The relationship between mental health issues and teenage pregnancy is complex. Mental
health can be an antecedent and contributing factor to teenage pregnancy as well as
a concurrent factor whereas the pregnancy itself can contribute to depression. Expectant
and parenting teens (EPT) are faced with both the challenges of navigating through
the developmental tasks of adolescence, as well as the demands of pregnancy and adjusting
to the responsibilities of parenting. Increasingly, social determinants of health,
which are the conditions in which individuals live work and play, are being recognized
as having a profound impact on overall adolescent health and specifically, their increased
risk of pregnancy and associated mental health outcomes. Specific social determinants
include: poverty, institutional/structural racism, race/ethnicity, geographic area,
community violence, homelessness, living in foster care and experience with the juvenile
justice system. A systematic review of studies analyzing the relationship between
social determinants of health and teenage pregnancy documented seventeen studies that
reported an empirical association between at least one social determinant of health
and pregnancy among young people.[1 ]
EPT are also more likely than their peers to have experienced adverse childhood experiences
(ACEs) including disruptive home environments, such as a parent in prison, and physical
and/or sexual abuse. Given these developmental and socio-economic stressors, it is
not surprising that EPT are at a greater risk for depression than their nonpregnant/parenting
peers and these symptoms can last long after giving birth. While limited, some research
suggests that EPT have a higher risk of depression than their adult counterparts,
with an estimated range between 16% and 44%.[2 ] This range is higher than rates among nonpregnant teens (5–20%) and pregnant adult
women (6–17%).[3 ] Assessing the true prevalence of depression among EPT is difficult as it is often
under-reported and depends on the study, population sampled, and measures used. While
EPT are at a greater risk of mental health problems, such adverse outcomes are not
inevitable.
The Socio-ecological Model Applied to Expectant and Parenting Teens (EPT)
The socio-ecological model was originally conceptualized by Bronfenbrenner to better
understand factors that shape human development.[7 ] It has evolved to help inform our understanding of the influences on health outcomes
and inform health promotion interventions by focusing attention on five major levels
of influence[8 ] (see [Fig. 1 ], adapted from this prior work). The most outer or macro-level includes public policies,
mass media and cultural factors that shape the extent to which there are racial, economic
and health inequities. The next level includes community factors, such as neighborhood
characteristics, community services, and relationships among organizations. Next are
factors associated with institutions where the individual spends much of their lives
(e.g., school characteristics, work settings, health care settings, etc.) Next is
the interpersonal level which includes social networks/support systems including relationships
with family, peers, friends, teachers, etc. At the most proximal level are individual
characteristics (e.g., age, health status, gender identity, sexual orientation, knowledge,
skills and attitudes). It is important to understand how each level independently
influences health, but also how the levels bidirectionally influence one another including
the reciprocal interactions between biology, psychology, and socio-economic factors.
Many of the same factors that increase the odds of teen pregnancy are also associated
with psychological adjustment to pregnancy and parenthood (e.g., social support of
parents, peers, school, community support and socio-economic status), as well as overall
mental health and well-being. Thus, we are using this model to inform our understanding
of the factors that influence the mental health of EPT.
Fig. 1 Socio-ecological model to understand the mental health impacts on EPT.
Macro-level
There are several macro-level factors that influence adolescent development, and in
this case, teen pregnancy and psychological adjustment. As indicated above, these
include economic, housing, education, infrastructure, and health policies, mass media,
and culture. These policies are often related to racial, economic, and health inequities.
While there are many examples of macro-level factors, just three examples - poverty,
racism and health care policy - are discussed below.
Poverty/Socio-economic status
: Extensive research has shown that poverty and socio-economic status has a profound
effect on both risk of becoming an EPT and mental health outcomes. Socio-economic
status, specifically, the level of poverty, which results in economic and resource
insecurities, is also associated with increased stress, mental health issues, substance
use and risk of poorer reproductive health outcomes.[9 ] Poverty is inextricably linked to housing insecurity and homelessness which places
adolescents at risk of both teen pregnancy and mental health issues.[10 ]
[11 ] High unemployment and poor educational opportunities shape teenagers' sense of hope
for the future which influences both sexual risk behaviors and mental health.[12 ] Poverty also creates cost-barriers to supervised out-of-school time and fewer opportunities
for structured recreational/after-school activities, creating greater opportunity
for adolescents to engage in risky behaviors (i.e., sexual activity, substance use[13 ]), further contributing to social isolation and depression.[14 ] Relatedly, there are several policy-level and contextual factors at the macro-level
that shape the mental health of adolescents, risk of pregnancy and their subsequent
adjustment to pregnancy and parenting. These are often referred to as social determinants
of health and have a profound effect on adolescent health.[15 ]
[16 ] Adolescents who are homeless, living in foster care and incarcerated youth are at
higher risk of teen pregnancy and mental health issues.
Race/Racism:
Structural racism, discrimination, and conscious and unconscious biases have unjustly
placed Black, Brown, and Native American youth at a disproportionate disadvantage
compared with their peers.[17 ]
[18 ]
[19 ]
[20 ] Structural racism has led to unfair housing practices, educational segregation,
and economic and health disparities[21 ] including varying rates of teenage pregnancy.[22 ] Thus, while racism increases the risk of teen pregnancy, it also has been shown
to place adolescents at higher risk of adverse mental health outcomes.[23 ] One study found that adolescents with depression onset at the same age as having
initiated sex had a significantly higher risk of becoming pregnant compared with those
without depression, with race (non-Hispanic Black) also being a significant factor
in terms of risk for both.[24 ]
Health Policy
: The psychological adjustment to teen pregnancy has been associated with the extent
to which the pregnancy is planned and wanted.[25 ] While at first glance, this may seem like an individual decision, universal access
to comprehensive, confidential, evidence-based contraceptive information and services
without financial barriers is critical to ensuring all women, including adolescents,
have the ability to choose if or when they want to have a baby.[26 ]
[27 ] Despite increased access to contraception, far too many women and especially adolescents,
lack this basic human right.[28 ] For example in the U.S., 20 states have no sexual health education requirements,
with the exception of HIV/AIDS education.[29 ] Additionally, contraceptive “deserts” are a result of public policies, such as the
lack of sufficient Title X family planning funds and states' policy decisions limiting
access to Medicaid expansions as part of the Affordable Care Act, further hindering
women's abilities to plan their pregnancies.[30 ] There is also research showing the detrimental impacts of immigration policies on
health care access, utilization and outcomes for a growing proportion of the US population.[31 ]
Community and Institutional Levels
Community levels of influence include neighborhoods, social/health services, transportation,
social norms, etc. Examples include worksite health and safety protocols, or the availability
of health education programs and services in schools. It also includes relationships
among organizations, institutions, and informal networks that are shaped by resource
allocation. Institutional level factors include organizational characteristics and
formal (and informal) rules and regulations that can influence the level of collaboration
and sharing of a common mission to improve the lives of adolescents, regardless of
the roles each organization plays in the community. Policies at the macro-level, in
turn, influence community and institutional factors which further exacerbate or ameliorate
disparities in mental and sexual health care access and services, so this section
focuses again on the impacts of poverty, racism and health care at the local level.
Adolescents who attend school in low-income communities have been shown to have lower
levels of overall educational attainment and less sexual health knowledge than their
more economically well-off peers.[32 ] Relatedly, under-resourced schools and as a result, low educational attainment,
are detrimental for adolescents' sexual health knowledge and are associated with negative
sexual health outcomes for youth.[33 ] On the other hand, school-connectedness (sense of being cared for, supported, and
belonging) and opportunities for meaningful participation and contribution serve as
protective factors for adolescents in reducing risky sexual behaviors and in promoting
mental health over time.[34 ]
[35 ]
In addition, national health care policies impact who has access to reproductive and
mental health services at the local level. For example, while Title X is a federal
policy that provides funding for a range of reproductive health services, including
contraception, resources remain limited. Implementation varies by state which in turn,
impacts communities and access to care. In a comparison of two states, 27.4% of North
Carolina's population had poor access to contraception which is substantially less
than Texas, where over 50% report poor access and live in regions classified as a
contraception “desert.”[36 ]
Race intersects these issues with racism embedded in macro-level policies as mentioned
previously, permeating through many communities and institutions, effecting quality
of services available. For example, Blacks/African Americans have less access to contraception
due to uneven distribution of resources, regardless of access to local pharmacies.[30 ]
Interpersonal Level
As noted above, the interpersonal level includes factors in the immediate environment
that directly impact the adolescent, including parents, siblings, teachers and school
peers. Numerous studies have shown that strong, warm parent-child relationships that
are low in conflict and where there is adequate supervision and monitoring promotes
healthy adolescent development. It also protects youth from mental health and substance
use disorders, as well as reducing risky sexual behavior, including unprotected intercourse
and adolescent pregnancy.[37 ]
[38 ] In contrast, families facing a variety of economic and inter-personal difficulties
create more challenging environments which have been shown to have longer term diverse
health outcomes. In a large study of 48,526 adults in the U.S., individuals with a
childhood ACEs score of four or greater, had significantly higher odds for binge or
heavy drinking, smoking, risky HIV behavior, diabetes, myocardial infarction, coronary
heart disease, stroke, depression, disability due to health, and the need to use special
equipment due to disability.[39 ]
Relationships with sexual partners has also been shown to have both positive and adverse
effects on pregnancy risk, as well as psychological adjustments to a pregnancy or
parenting. For example, partnership dynamics, power imbalances, communication styles
and intimate partner violence (that involves physical, emotional, and/or sexual abuse)
all influence sexual decision-making. Relationship factors have also been shown to
increase the risk of contraceptive coercion, unintended pregnancy, sexually transmitted
infections (STIs) and adverse mental health outcomes (e.g., anxiety, depression and
post-traumatic stress disorder).[40 ]
[41 ] The lived experiences of special populations of adolescents also need consideration.
For instance, LGBTQ +/sexual minority youth are at increased risk for childhood maltreatment
and bullying which are associated with both increased risk of risky sexual behavior
and poor mental health.[42 ] Interactions, preferably positive ones, between the adolescent's caregivers, peers,
siblings and teachers also influence the psychological impact of teen pregnancy.
Individual Levels
There are several individual factors, including personal predispositions, such as
intelligence, affectionate disposition, being easy to sooth, responsive to others,
and a positive temperament, that have been shown to influence psychological adjustment
in the face of adversity (such as becoming an EPT).[43 ]
[44 ] Of course, these too, are shaped by the other levels of influence. One example of
an individual biological factor is the association between early pubertal timing and
earlier age of sexual debut among adolescents.[45 ] Conversely, later onset of menarche has been associated with not becoming a teen
parent.[46 ] However, there is a bi-directional relationship between the environment and these
biological/individual factors. Thus, while individual factors play an important role,
protective factors across multiple levels of influence and across time are associated
with and predict resilience.[47 ]
[48 ]
[49 ]
[50 ] In turn, as EPT are supported, the families that they create through their own childbearing
hold promise of assuring that future generations have improved trajectories.
The Complementary Nature of the Socio-ecological Model within a Life Course Perspective
In addition to the socio-economic model, a life course perspective[51 ] provides a framework to understand how factors, particularly risk and protective
factors in early life, contribute to shaping the knowledge, attitudes and behaviors
that in turn influence outcomes later in life and from one generation to the next
– including risk of teen pregnancy and adjustments to the role of an EPT.[52 ]
[53 ] Adopting a life course perspective requires that the stability of the teenager's
own mental health environment, for example, the teen's mother's level of depression,
be considered as a risk factor for the teen, influencing parenting behaviors and the
environment in which the teen is raised, as well as her own child (grandchild). These
factors are exacerbated by poverty, structural racism and limited opportunities.[54 ] Each level of environmental influence does not function independently; rather, they
are interconnected and assert influence upon one another throughout the life course.
Early influences, whether they be positive or negative, can shape the life course
trajectory of individual's developmental and health outcomes. In addition, intergenerational
exposure and social transmission of risk also influence outcomes over time. It also
considers how and why good or poor health persists in certain groups and is “transmitted”
across generations.[55 ] For example, ACEs (which are linked with social determinants of health) have been
strongly associated with poor mental health including anxiety, depression, post-traumatic
stress disorder [PTSD]. ACEs and the intergenerational impact on the teenager's household
also increase the risk of early unprotected sexual behavior and mistimed pregnancy
and associated mental health outcomes.[56 ]
[57 ]
Implications for Addressing Social Determinants in Shaping Effective Interventions
for EPT and Mental Health
The emotional and mental health support for EPT warrants special attention. While
EPT experience stress and challenges in both navigating the developmental tasks of
adolescents and the simultaneous adjustments to pregnancy and parenting, the psychological
impacts can be exacerbated or ameliorated by an interaction of risk and protective
factors at multiple levels of environmental influence. This has important implications
for interventions which should be targeted at each of these various levels. It is
imperative that social determinants of health be addressed through a life course lens[58 ] to promote equity and healthy adolescent development.[15 ] For instance, given the association between lower educational achievement, high
unemployment and poverty and higher teen pregnancy rates,[59 ] it is critical to develop and evaluate policies aimed at closing educational gaps
(e.g., dropout rates). Furthermore, it is important to examine whether existing policies
increase access to higher education as well as alternative vocational training for
EPT that, in turn, can promote economic stability and equity.[60 ] There are many other “upstream” levels of policy influences that are needed, such
as enhancing the capacity of systems to support the comprehensive health and mental
health needs of EPT,[61 ] as well as efforts to support the teen before she becomes an EPT. This is critical
as the current systems of care does not have adequate capacity to meet the mental
health needs of most adolescents,[62 ] let alone EPT. Developing new models of care, for example, through the increased
use and reimbursement of mental telehealth services, as well as increasing system
capacity, including professional training, are needed to extend and leverage the types
of youth-centered reproductive and mental health services that are made available,
accessible, and culturally and developmentally appropriate for diverse adolescents.[63 ] It also needs to include integrating a multi/transdisciplinary approach in service
delivery to increase the capacity and range of services that can be offered to teenagers
across the lifespan, including earlier family-focused interventions. Stigma is a barrier
to both adolescent reproductive and mental health care services which is shaped by
institutional policies and practices, as well as cultural norms.[64 ] EPT experience stigma associated with being a young mother which further causes
stress and poor mental health outcomes.[60 ]
[65 ] Thus, efforts to reduce stigma are needed at all levels.
There are several innovative approaches both within the U.S.[66 ] and internationally[16 ] that have been shown to be effective in supporting EPT. Many of these tackle upstream
issues in addition to interventions directed at other levels in the socio-ecological
model including community-wide, multicomponent approaches.[67 ] The Pregnancy Assistance Fund, through the federal Office of Population Affairs,
is a prime example of public policy that funds several programs across 32 states including
the District of Columbia and seven tribal organizations. These programs have been
shown to improve several outcomes for EPT, including high school enrollment/graduation,
plans to attend college and reduced rates/spacing of repeat pregnancies.
Effective clinical interventions that identify ACEs early and respond to trauma, for
example, by providing trauma-informed care, can help address these adverse mental
health antecedents, while also potentially changing the trajectories of poor outcomes.[68 ] In addition, interventions that support resilience (through parenting skills, caring
relationships, opportunities to contribute, etc.) can moderate ACE experiences and
help improve several health, social, educational and mental health outcomes.[69 ] Such approaches can take place across multiple levels of socio-ecological influence,
recognizing the influences of biological and environmental factors at the individual
level, while also attending to shaping policies at the macro-level that impact resources
available. For example, adequate reimbursement for telehealth services at the systems
level helps assure that the pool of resources available at the local community level
responds to the nuanced needs of that community's young people.
There are also numerous interventions that intersect the community, institutional,
interpersonal and individual levels which have been shown to improve the mental health
and/or life course trajectory of EPT. Some of these approaches include evidence-based
home visiting models[70 ] wherein case managers/home visitors are trained to recognize, screen and provide
mental health support either directly or through referrals and linkages to community-based
mental health services.[71 ]
[72 ]
[73 ] Others focus on improving parenting and life skills that have the potential to improve
mental health outcomes.[74 ]
[75 ] Some school-based approaches[76 ]
[77 ] and mentoring interventions[78 ]
[79 ]
[80 ] have also improved several outcomes. More work is needed to ensure that a more comprehensive,
holistic approach that integrates mental health is incorporated into intervention
efforts. Confidentiality protections are especially critical to ensure that EPT access
needed care.[81 ] Further, COVID has placed many adolescents at greater risk for mental health issues,[82 ] which has also highlighted the need to increase the capacity of mental health delivery
systems to provide care via telehealth[83 ] and/or televisits in delivering case management and other types of supportive services.[84 ] There are also innovative approaches to leverage other types of technologies, beyond
telehealth, to address the reproductive[85 ] and mental health[86 ] needs of adolescents, but there is a paucity of research in this area that pertains
specifically to EPT.[87 ]
Despite these efforts, there is a need for increasing the number and strength of community
partnerships across the public and private sectors. For instance, summer internship
programs, such as for EPT, provide job training, offer linkages to health screenings
and care, as well as parenting and life-skills training and support. While a few such
programs exist, they are rare.[66 ] Nature-based therapeutic mentoring is an emerging area to promote mental health[88 ]
[89 ]
[90 ]; however, research is needed on whether these types of programs positively impact
EPT and their children. In addition, at the individual-level, there is a need to employ
a positive youth development approach that engage youth as partners in the intervention
process, including helping to design programs that build upon youth strengths and
create supports and opportunities.[91 ]
[92 ] Such efforts in schools, families, and communities help cultivate a wide array of
protective factors that reduce risk and lead to healthy developmental outcomes for
both the EPT and her child(ren).