AIM for Teen Moms: Social Support's Role in Contraception Use Among Young Mothers

Rapid repeat pregnancy is associated with negative outcomes for teen mothers and their offspring. Contraceptive use can reduce this risk. We explored the impact of AIM for Teen Moms, a future-oriented behavioral intervention, on emotional and tangible support and the influence of this support on the attitudes, intentions, and past 3-month contraceptive use behaviors.

Participants were 295 first-time moms (ages 15-19) in Los Angeles County who participated in a randomized control trial intervention to reduce rapid repeat pregnancies. Participants completed surveys at baseline and 36-months. Hypotheses were tested using multivariate and interaction analysis.

Teen mothers in treatment group reported more emotional (β =.13, p < .05) and tangible support (β =.13, p < .05). Higher tangible support was positively associated with birth control attitudes (β =.13, p < .05), which, in turn, predicted intention to use birth control (β =.31, p < .001). Intention to use birth control also predicted higher past 3-month birth control use (β =.18, p < .01); there was also a direct path from attitude to 3-month birth control use (β =.35, p < .001). There was no association between emotional support and birth control attitudes, intentions, or behaviors.

AIM for Teen Mom's effects on contraception use at 36 months was mediated by social support, specifically tangible support, which, in turn, affected birth control attitudes, intentions, and reported birth control use. Interventionists must consider how intervention content can specifically address the building of target support to meet the needs of teen mothers.