A Descriptive Study of Daily Activities and Role Conflict in Single Adolescent Mothers

This paper synthesizes a recent study of single adolescent mothers. Two purposes of the study were (1) to describe the daily activities of these mothers as they pertained to the maternal role or the adolescent role; and (2) to ascertain the relationship, if any, among selected demographic variables, maternal and adolescent role activities, and perceived role conflict. Significant results are that (a) these mothers perceived themselves as spending most of their day performing activities related to the adolescent role; (b) they felt relatively little conflict between the maternal and adolescent role; and (c) mothers with older infants felt more conflict than those with younger ones. Also, apost hoc analysis suggested that the phenomenon of role conflict may be based on biosocial issues having to do with developmental tasks of adolescence as well as those associated with transition to the maternal role; and that qualitative methodology may be more appropriate for the purposes of much of occupational therapy research. Brief suggestions to guide development of programs for adolescent parents are offered.