Showing papers in "Journal of Research on Adolescence in 1996"

Attachment to place and migration prospects: a developmental perspective.

Abstract: In the troubled economy of the rural midwest adolescents come of age with a future that seems increasingly less promising at home than in other places. Their growing recognition of limited opportunities may fuel a resolve to migrate to other regions that clashes with binding attachments to local people and places. By using preferences for living near family and in the local community obtained in the 8th and 11th grade this longitudinal study modeled the social and developmental pathways by which children approach decisions to leave home and settle in other parts of the country. Data come from 351 two-parent families in the Iowa Youth and Family Project launched in 1989 to investigate the economic stresses and family consequences of the farm crisis. Lack of socioeconomic opportunity relatively weak and declining ties to parents kin and the religious community and strong educational prospects emerged as potent sources of a declining preference for living near family and in the local community among boys and girls. Whether coupled with family attachments or not plans to settle elsewhere after education are linked to more elevated feelings of depression anxiety and unhappiness about life. (authors)

School outcomes for minority-group adolescent mothers at 28 to 36 months postpartum: a longitudinal follow-up.

Abstract: This study examines the educational status of 120 adolescent postpartum women in the US during 1987-88. Mothers were 14-19 years old at delivery. 53.1% were African American and 42.5% were Puerto Rican. All but 2 deliveries were first births. 71.7% lived with their own mothers. 64.6% came from families on welfare. The average number of years of completed schooling was 9.5. At 28-36 months postpartum the average age was 19.7 years 52.4% lived with their mothers 52.4% lived off their mothers public assistance and 17.9% supported themselves. 7.9% were married. Interviews were conducted at 3-4 weeks 6 months 12 months and 28-36 months postpartum. 94% had completed interviews by 12 months and 71% had completed interviews by 28-36 months. 33% of mothers had attended school or graduated through the pregnancy and the last follow-up period. 19% who were not in school at the first birth returned or graduated by 28-36 months postpartum. 12% dropped out before the pregnancy and never returned; 36% dropped out during the pregnancy and never returned. Greater risk of delayed grade placement by 28-36 months was significantly associated with age at delivery and reports of stressful life events 1 year postpartum. Mothers who were more grade-delayed reported more depressive symptoms more repeat pregnancies and lower work plans. At 1 year postpartum school returners reported significantly fewer stresses and more child care support than dropouts. 41% of the mothers had a new mate. 25.7% reported a close relationship with the babys father. About 80% reported problems with the fathers such as drugs promiscuity jail death machismo or physical abuse. Only 39% of attenders had a repeat pregnancy compared to 68% of returners 93% of dropouts during pregnancy and 70% of dropouts before pregnancy. Only half of the mothers were likely to pursue educational and occupational goals.