The Experiences of Mothers Aged Under 20: Analysis of Growing Up in Scotland Data - Research Findings

Conclusion

Mothers aged under 20 face significant socio-economic disadvantage in terms of lower educational qualifications, lower employment levels and lower income. This fundamental disadvantage underlies many of the other differences shown here. Therefore, addressing these issues would have particular impact in reducing inequality more broadly between younger and older parents.

These findings also illustrate some lesser known differences - and similarities - between younger and older mothers particularly between mothers aged under 20 at the child's birth and those who are in their early twenties. In all measures of socio-economic characteristics, for example, mothers aged 20-24 are in a relatively advantaged position when compared with the youngest group yet are nevertheless at a significant disadvantage when compared with older mothers.

Additional support to allow young parents - particularly those under 20 - the opportunity to continue their education or training would benefit them, and their children, in many positive ways. Widening the availability of and access to affordable childcare is also important and would support more opportunities for education or training, and employment.

Mothers aged under 25 rating themselves more poorly than mothers aged over 25 in measures of general health and mental wellbeing is a somewhat unexpected finding. It is possible that the poorer health behaviours and greater socio-economic disadvantage observed amongst younger mothers counteract their youthfulness.

Parents with better health themselves, and who practice better health behaviours - such as not smoking, better diet, more physical activity - are more likely to have children with better health and health behaviours. Thus smoking cessation programmes aimed at teenagers, and perhaps specifically at pregnant mothers aged under 20, would be beneficial for improving the health of mothers and their children. Indeed, mothers in their early twenties, with significantly higher smoking rates than those aged 25 or older, may also benefit from some targeted intervention in this respect.

Mothers under 20 are more wary of formal support services and more reluctant to use them than older mothers. Those in their early twenties, whilst being less wary of professional support and more confident about who to ask, are nevertheless less sure of seeking and receiving parenting support than mothers aged 25 or older. These trends have significant implications for the delivery of parenting support for young mothers. There have already been a number of interventions delivered in Scotland aimed at improving the parenting capacity of teenagers. It is important that the experiences and outcomes from these interventions are shared and reflected upon, along with the findings here. This will ensure that as a national approach to increased parenting support and improved decision making on health behaviours is adopted, the specific perceptions of and attitudes towards support amongst teenage parents are better understood and their needs more widely met.

Across many of the domains of health, parenting and social life considered here, the circumstances, behaviours and experiences of mothers aged 20-24, whilst often being relatively positive when compared with those aged under 20, are still more negative than for older mothers. Their similarly poor general and mental health and health behaviours, including during pregnancy, are of note alongside their lower use of parenting support - such as ante-natal classes - and more negative attitude towards such support. As such, some consideration should also be given to enhancing the support offered to parents in this slightly older age group.