A comparison of adult and teenage mother's self-esteem and satisfaction with social support.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the similarities and differences between teenage and adult mothers and their level of self-esteem and satisfaction with social support at six weeks and six months postpartum.


METHODS
A two group comparative study.


METHODS
Maternal child health, immunisation and midwives' clinics in New South Wales, Australia.


METHODS
173 adult mothers and 72 adolescent mothers who had experienced a normal pregnancy, labour and delivery and delivered a healthy baby near term.


RESULTS
Rosenberg's Self-esteem Scale, Brown's Support Behavior Inventory and a personal information form were used. Irrespective of age, breast-feeding rates and satisfaction with social support decreased significantly during the early months postpartum. Furthermore, a significant inverse relationship was noted between maternal age and satisfaction with support and a positive relationship was identified between maternal age and self-esteem.


CONCLUSIONS
Maternal self-esteem may be challenged by the demands of motherhood and dissatisfaction with social support could contribute to the decline in breast-feeding practices. Developing a postnatal support plan, including fathers in education programmes and offering courses and workshops designed to enhance self-esteem and parentcraft may assist mothers to assume baby care responsibilities and increase their satisfaction with support.
McVeigh
C
C
Griffith University, Unit 1003, 6 Coyne Street, Kirra, Queensland, Australia 4225. cmcveigh@ozemail.com.au
Smith
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D009517:New South Wales; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011181:Postnatal Care / Q000523:psychology* / Q000592:standards; D011247:Pregnancy; D011253:Pregnancy in Adolescence / Q000523:psychology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011581:Psychological Tests; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D012649:Self Concept; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors