Purpose: To explore and describe the relationships between African American adolescent mothers and their mothers.
Design: A qualitative, descriptive approach was used.
Methods: In-depth, audio-taped interviews, using a semi-structured interview guide with open-ended questions, were conducted with a convenience sample of 12 mother/daughter pairs and three teen mother/mother-figure pairs in a university research area designed for the comfort of the participants. Mothers and daughters were interviewed separately to enhance free expression of their feelings. Participants were recruited through an ongoing study on adolescent motherhood.
Results: Four major themes emerged from the analysis. The two symbolic themes were communication between mother and daughter and role change. The two dominant interactive themes were conflict and social isolation.
Clinical Implications: Nursing assessment of pregnant and parenting teen mothers that includes an assessment of the character of the mother/daughter relationship can be valuable in assisting the pregnant teen toward better health.