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“The love that I was missing”: Exploring the lived experience of motherhood among teen mothers in foster care

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  • Aparicio, Elizabeth
  • Pecukonis, Edward V.
  • O'Neale, Shalita

Abstract

The present study employed Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to explore the experiences and meaning of motherhood among teen mothers in foster care. Through a series of 18 in-depth, semi-structured interviews exploring experiences of both being mothered and mothering, the six young women in this study shared their stories of living the reality of becoming mothers under extremely challenging circumstances and doing their best to thrive. Themes of darkness and despair, (e.g., substance abuse, poverty, and child maltreatment) glimpses of light in the darkness (e.g., relationships with their partner's family), and new beginnings (e.g., identity as mother) emerged as characteristic of their experience. Implications for practice, policy, and research in the areas of teen pregnancy prevention and support for family strengthening are offered.

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  • Aparicio, Elizabeth & Pecukonis, Edward V. & O'Neale, Shalita, 2015. "“The love that I was missing”: Exploring the lived experience of motherhood among teen mothers in foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 44-54.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:51:y:2015:i:c:p:44-54
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2015.02.002
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. James, Sigrid & Montgomery, Susanne B. & Leslie, Laurel K. & Zhang, Jinjin, 2009. "Sexual risk behaviors among youth in the child welfare system," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 31(9), pages 990-1000, September.
    2. Pecora, Peter J. & Kessler, Ronald C. & O'Brien, Kirk & White, Catherine Roller & Williams, Jason & Hiripi, Eva & English, Diana & White, James & Herrick, Mary Anne, 2006. "Educational and employment outcomes of adults formerly placed in foster care: Results from the Northwest Foster Care Alumni Study," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 28(12), pages 1459-1481, December.
    3. Haight, Wendy & Finet, Dayna & Bamba, Sachiko & Helton, Jesse, 2009. "The beliefs of resilient African-American adolescent mothers transitioning from foster care to independent living: A case-based analysis," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 31(1), pages 53-62, January.
    4. Dworsky, Amy & Courtney, Mark E., 2010. "The risk of teenage pregnancy among transitioning foster youth: Implications for extending state care beyond age 18," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 32(10), pages 1351-1356, October.
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    1. Aparicio, Elizabeth M. & Shpiegel, Svetlana & Grinnell-Davis, Claudette & King, Bryn, 2019. "“My body is strong and amazing”: Embodied experiences of pregnancy and birth among young women in foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 98(C), pages 199-205.
    2. Lieberman, Lisa D. & Kaplan, Alejandra & Scholey, Laura & Kohomban, Jeremy & Lausell-Bryant, Linda, 2020. "Strategic partners: Enhancing the ability of foster care agencies to serve the special needs of young mothers," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 110(C).
    3. Roberts, Louise & Long, Sara Jayne & Young, Honor & Hewitt, Gillian & Murphy, Simon & Moore, Graham F., 2018. "Sexual health outcomes for young people in state care: Cross-sectional analysis of a national survey and views of social care professionals in Wales," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 89(C), pages 281-288.
    4. Margherita, Giorgia & Troisi, Gina & Tessitore, Francesca & Gargiulo, Anna, 2017. "Teen mothers who are daughters of teen mothers: Psychological intergenerational dimensions of early motherhood," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 294-301.
    5. Godoy, Sarah M. & Thelwell, Mikiko & Perris, Georgia E. & Freeman, Oree & Elander, Sara & Bath, Eraka P., 2022. "A roadmap to enhancing community based participatory research strategies and collaborative efforts with populations impacted by commercial sexual exploitation," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 136(C).
    6. Combs, Katie Massey & Aparicio, Elizabeth M. & Prince, Dana M. & Grinnell-Davis, Claudette & Marra, Laura & Faulkner, Monica, 2019. "Evidence-based sexual health programs for youth involved with juvenile justice and child welfare systems: Outcomes across settings," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 100(C), pages 64-69.
    7. Eastman, Andrea Lane & Schelbe, Lisa & McCroskey, Jacquelyn, 2019. "A content analysis of case records: Two-generations of child protective services involvement," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 99(C), pages 308-318.
    8. Harmon-Darrow, Caroline & Burruss, Karen & Finigan-Carr, Nadine, 2020. "“We are kind of their parents”: Child welfare workers’ perspective on sexuality education for foster youth," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 108(C).
    9. Ohene, Serena K. & Garcia, Antonio, 2020. "Narratives of women’s retrospective experiences of teen pregnancy, motherhood, and school engagement while placed in foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 108(C).
    10. Radey, Melissa & Schelbe, Lisa & McWey, Lenore M. & Holtrop, Kendal & Canto, Angela I., 2016. "“It's really overwhelming”: Parent and service provider perspectives of parents aging out of foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 1-10.
    11. Aparicio, Elizabeth M. & Shpiegel, Svetlana & Martinez-Garcia, Genevieve & Sanchez, Alexander & Jasczynski, Michelle & Ventola, Marissa & Channell Doig, Amara & Robinson, Jennifer L. & Smith, Rhoda, 2023. "Experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic among young parents with foster care backgrounds: A participatory action PhotoVoice study," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 148(C).
    12. Combs, Katie Massey & Brown, Samantha M. & Begun, Stephanie & Taussig, Heather, 2018. "Pregnancy attitudes and contraceptive use among young adults with histories of foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 284-289.
    13. Begun, Stephanie & Frey, Cressida & Combs, Katie Massey & Torrie, Michaela, 2019. "“I guess it would be a good shock”: A qualitative examination of homeless youths' diverse pregnancy attitudes," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 99(C), pages 87-96.
    14. Ramseyer Winter, Virginia & Brandon-Friedman, Richard A. & Ely, Gretchen E., 2016. "Sexual health behaviors and outcomes among current and former foster youth: A review of the literature," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 1-14.

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