Online Program

332895
Predictors of school retention among low-income adolescent mothers


Sunday, November 1, 2015

Luciana Assini-Meytin, MS, Department of Behavioral and Community Health, University of Maryland, School of Public Health, College Park, MD
Stephanie Mitchell, PhD, Department of Family Science, School of Public Health, University of Maryland
Amy Lewin, PsyD, Department of Family Science, School of Public Health, University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Background: Adolescent childbearing has been consistently associated with poor economic, educational and health outcomes for mothers and their children. While consequences of adolescent motherhood are well documented in the literature, few studies have examined characteristics of young mothers who fare well in adulthood despite early childbearing. Studies have shown that high school graduation is a strong predictor of positive outcomes at adulthood among teen mothers. The aim of this study is to identify predictors of school retention among low-income teen mothers. Methods: Adolescent mothers under age 19 and their children were recruited into a quasi-experimental study evaluating the effectiveness of a Teen-Tot program in Washington, DC. Data analysis used baseline data (N=150) and included chi-square, bivariate and multivariate logistic regression. Additional analysis will examine results longitudinally over a 12-month period. Results: Ninety-nine percent of participants were African American, 70% received Medicaid, and 30% were not in school and had not graduated. Findings from adjusted logistic regression model show that those with only one child are six times as likely to be in school or have graduated compared to those with two or more children (AOR=6.15, 95%CI=1.83-20.63, p=.003). Additional statistically significantly predictors of staying in school include trying hard to not get pregnant, parents as main source of financial support, and high academic aspirations. Conclusion: Findings from this study can inform public health interventions to support young mothers to continue in school, a critical factor in breaking the intergenerational cycle of socioeconomic disadvantage that often accompanies teen childbearing.

Learning Areas:

Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Identify predictors of school retention among teen mothers. Evaluate the potential impact of school retention as a buffer of negative outcomes in the life of young mothers and their children.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a doctoral candidate at the School of Public Health, University of Maryland - College Park. For the past three years I have been consistently working on research examining the long-term consequences of adolescent parenthood and pathways to positive outcomes, which constitutes the main scope of my doctoral dissertation work. I have a strong research interest in adolescent health and adolescent parenting.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.