Teen Mothers’ Family Support and Adult Identity in the Emerging Adulthood: Implications for Socioeconomic Attainment Later in Life

Citation

Assini-Meytin, Luciana C.; Garza, Mary A.; & Green, Kerry M. (2019). Teen Mothers’ Family Support and Adult Identity in the Emerging Adulthood: Implications for Socioeconomic Attainment Later in Life. Emerging Adulthood.

Abstract

We examined the prospective role of parental support and adult identity profiles in the transition to adulthood on teen mothers’ socioeconomic outcomes in adulthood. Analyses were based on the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, a nationally representative sample of youth followed over a decade. We used data from Waves 1, 3, and 4 (mean age = 28.6, Wave 4). Analytical sample consisted of 981 females who gave birth before age 20. Analysis included design-based regression models. Findings from adjusted regression models showed no statistically significant associations between teen mothers’ parental support and socioeconomic outcomes. While teen mothers have already achieved an important marker of adulthood, variability in adult identity profiles was observed. Teen mothers with older subjective age, regardless of their levels of psychosocial maturation, had higher socioeconomic attainment on some indicators. Findings suggest that teen mothers’ adult identity profiles differentiate their socioeconomic trajectories later in life.

URL

https://doi.org/10.1177/2167696819879251

Keyword(s)

adolescent health

Reference Type

Journal Article

Journal Title

Emerging Adulthood

Author(s)

Assini-Meytin, Luciana C.
Garza, Mary A.
Green, Kerry M.

Year Published

2019

DOI

10.1177/2167696819879251

Reference ID

6572