ABSTRACT
Following up on a 12-month prospective study (Linares, Leadbeater, Kato, & Jaffe, 1991), stability and predictors of delayed grade-placement for 84 innercity, African American and Puerto Rican adolescent mothers were investigated. Based on school attendance before pregnancy and up to 28 to 36 months postpartum, mothers were classified as continuous attenders, returners, before-pregnancy dropouts, and after-pregnancy dropouts. A majority (78.5%) of the mothers were in the same school-outcome groups at both assessment points. Predelivery school performance was the strongest predictor of delayed grade-placement. Compared to the dropout groups, mothers who were in school or graduated reported fewer repeat pregnancies, and more of them sought postsecondary education. Mothers who returned to school reported fewer stressful life events, more family support, fewer depressive symptoms, and stronger career commitments than did mothers in the dropout groups. The implications of early school failure and inadequate emphasis on girls’ career development for adolescent mothers’ school outcomes are discussed.
