth stage of a longitudinal study including eight dyads (mothers/first children born in adolescence), when the children are 14 years-old. The aim of the study was to update data from dyads psychosocial conditions. The instruments used in their households were interviews, home observations, ASR, CBCL and YSR. Results indicated: mother's loss in professional and educational trajectories; relationships with the original family and the fathers which are in similar positions at the time of pregnancy; frequent references to substance use by fathers; problems between mothers/daughters relationship. Better development conditions were presented in dyads whose relations with the original family and the child's father were good. Higher difficulties were found in those dyads with problems in these relationships. The father figure is indicated as a differential element in the positive or negative condition of the dyads development (mothers and children). The continuity of the longitudinal investigation is suggested when the children are adults in order to allow the verification of possible impacts arising from AP in the long-term development trajectory.