Becoming a mother in your teen years is not an ideal situation for most Americans. Young adults in this age bracket are still growing, physically and emotionally, and are not always as equipped to handle adult situations as they might think. Teen mothers face adult responsibilities even before they give birth, and the obligations continue for years down the road. Stress, financial challenges and a lack of education are among the problems teen mothers face.
Stress
Parents of all ages experience stress during the childrearing years, but teens are not always emotionally equipped to deal with the range of emotions that hit them. Teens who have become pregnant accidentally may be angry and not want their babies, even if they have made the decision to keep them, according to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. This anger at their situation can snowball into anger at the baby, as well as feelings of anxiety, depression and failure. Teen parents who do not have the support of their friends and family members may feel more stress because they feel like they are alone and do not have anyone to turn to when they are feeling low. Kidshealth.org, a health resource associated with the Nemours Foundation, encourages parents of pregnant teens to support their daughters during this time of emotional upheaval, but not all parents will follow heed.
Financial Challenges
Teen mothers are likely to face financial challenges at some point their lives. The California Department of Education explains that 83 percent of California teens are in the low-income bracket already; moving up from poverty status is difficult, especially with an infant in tow. The source of financial difficulties for teen parents is actually a conglomeration of factors. Teen parents who do not have their own parents' support may be forced to move into their own living space. Finding affordable child care may be challenging, leaving a teen mother unemployed or paying most of her salary to a caregiver. A teen mother who is still in high school may be limited in terms of finding a job that will support her new family. The March of Dimes states that the babies of teenage mothers tend to be less healthy than those born to adults due to low birthweight and prematurity; medical bills may mount, causing more financial worries.
Lower Levels of Education
According to the California Department of Education, approximately 70 percent of pregnant teenagers in that state drop out of high school; Kidshealth.org reports this statistic on a national level as well. As a result, the average teen mother has a lower level of education than her non-parent counterparts. A lack of education can affect mother and child throughout their lives. A mother who does not have a high school degree will most likely have a harder time finding a well-paying job than a teen mom who continues her education. High school prepares adolescents for responsibility later in life. A teen mom already faces huge responsibilities, but may not have all of the tools needed to navigate through some of life's challenges if she drops out before graduation. The social outlet that school provides for the mother is important as well; a teen parent who is isolated from her peers may be more likely to become depressed and withdrawn, which will affect her child.
