Coping Behaviors of Adolescent Mothers

Abstract

Coping behaviors were examined in a sample of pregnantt and parenting adolescent females (N = 133), currenthl enirolled in school-based programs for adolescent parents in Colorado, and comparisons were made between Mexican-American and Anglo partic ipants. Two themes emerged regarding the most frequently used coping behaviors: a tetndency for these adolescentts to use avoidant or passive types of behaviors, and the importance of close friends as slupport. Significant differences were found on only 7 of the 49 coping behaviors, su4ggesting more similarity than differences between the two groups. The differences reflected a greater religiolus orientation of Mexican-American adolescents. Some cultural and family characteristics influencing adolescent coping behav-ior are discussed, and implications for adolescent parent programs and future research are suggested.