Adolescent Motherhood, Depression, and Delinquency

• In Event: Emotions, Social Rewards and Offending

Abstract

Although recent research has identified a number of financial, social, and educational strains associated with teenage motherhood, the effects of motherhood on outcomes such as depression and delinquency remain largely unexplored. Using data from a nationally representative sample (National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health) of 676 females between the ages of 13-21, the current study addresses these voids in the literature by examining two research questions: (1) Does adolescent motherhood increase involvement in delinquency?, and (2) Are mothers who experience depression at greater risk for delinquency?

Authors

• D'Andre Walker, Arizona State University

• Kristy Holtfreter, Arizona State University