PEER RELATIONSHIPS AS A SOURCE OF SUPPORT FOR ADOLESCENT MOTHERS

Little has been written about the role of the peer group in the lives of adolescent mothers. There has been speculation that an adolescent m other's peer relationships change as a result of pregnancy and parenth ood. The literature indicates that peers become less able to provide a support system. Little empirical evidence has been provided to suppor t this speculation. This study assessed a sample of 46 adolescent moth ers on the amounts and types of support provided by friends as compare d to relatives and examined peer support in relation to parenting stre ss. The Inventory of Social Contacts measured levels of perceived chil d-rearing, emotional, and material support and interference from famil y and friends. The Parenting Stress Index assessed self-reported paren ting stress arising from child and parent characteristics. Results of repeated-measures ANOVAs and Pearson correlations indicated that, as c ompared to family, friends provide more emotional support and less int erference. Parenting stress is buffered more effectively by the suppor t that is provided by friends.