LECTURE EXTENSION Cognitive Readiness for Parenting among Adolescent Mothers (p. 126)
Cognitive readiness for parenting depends upon parents' knowledge of child development and appropriate parenting techniques, as well as parents' attitudes toward the parenting role (Miller, et al., 1996; Sommer et al., 2000). It is believed that adolescent mothers are generally less cognitively prepared for parenting than adult mothers. For example, a study of adolescent mothers found that poor cognitive readiness negatively affects mother-child interaction styles. Moreover, postnatal assessment of cognitive readiness among pregnant adolescents revealed that cognitive readiness predicted parenting stress and responsive parenting behavior. Adolescents who were less cognitively prepared for parenting experienced more parenting stress than did adolescents who were more cognitively prepared. They also were less responsive in their interactions with their infants (Mylod, Whitman, & Borkowski, 1997). In a related study, Miller, et al. (1996) examined children of adolescent mothers when the children were 3 years of age. The intellectual, linguistic, and emotional development of the children were assessed. Higher prenatal measures of adolescent mothers' cognitive readiness to parent were associated with higher levels of intellectual functioning in 3-year-olds. No significant differences were found for language development. Lower prenatal measures of cognitive readiness were associated with greater parenting stress and greater perceptions by adolescent mothers of their children as being difficult. Adolescent mothers who reported high parenting stress and high perceptions of their children as being difficult also reported their children as displaying more anxiety and depression. These findings suggest that early interventions designed to alter cognitive readiness to parent may influence adolescents' parenting behavior and developmental outcomes for their children. Miller, C. L., Miceli, P. J., Whitman, T. L., & Borkowski, J. G. (1996). Cognitive readiness to parent and intellectual-emotional development in children of adolescent mothers. Developmental Psychology, 32, 533-541.
Mylod, D. E., Whitman, T. L., & Borkowski, J. G. (1997). Predicting adolescent mother's transition to adulthood. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 7, 457-478.
Sommer, K.S., Whitman, T. L., Borkowski, J. G., Gondoli, D. M., Burke, J., Maxwell, S. E., & Weed, K. (2000). Prenatal maternal predictors of cognitive and emotional delays in children of adolescent mothers. Adolescence, 35, 87-112. LEARNING ACTIVITY Examining Advice to Pregnant Women in Historical Perspective (p. 126)
Advice to pregnant women has changed over the last 20 years. Have students examine popular magazines (for example, Good Housekeeping, Parents, Family Circle) looking for pregnancy information and advice to expectant mothers. Students should note changes over the years regarding maternal cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, exercise, and nutrition. Some students might look at current articles to see if they are accurate, clear, and supported with research and references.
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