This study examined psychosocial factors associated with maternal self-esteem and competence in very young mothers. Adolescent mothers who were enrolled in a study of prenatal sociodemographic and psychologic characteristics and their relation to teen birth outcome were reinterviewed 6 months postpartum. The prenatal interview had included measures of depression, social support, self-esteem, and Locus of Control. The postpartum interview repeated measures of depression and social support and included a health survey and the Maternal Self Report Inventory (MSI-a measure of maternal self-esteem). The sample consisted of 30 mother-infant pairs. The mean age of infants was 6.9 months (5.5-7.5 m). Mean maternal age was 16.2 yrs (14.5-18.6 yrs). Mothers were unmarried, predominantly poor, and ethnically heterogeneous. Half (15) reported they had repeated at least one grade in school. At 6 months postpartum, most girls had had a postpartum exam (25/30). However, only 16 (53%) reported consistent use of contraception. All infants had been appropriately immunized. 22/30 (78%) infants had been seen at least once in the ER. ER use was associated with ↑ maternal depression and with↓ maternal self-esteem. Depression at 6 months was related to prenatal depression (p <0.01) and postpartum social support (p <0.05). Maternal self-esteem was related to social support both prenatally (p <0.001) and postpartum (p <0.05). Neither maternal age, school status, nor prenatal measures of self-esteem, or Locus of Control were related to maternal self-esteem or postnatal depression.

In this sample, prenatal depression predicted postnatal depression. Postnatal depression was more prevalent in girls with less social support. Strong social support appears helpful in establishing good maternal self-esteem. Recognizing conditions which allow very young women to successfully negotiate early parenthood might allow early intervention with girls at risk for poor outcomes.