Outcome Measures of African American Adolescent Mothers

Despite a decline in births, adolescent pregnancy continues to be a concern for parents, policymakers, and social service providers. Although the future of young mothers in general has been proven to be bleak, some research suggests that the negative impact of adolescent pregnancy is less severe in African American families. Hypotheses have been formulated in prior literature to explain this phenomenon but a dearth of research focuses on understanding the individual and social determinants of healthy outcomes. Aspirations and goal attainment have been identified as possible protective factors. Since a large number of adolescents still become mothers, it is imperative that determinants of healthy outcomes are thoroughly investigated.