title: Maternal adjustment and maternal attitudes in adolescent and adult pregnant women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study analyzes differences between adolescent and adult pregnant women and the contribution of maternal age to maternal adjustment and maternal attitudes during pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A sample of 398 Portuguese pregnant women (111 younger than 19 years) was recruited in a Portuguese Maternity Hospital and completed the Maternal Adjustment and Maternal Attitudes Questionnaire between the 24(th) and 36(th) weeks of gestation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Maternal Adjustment and Maternal Attitudes Questionnaire(1) RESULTS: Adolescent pregnant women show lower maternal adjustment (poorer body image and worse marital relationship) and poorer maternal attitudes (more negative attitudes to sex) than adult pregnant women. When controlling for socio-demographics, age at pregnancy predicts poorer body image and more negative attitudes to sex, but not a worse marital relationship, more somatic symptoms or negative attitudes to pregnancy and the baby. A worse marital relationship was better predicted by living without the partner, and more somatic symptoms and negative attitudes to pregnancy and the baby was predicted by higher education.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Adolescent pregnant women show lower maternal adjustment and poorer maternal attitudes than adult pregnant women according to socio-demographics and unfavorable developmental circumstances.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal. Electronic address: bbfi@psi.uminho.pt.
authors.forename: Bárbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Figueiredo
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.
authors.forename: Iva
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tendais
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.
authors.forename: Cláudia C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Dias
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001828:Body Image / Q000523:psychology*; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008423:Maternal Age; D008875:Middle Aged; D011174:Portugal; D011247:Pregnancy; D011253:Pregnancy in Adolescence / Q000523:psychology*; D019529:Sexuality / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Adolescent mothers; MAMA questionnaire; Maternal adjustment; Maternal attitudes; Parenthood; Pregnancy