The birth rate for teenagers (ages 15-19) has been steadily decreasing since the 1990s. While in 1991, the birth rate was about 62 per 1,000 women, by 2023 it had dropped to 13 per 1,000 women (Statistica 2023). Despite this sharp decline, the teen pregnancy rate is much higher than in other developed countries such as Canada and France. Public attitudes stigmatize teen mothers, treating them as a problem.
While teenage motherhood can carry a host of challenges, such as diminished odds of future educational attainment and upward mobility (Hans and White 2019), these do not necessarily prevent teen moms from securing a better future. Rather than viewing teenage mothers as failures or blaming them for their choices, it is more productive to recognize their capabilities and provide the necessary support and opportunities to succeed.
Teen Moms’ Challenges
Teenage mothers tend to face more disadvantages and barriers to success than mothers who delay childbirth. A large share of teen mothers come from marginalized populations. African American and Latina women are more likely than white women to become pregnant as teens. More than half of young women in the foster care system become pregnant as teens as well. Cumulative childhood adversity (abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction) additionally increases the odds of having a teenage pregnancy (Hans and White 2019).
Overcoming Obstacles to Completing Education
Continuing education is one of the primary challenges teen moms face. Only 53% of mothers who have a child before the age of 18 earn a high school diploma, compared to 90% of mothers who delay childbearing until 20 or later (Maslowsky, Stritzel, and Gershoff 2021). This gap in educational attainment has a significant impact on the lives of teenage mothers. The percentage of jobs requiring a high school diploma is growing, and the unemployment rate for those without a high school diploma of GED is the highest out of all educational categories (Tovo 2018).
But educational attainment amongst teen mothers varies based on the support available to them. Teens living on their own or with a partner are more likely to juggle more responsibilities that prevent further educational attainment, while those living with parents have greater access to financial support and childcare, which helps them continue their education. Teen mothers who live with their parents rather than their spouse or partner are more likely to graduate (Maslowsky et al. 2021).
American teens report that the influence of family members and teachers play a large role in motivating them to continue their education (Hernandez and Abu Rabia 2017). One teen reported that she doubted her academic ability and spent most of their time getting high, but her sister kept on encouraging her and reminding her of her responsibility to her children to succeed, which changed her perspective (Hernandez and Abu Rabia 2017). Another teen mentioned that she had a teacher who was encouraging and empathetic instead of only viewing her as Latina and poor (Hernandez and Abu Rabia 2017). These teens had adults and older family members in their lives who believed in their capabilities, which encouraged them to keep on going.
Mental Health of Teen Mothers
Teen motherhood affects teens’ social lives. Teen mothers have reported experiencing social isolation due to the lack of disposable income and time to socialize, and a shift in priorities compared to their peers (Neill-Weston and Morgan 2017).
Social stigma is another issue that can influence teens’ mental health. Because of the stigma surrounding teen mothers, many experience judgment and discomfort in public spaces, including glares and negative comments (Neill-Weston and Morgan 2017). This only adds to the difficulty of being a teen mother.
Combating social stigma is so important because it can have an impact on teens’ perceptions of their pregnancies, which has a direct link to their mental health. Teen mothers with negative attitudes toward their pregnancies had similar levels of depression as adult mothers, while teen moms with positive attitudes experienced lower levels of depression than adult women (Whitworth 2016).
The Benefits of Being a Parent
Teen motherhood should not only be defined by its challenges and setbacks but by the positive changes it can create in teens’ lives. Despite the social and financial challenges they face, teen mothers interviewed in the United States and New Zealand overall had positive attitudes towards motherhood and their competence as mothers. They viewed their children as adding to their lives and motivating forces to achieve more (Neill-Weston and Morgan 2017).
One teen described herself as proud of having her son. She reported that without him, she would be engaging in excessive substance use. The birth of her son changed her life for the better (Neill-Weston and Morgan 2017). Another teen said her child caused her to take education more seriously, and after her birth, dramatically improved her grades (Ricks 2015).
Increased support for Teen Moms
There are already various forms of support that exist for teen moms that have been shown to help them thrive. Many teen moms are committed to and recognize the importance of continuing their education (Ricks 2015) and simply need the resources to do so. Alternative schooling, which provides child development and parenting education, transportation, and child care, helps parents’ efforts to further their education. High-risk teen mothers who have attended alternative schools have been found to have lower rates of subsequent births and higher rates of high school graduation (Ricks 2015).
Even teen mothers who fail to graduate on time are still committed to completing their education. They are likely to go back to school or gain specialized employment training in their 20s and 30s (Kane et al. 2013). Government programs can also play an important role in supporting these efforts. For example, the federal government’s Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PWORA), provides cash assistance for teens who live with a guardian and attend school. By easing financial strain, the program has helped reduce dropout rates (Smith Battle 2006). Without this type of support, many teens must wait until they are older and have more stability to continue their education.
Other than financial and educational support, social support is equally important. Support groups and mentorship programs allow teen mothers to share their experiences, build community, and form healthy relationships with adults who can help guide them toward their goals (Ricks 2015). Together, these resources empower teen mothers to succeed both as parents and as students.
Support Over Stigma
Teen motherhood is not without its challenges, but teens are capable and willing to face them. While not everyone will agree on whether teens should be parents or not, those working in schools and the government should be looking to aid young moms rather than casting judgment. Teen motherhood can and does add meaning and joy to many mothers’ lives, which is just as important as the difficulties they face. Support that helps teen mothers manage their responsibilities as mothers, workers, and students allows them to achieve similar outcomes to adult mothers. Increasing their availability and accessibility will only continue to create better outcomes, which not only benefits the young women but also their families.
References
Anon. 2023. “Teen Birth Rate by Year U.S. 1991-2023| Statista.” Statista. Retrieved March 3, 2026 (https://www.statista.com/statistics/259518/birth-rate-among-us-teenagers/?srsltid=AfmBOop1Q0MyPb5N7bJ5AWmzFCSkJvMDJv8-bxotTIVxY7L7PnKZsYxL).
Hans, Sydney L., and Barbara A. White. 2019. “Teenage Childbearing, Reproductive Justice, and Infant Mental Health.” Infant Mental Health Journal 40(5):690–709. doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/imhj.21803.
Hernandez, Jennifer, and Hazza M. Abu Rabia. 2017. “Contributing Factors to Older Teen Mothers’ Academic Success as Very Young Mothers.” International Journal of Higher Education 6(4):104. doi: https://doi.org/10.5430/ijhe.v6n4p104.
Kane, Jennifer B., S. Philip Morgan, Kathleen Mullan Harris, and David K. Guilkey. 2013. “The Educational Consequences of Teen Childbearing.” Demography 50(6):2129–50. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13524-013-0238-9.
Maslowsky, Julie, Haley Stritzel, and Elizabeth T. Gershoff. 2021. “Post-Pregnancy Factors Predicting Teen Mothers’ Educational Attainment by Age 30 in Two National Cohorts.” Youth & Society 54(8):0044118X2110269. doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/0044118×211026941.
Neill-Weston, Frances, and Mandy Morgan. 2017. “Teenage Childbearing: Young Sole Mothers Challenge the Stereotypes.” Kōtuitui: New Zealand Journal of Social Sciences Online 12(2):179–91. doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/1177083x.2017.1358185.
Ricks, Nila. 2015. “The Strengths Perspective: Providing Opportunities for Teen Parents and Their Families to Succeed.” Journal of Family Strengths 15(1).
SmithBattle, Lee. 2006. “Helping Teen Mothers Succeed.” The Journal of School Nursing 22(3):130–35. doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/10598405060220030201.
Tovo, Erin. 2018. “Can You Get a Great Paying Job without a High School Diploma? – MAU Workforce Solutions.” MAU Workforce Solutions –. Retrieved (https://mau.com/can-you-get-a-great-paying-job-without-a-high-school-diploma/).
Whitworth, Tanya Rouleau. 2016. “Teen Childbearing and Depression: Do Pregnancy Attitudes Matter?” Journal of Marriage and Family 79(2):390–404. doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/jomf.12380.
