"All the men here have the Peter Pan syndrome--they don't want to grow up": Navajo adolescent mothers' intimate partner relationships--a 15-year perspective.
In 1992 and 1995, data were collected from 29 Navajo Native American adolescent mothers. In 2007 and 2008, data were collected from 21 of the original 29 (72%). Guided by feminist family theory, this investigation sought to (a) examine Navajo adolescent mothers' intimate partner relationships during the transition to parenthood, (b) identify themes in the young mothers' intimate partnerships across time, and (c) assess participants' psychosocial well-being in adulthood. Four themes emerged in the women's long-term intimate relationships: limited support, substance abuse, infidelity, and intimate partner violence. Implications of the findings and suggestions for future research are discussed.
Dalla
Rochelle L
RL
Department of Child, Youth, and Family Studies, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Omaha Campus, Omaha, NE 68182-0214, USA. dalla@unomaha.edu
Marchetti
Alexandria M
AM
Sechrest
Elizabeth Beth A
EB
White
Jennifer L
JL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005114:Extramarital Relations / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D005220:Fathers; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American / Q000523:psychology; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D009035:Mothers; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012944:Social Support; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult