Maltreatment and Adolescent Pregnancy and Parenting Kim Webb University of Missouri

1. Maltreatment and Adolescent Pregnancy and ParentingKim WebbUniversity of Missouri

2. MAPPP Presentation

3. Introduction to MAPPPMAPPP stands for Maltreatment and Adolescent Pregnancy and Parenting Program Goals of MAPPP: • Increase community awareness of maltreatment in the lives of pregnant and parenting adolescents and their children • Assist communities in addressing local issues related to maltreatment and adolescent pregnancy and parenting MAPPP p.14

4. Definition Maltreatment is a broad term used to cover all types of child abuse and neglect, relationships or interpersonal violence, battering, sexual abuse, and any other types of emotional or physical violence inflicted on an adolescent female prior to and/or during adolescent pregnancy and parenting. Maltreatment also included victimization of children born to adolescent mothers. MAPPP p.18

5. 1. What is the relationship between child maltreatment and subsequent adolescent pregnancy? 2. What are the factors associated with maltreatment of pregnant adolescents? 3. What is the likelihood that children of adolescent mothers will experience maltreatment? MAPPP Research Questions MAPPP p. 20

6. MAPPP p. 22

7. 3D.MaltreatmentPrior to AdolescentPregnancy

8. Research is just beginning to establish a link between childhood maltreatment and adolescent pregnancy MAPPP p.32

9. Definition ofSexual Victimization • Noncontact molestation: someone looked at the child or forced the child to look at them while naked; sexual photographs • Contact molestation: fondling • Attempted Rape: trying to have unwanted sexual intercourse • Rape: forced sexual intercourse MAPPP p.34

10. Prevalence of Sexual Victimization In a study of 535 adolescent mothers who were 19 or younger at the time of their first pregnancy, 66% (or 351) had been sexually victimized • 36% or 190 had experienced noncontact molestation • 51% or 275 had experienced contact molestation • 42% or 225 had experienced attempted rape • 44% or 235 had experienced rape MAPPP p.36

11. Sexual Victimization continued 55% (294) of the 535 adolescent mothers had been sexually molested • . Average age of first molestation……....9.7 years • . First molestation before 5 years old…..24% (71) • . Average age of first perpetrator………28 • . More than one incident of abuse……...77% (226) • . Sexually abused by a family member….54% (259) MAPPP p.38

12. Rape According to the 535 adolescent mothers: • Raped at least once…………………..44% (235) • Raped more than once…………..50% (118) • Physical force had been used…….94% (221) • Average age at first rape……………..13 years • Average age of perpetrator…………..23 years MAPPP p.40

13. Responses to Sexual Abuse • . Traumatic sexualization -developmentally inappropriate attitudes towards sex • . Feeling betrayed by the perpetrator and by those who did not protect them • . Powerlessness- feeling unable to control negative events in their lives • . Stigmatization- thinking that others blame them for the maltreatment MAPPP p.42

14. Emotional ExperiencesLinked to Abuse Trauma • Triggers • Flashbacks • Dissociative responses MAPPP p.44

15. Effects of Childhood SexualAbuse on School Behavior • Inability to focus onteacher • Reoccurring disruptive memories • Irrational fears • Excuses and justifications for incomplete work • Anger and lashing out at others, including adults MAPPP p.48

16. Effects on School Behavior continued • Adopting an “I don’t care” attitude • Significant gaps in learning • Giving up easily • Compulsive lying • Chronic low self-esteem MAPPP p.50

17. Effects of Childhood Sexual Abuse Linked to Adolescent Pregnancy • Poor emotional development due to trauma • Poor cognitive development due to trauma • Poor physical condition due to trauma MAPPP p.52

18. Sexual Abuse and Emotional Development • Attachment and Bonding • Relationship Difficulties • Promiscuity • Distant or avoids of opposite sex • Depression • Anxiety • Suicidal ideation or suicide attempts

19. Sexual Abuse and Cognitive Development • Brain Development • Physical conditions • Heart Palpitations • Panic Attacks • Behavioral effects • Attention • Sleep • Mood

20. Sexual Abuse andPhysical Condition • Eating Disorders • Anorexia • Obesity • Physical Appearance • Oversized Clothes • Personal Hygiene

22. 3E.MaltreatmentDuring Adolescent Pregnancy

23. Maltreatment DuringAdolescent Pregnancy • One in five adolescents, compared with one in six adult women, report maltreatment during pregnancy Research Findings: • Between 17% and 26% of adolescents report maltreatment during pregnancy • Maltreatment prior to pregnancy is a primary predictor of maltreatment during pregnancy MAPPP p.68

24. Maltreatment During Adolescent Pregnancy Research Findings continued: • When they report maltreatment, pregnant adolescents are more likely to report physical abuse (i.e. hitting, slapping, etc.) • Pregnant adolescents are subject to maltreatment from multiple perpetrators • Pregnant adolescents enter prenatal care late in pregnancies • Adolescents are at higher risk for poor pregnancy outcomes-this is compounded by maltreatment MAPPP p.70

25. Signs of Intimate Partner Violence • 50% of injuries are to head, neck or face • Multiple injuries at various stages of healing • In pregnant women, injuries are generally to breast, abdomen or genitals • Injuries may be inconsistent with explanation • Time lag between actual injury and being seen Linda Bullock, University of Missouri, 1999 MAPPP p.78

27. 3F.Maltreatment of Childrenof Adolescent Mothers

28. Child maltreatment is a complex phenomenonwith multiple causes • Not all adolescents maltreat their children • Not all children of adolescents are maltreated MAPPP p.96

29. Adolescents maynot be able to deal effectively withthe stressors in their lives and this can put their children at risk for maltreatment. MAPPP p.98

30. Risk Factors forMaltreatment of Children of Adolescent Mothers • Family disorganization or disruption • Lack of emotional support from an adult during childhood • Violence in family of origin MAPPP p.100

31. Risk Factors for Maltreatment of Childrenof Adolescent Mothers continued • Less education • Unemployment or underemployment • Number of children in the household Economic Factors related to: MAPPP p.102

32. Risk Factors for Maltreatment of Childrenof Adolescent Mothers continued • Lack of social support for the adolescent parent • Changes in primary care-giver of the child MAPPP p.104

33. Age of Mother andRisk of Maltreatmentfor Her Child Some researchers have found a relationship between the age of the mother and the risk for maltreatment of her child. MAPPP p.106

34. Study I:Of 2,031 substantiated cases of child maltreatment, 38% were attributed to women who gave birth to children prior to their 20th birthday.Study 2:Children born to women under 18 were twice as likely to suffer maltreatment as those born to older women. MAPPP p.108

35. Study 3:The younger the mother at the time of birth of the maltreated child,the higher the risk of maltreatment.Study 4:In a review of death records during the first year of almost 35 million children born between 1983 and 1991, the strongest risk factor for death during that year was maternal age less than 17. MAPPP p.110

36. Adolescents as Mothers Compared to women who are older when they become parents, adolescent mothers: • Tend to be more punitive • Tend to be more rigid • May have more inappropriate expectations for their children • May be prone to use physical discipline MAPPP p. 112

37. Implications for Practice: • Early intervention with those who show a negative attitude prenatally • Parenting education • Increased social support MAPPP p.114