| Summary: | Using data collected by the 1988 Canadian National Child Care Study, this study set out to describe Canadian teenage mothers, their child care usage patterns and tension issues related to childcare. The study identified a population of approximately 11,800 Canadian mothers under 20 years of age. The greatest portion (81.8% or 15,100) of these mothers were between 18 and 20 years, and 51.2% (9,500) were either married or living with a partner. While nearly 80.8% (14,900) had not completed grade twelve, 81.7 % ( 15,100) were not attending school. A majority (69.8% or 12,900) were not in the labour force and another 10.6% (2,000) were unemployed.
Most of their children (16,400 or 90.1%) were under 2 years, and 37.9% of the children (8,000) were cared for exclusively by their mothers. When supplementary arrangements were used, relatives were the most frequent sources of child care, and most children were in non-parental care for under ten hours per week.
Because of the small sample size, information about working teenage mothers was limited. Most non-working teenage mothers reported little or no overall tension about child care. When asked about specific child care issues, most teenage mothers who were not in the labour force reported little or no tension. Three concerns were identified as stressors for significant numbers of these mothers, however. The issues were social isolation, not being able to buy things for their children, and finding future employment. Four factors associated with low child care tension were feelings of being good parents, having the major influence on their children, being available to their children, and being able to avoid unpleasant work situations.
The study draws attention to the benefits of licensed infant and toddler care centres, child care subsidies, and special programs providing a range of services for teenage parent families. More Canadian research using a variety of methodologies, is also recommended. Along with other aspects of the topic, future studies should address the issues of younger teenage mothers (under 18years), teenage fathers, stress factors for teenage parents and the roles of extended families.
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