The Impact of Being Born to A Teen Mother On Psychosocial

Functioning

Ellen Lipman, Michael Boyle, Kathy Hadjiyannakis, Yvonne Racine,

Purnima Rao-Melacini

1. Outcomes

2. Risk Mechanisms

1. Outcomes- Childhood - LBW, abuse, academic achievement,

aggression

- Adolescent – academic achievement,

aggression, teen pregnancy

- Young Adult - ?

2. Risk Mechanisms- Teen mother (Social Influence)

- Living circumstances (Social Selection)

Sample: 2279 children 4 - 12 y.o. in 1983

Teen mother sample: < 20 y.o. (n = 528 )

Variables- Teen mother: Age at first birth (continuous)

- Living circumstances:

Family Income ( $1,000) (1983/87)

Maternal Education (1983)

Family Dysfunction (1983/87)

Outcomes1983/87 - Behaviour Problems (CBCL) - parent - teacher

- Problems Getting Along - parent - teacher

- School Problems - teacher

2000 - Physical Health - Mental Health - Years of Education

1983 Outcomes (Weighted)

Behaviour – Parent

(n=2234)

B(SE) B(SE)

Age at 1B -0.09***(0.03) -0.40(0.22)

Age at 1B2 ------ 0.01(0.00)

r2=0.01 r2=0.01

Behaviour – Teacher

(n=1729)

B(SE) B(SE)

Age at 1B -0.23***(0.06) -1.89***(0.47)

Age at 1B2 ------

r2=0.01

0.03***(0.01)

r2=0.02

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

0 10 20 30 40 50

Age at First Birth

Ext

ern

aliz

ing

Dis

ord

ers

(Par

ent R

ep.)

0

5

10

15

20

25

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45

Age at First Birth

Exte

rnal

izin

g D

isor

ders

(Tea

cher

Rep

.)

Behaviour 83 Getting Along 83 School 83

P T P T T

Age at 1B -0.09*** -1.89*** -0.02* -0.29*** 0.94***

Age at 1B2 ------

r2=0.01

0.03***

r2=0.02

------

r2=0.00

0.01***

r2=0.01

-0.02***

r2=0.04

Age at 1B -0.10*** -1.58*** -0.03*** -0.22** 0.55***

Age at 1B2 ------ 0.03** ------ 0.00** -0.01**

1983

Covariates

r2=0.06 r2=0.11 r2=0.09 r2=0.07 r2=0.11

Behaviour 83 Getting Along 83 School 83

P T P T T

Age at 1B -0.10*** -1.58*** -0.03*** -0.22** 0.55***

Age at 1B2 ----- 0.03** ----- 0.00** -0.01**

Age child

Sex child 1.64*** 5.43*** 0.44*** 0.72*** -0.73***

Inc -0.06*** -0.01* -0.01*** 0.03***

Mat Ed 0.04*** 0.18***

Fam Dys 0.18*** 0.09* 0.09*** 0.02*

r2=0.06 r2=0.11 r2=0.09 r2=0.07 r2=0.11

Behaviour 87 Getting Along 87 School 87P T P T T

Age at 1B -0.17***

r2=0.01

-0.20***

r2=0.01

-0.05***

r2=0.01

-0.03**

r2=0.01

0.11***

r2=0.02

Age at 1B -0.14*** -0.16** -0.05*** -0.02* 0.01

1983 Covariates

r2=0.06 r2=0.09 r2=0.04 r2=0.04 r2=0.13

Age at 1B -0.08*** -0.13* -0.04*** -0.02 0.03

1983 & 1987

Covariates r2=0.38 r2=0.27 r2=0.20 r2=0.16 r2=0.43

Behaviour 87 Getting Along 87 School 87P T P T T

Age at 1B -0.14*** -0.16** -0.05*** -0.02*

Age child -0.16**

Sex child 1.49*** 4.65*** 0.22* 0.56*** -1.29***

Inc -0.02* -0.04* -0.01* 0.03***

Mat Ed 0.26***

Fam Dys 0.17*** 0.12** 0.06*** 0.02*

Age at 1B -0.08*** -0.13* -0.04***

Age child -0.08*** -0.31** -0.05*

Sex child 0.50* 2.19*** 0.32***

Inc

Mat Ed -0.09* 0.14**

Fam Dys

Outcome 83

0.62*** 0.40*** 0.42*** 0.35*** 0.61***

Inc 87

Fam Dys 87

0.14*** 0.07*** 0.02*

Physical Health

Mental

Health

Years Education

Age at 1B 0.05

r2=0.00

0.09*

r2=0.00

0.16***

r2=0.07

Age at 1B 0.04 0.08 0.12**

1983

Covariates

r2=0.01 r2=0.03 r2=0.21

Age at 1B 0.03 0.05 0.09***

1983 & 1987 Covariates

r2=0.02 r2=0.06 r2=0.27

Physical Health

Mental

Health

Years Education

Age at 1B 0.12**

Age child 0.26*** 0.15***

Sex child 1.00** -0.45***

Inc 0.04*** 0.02* 0.03***

Mat Ed -0.10* 0.15***

Fam Dys 0.00 -0.16*** -0.04***

Age at 1B 0.09***

Age child 0.23** 0.17***

Sex child 0.96*** 2.23***

Inc 0.03* 0.02***

Mat Ed -0.13** 0.13***

Fam Dys -0.20***

Behav 83 -0.07* -0.14*** -0.03*

Behav 87 -0.09***

Inc87 0.08* -0.02*

Fam Dys 87 0.03* 0.02***

Results1983 Outcomes- Age at first birth significant predictor of all outcomes

(P & T behaviour, P & T getting along, T school) even with 1983 control variables

- Family income and family dysfunction most consistent predictors of 1983 outcomes

- Relationship between age at first birth and outcomes varies across informants

Results

1987 Outcomes- Age at 1st birth significant predictor of P & T

behaviour, P & T getting along, even with 1983 and 1987 control variables.

- Family dysfunction predicts behaviour and social problems across informant.

2000 Outcomes- Age at 1st birth significantly predicts

educational attainment in 2000, as do other family background variables

- Family background factors are stronger predictors of 2000 mental health problems (family dysfunction), physical health problems (income, maternal education) though little variance is explained