Parenting needs, goals, & strategies of adolescent mothers.
OBJECTIVE
To identify and organize the perceived needs, goals, and strategies of teen mothers.


METHODS
Qualitative, using a microethnographic design. Data collection strategies included focus groups and interviews in a naturalistic setting. The sample consisted of five unmarried 18-year-old mothers enrolled in an urban high school in a southern state. Data were analyzed using a clustering technique and a modified multistage method of content analysis.


RESULTS
Teen mothers identified their needs as support and knowledge. Goals were happiness, independence, and career, and strategies were a support group, life skills education, formal education, and a job. A model was developed incorporating these themes.


CONCLUSIONS
Nurses can use the findings of this study to develop support groups for adolescent mothers that offer peer support and education about teen and child needs, are flexible and multidisciplinary, are supportive and accepting, have a comfortable physical environment, and include the adolescents' children and occasionally grandparents.
Stiles
Anne Scott
AS
College of Nursing, Texas Woman's University, Denton, TX, USA. astiles@twu.edu
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D000884:Anthropology, Cultural; D001294:Attitude to Health; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D004651:Employment / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006040:Goals; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009035:Mothers / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D024802:Nurse's Role; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011253:Pregnancy in Adolescence / Q000523:psychology; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D036301:Qualitative Research; D015406:Single Parent / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires