Social Supports and Living Arrangements of Adolescent and Adult Mothers

Social support may buffer the potenttial stresses of childrearing, which may be most acute among adolescent mothers because of their increased likelihood of poverty and single motherhood. The present study examined amount, type. and sources of support, associations with living arrangements, and the qualitv of the child-rearing environment among 144 adolescents (age 5 18 years) and 139 adults (age a 20 years) matched for SES and ethnicity. Current living arrangements included liv ing with partner, own mother, other adults, or alone with children. Postpartum and 12 months later, adolescent mothers reported more of all types of support and received more supportfrom their own mothers than did the adult new mothers. Household composition affected all aspects of social support. regardless of maternal age. Finally, older mothers anid those living with partners prov ided more optimal home environments. The patterni for adolescent mothers, that of remaining with their own mothers following childbirth, provided increased support but mas not foster an optimal child-rearing environment.