Abstract: The importance of social support in buffering the stress attendant on early parenting is well known. Supportive peer, family, and community ties are critical in helping young mothers gain the personal and social competencies necessary for successful parenting (Krissman, 1992; Zippay, 1995) and for avoiding high-risk behaviors, such as alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use, often found in tandem with teen pregnancy (Kokotailo, Langhough, Cox, Davidson, & Fleming, 1994). These supportive relationships, however, may be disrupted by the social isolation characteristic of teen parenting (Cherniss & Herzog, 1996). This is an especially critical issue in the rural South where geography, poverty, and resource limitations contribute significantly to the isolating effects of early childbearing. Yet, little is known about the relationships among physical and social isolation, support availability, and the well-being of pregnant and parenting teens in the rural South. Drawing on data from a research demonstration supported by the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, this presentation will examine the impact of spatial and social dispersion on peer, family, and institutional support networks for low-wealth pregnant and parenting teens in a rural Southern state. Implications for policy and program development and for further research will be presented.
Learning Objectives: Learning objectives: Participants in this session will: 1) understand the impact of geographic and social isolation for low-income pregnant and parenting teens; 2) understand the relationships among geographic and social isolation, services use, and the social well-being of low-income pregnant and parenting teens ;, and 3) identify the policy and program implications for the findings presented
Keywords: Teen Pregnancy Prevention, Service Delivery
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.