TEENAGE MOTHERING: CHILD DEVELOPMENT AT FIVE YEARS

Abstract

Developmental outcome at 5 yr was compared in 1031 singleton children of teenage mothers and 10,950 singleton children of older mothers in a national longitudinal study. Children born to teenage mothers and living with them through the first 5 yr performed less well than other children in tests of vocabulary and behaviour at 5 yr of age; they were also shorter on average and had a smaller head circumference. These differences remained significant after allowing for certain social and biological factors, whereas a difference on visuomotor coordination did not. Teenage mothering thus appears somewhat disadvantageous to children's development.