The proposed research will study 150 Hispanic families at the time of the first teenage pregnancy and follow these families longitudinally at closely-spaced intervals across the teenager's transition to parenting. The focus of this research is on the development and adaptations of the other children within the household, or the pregnant teenager's siblings. The pregnant adolescents (n=150, ages 15-18), their 12-to 17-year-old younger siblings (n=240), and their mothers (n=150) will complete interviews and questionnaires when the teen is 7 months pregnant, 6 weeks postpartum, 6 months postpartum and 12 months postpartum to discern how family dynamics and children's developmental paths change under the stress of having an adolescent's infant join the household. Qualitative interviews will be conducted at 6 months postpartum on 40 randomly selected children to discern more narratively how their lives have changed after their sister gave birth. A comparison sample of 150 never-pregnant friends of the pregnant teens will also be studied across the same time period, along with their younger 12- to 17-year-old siblings and their mothers. The goals of this research are: (1) to identify the changes that occur (both immediately and across-time) within families that experience a teenager's birth; (2) to identify the family-level and individual-level factors that contribute to children's stress and maladaptation to these events, and conversely; (3) to identify the individuall level and family-level strengths and competencies that lead to children's successful adaptation to a sister's teenage birth. Outcomes include children's: acting-out problem behaviors (drug and alcohol use, precocious sexuality), internalizing symptomatology, academic motivation, and prosocial behavior. Growth curve models will be used to analyze across-time change and structural equation models will be used to analyze the mediating mechanisms that affect children's outcomes. The major significance of this research is its redress of the lack of knowledge about children's development in families experiencing an adolescent's birth and its ability to inform policy-makers about the salient issues facing children and families as adolescents transition to parenting.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01HD043221-04
Application #
7006680
Study Section
Risk, Prevention and Health Behavior Integrated Review Group (RPHB)
Program Officer
Newcomer, Susan
Project Start
2003-02-01
Project End
2008-01-31
Budget Start
2006-02-01
Budget End
2008-01-31
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2006
Total Cost
$287,906
Indirect Cost
Name
University of California San Diego
Department
Pediatrics
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
804355790
City
La Jolla
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
92093
East, Patricia L; Hokoda, Audrey (2015) Risk and protective factors for sexual and dating violence victimization: a longitudinal, prospective study of Latino and African American adolescents. J Youth Adolesc 44:1288-300
East, Patricia L; Barber, Jennifer S (2014) High Educational Aspirations Among Pregnant Adolescents Are Related to Pregnancy Unwantedness and Subsequent Parenting Stress and Inadequacy. J Marriage Fam 76:652-664
East, Patricia L; Chien, Nina C (2013) Stress in Latino families following an adolescent's childbearing: effects on family relationships and siblings. J Fam Psychol 27:183-93
East, Patricia L; Hamill, Sharon B (2013) Sibling Caretaking Among Mexican American Youth: Conditions That Promote and Hinder Personal and School Success. Hisp J Behav Sci 35:
Chien, Nina C; East, Patricia L (2012) The younger siblings of childbearing adolescents: parenting influences on their academic and social-emotional adjustment. J Youth Adolesc 41:1280-93
East, Patricia L; Chien, Nina C; Barber, Jennifer S (2012) Adolescents' Pregnancy Intentions, Wantedness, and Regret: Cross-Lagged Relations With Mental Health and Harsh Parenting. J Marriage Fam 74:167-185
Barber, Jennifer S; East, Patricia L (2011) Children's experiences after the unintended birth of a sibling. Demography 48:101-25
East, Patricia L; Slonim, Ashley; Horn, Emily J et al. (2011) Effects of Adolescent Childbearing on Latino Siblings: Changes in Family Dynamics and Feelings Toward the Teen Mother. Hisp J Behav Sci 33:
East, Patricia L (2010) Children's Provision of Family Caregiving: Benefit or Burden? Child Dev Perspect 4:
East, Patricia L; Chien, Nina C; Adams, Joyce A et al. (2010) Links between sisters' sexual and dating victimization: the roles of neighborhood crime and parental controls. J Fam Psychol 24:698-708

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