MENTAL-HEALTH OF ADOLESCENT MOTHERS

Objective: To propose an assessment and intervention model for adolesc ent mothers that evaluates the influence of physical, cognitive, affec tive, and interpersonal development on such areas of psychological dys function as unprotected sexual activity, substance abuse, and psychopa thology. Method: More than 100 studies were reviewed to identify corre lations between discrete developmental events and evidence of psycholo gical dysfunction in adolescent mothers. Results: The adolescent's nas cent developmental skill in one domain of functioning (e.g., cognitive ) frequently exerts a synergistic effect on other areas of functioning (e.g., affective). This synergy increases the likelihood of psycholog ical dysfunction. In turn, psychological dysfunction affects the emerg ing relationship between the adolescent mother and her infant. Conclus ion: The interaction between the nascent developmental status of the a dolescent caregiver and her psychosocial environment enhances the prob ability of a maladaptive exchange between mother and infant. A model d esigned to overcome the adolescent's developmental limitations and pro mote adaptive interaction with the infant may avert dyadic interperson al failure.