title: Teenage mothers at age 30.
abstract: This longitudinal, interpretive study explored how teen mothers experienced the self and future during a 12-year period. Sixteen families were first interviewed intensively in 1988-1989 once the teen's infant reached age 8 to 10 months; they were reinterviewed in 1993, 1997, and 2001 (Time 4). Twenty-seven family members were reinterviewed at Time 4. The metaphor of a narrative spine is used to describe how the mothers'lives unfolded during the 12-year period. The narrative spines of some mothers were large and supported well-developed, coherent "chapters" on mothering, adult love, and work. For others, mothering provided a "backbone" for a meaningful life; however, chapters on adult love and work were less fully developed. The lives of a third group of mothers lacked a coherent narrative structure. Each pattern is presented with a paradigm case.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Saint Louis University.
authors.forename: Lee
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Smithbattle
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D041923:Adolescent Development; D000328:Adult; D001242:Assertiveness; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006040:Goals; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008425:Maternal Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D033262:Narration; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011253:Pregnancy in Adolescence / Q000523:psychology*; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013561:Symbolism; D014481:United States