Pregnant and Parenting Adolescents’ Perception of Sources and Supports in Relation to Educational Goals

Scant research has directly asked pregnant and parenting adolescents what sources and types of support they feel are important for achieving educational goals, which is important for parenting education programs. The current study examines the most highly valued sources and types of support among 54 pregnant and parenting adolescents attending an alternative school to determine if the valuations of these supports differ depending on level of educational goals. Results reinforce the importance of close formal and informal relationships. The most highly ranked types of support center on childcare whereas the lowest ranked sources deal with the adolescent’s future career. Limitations and implications for the study are discussed.