Teenage Mothers & Their Preschool Children

Exploring Self-Efficacy Skills in Parenting within the Kenyan Context

Abstract

This research article provides an in-depth insight into the lived experiences of teenage mothers, experiences of schooling, stigma, and gender narratives of the way in which they experience motherhood. The girls often bare teenage pregnancy consequences, and men who are responsible are often less seen in the consequences and narratives of teenage pregnancy. The African culture, which sees young girls as the ones who must necessarily take care and raise the children, also exacerbates the way in which teenage mothers, and particularly those in this research study, experience motherhood. In utilizing a survey design, the research article examines 112 Kenyan teenage mothers’ parenting self-efficacy skills, financial and emotional stress and correlates that to their involvement in their young children’s learning in preschool programs. Results find that financial and emotional stress plays a huge role in how teenage mothers engage in their children’s learning.