Parenting knowledge among adolescent mothers.
The parenting knowledge of first-time adolescent mothers who chose to receive special services from the public school system was measured. These data are thought to be the first reported on the adolescent's awareness that parenting influences the present and future well-being of the infant and mother. Knowledge level was high and no different from that of adult primiparous mothers of comparable socioeconomic status. Correct response to individual items on the infant Caregiving Inventory (ICI) ranged from 84% to 96% for adolescents. These results are contrary to the previous reports of deficient parenting by adolescents. They reflect the need for continuing investigation of adolescent mothers' parenting knowledge in evaluating their effectiveness as parents.
D000293:Adolescent; D002668:Child Rearing; D002669:Child Welfare; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008396:Maryland; D008429:Maternal Welfare; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011253:Pregnancy in Adolescence; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D012572:School Health Services