The Centre for Social Sciences Research (CSSR) and the  Institute for Democracy, Citizenship and Public Policy in Africa  (IDCPPA) at the University of Cape Town invite you to join us for a lunchtime seminar on 27 May 2025 at 12:45pm. The seminar will be presented by Dr. Katherine Morse.

About the Seminar:

Parenting While Growing Up - Parenting Experiences of Adolescent Mothers in the Eastern Cape (HEY BABY Cohort).

Parenting stress among adolescent parents in resource-scarce environments threatens the wellbeing of both young parents and their children. This study investigated parenting stress and parenting practices among adolescent mothers in the Eastern Cape, South Africa, with the goal of informing tailored parenting interventions. We conducted interviews with 931 adolescent mothers to examine contributors to parenting stress, and a subsample of 431 adolescent mother-child dyads completed the Parenting Young Children (PARCY) scale and Mullen Scales of Early Learning (MSEL). Parenting stress was significantly associated with having multiple children, caring for children with disabilities or frequent crying, and poor communication with the adolescent's own caregiver. In contrast, household food security, support in purchasing children's necessities, and parenting enjoyment were associated with reduced stress. Descriptive and regression analyses revealed that adolescent mothers were most engaged in playful, enjoyable parenting but less frequently practiced limit-setting or proactive strategies. Active parenting was more likely among older mothers, those with social support, and those whose children were developmentally on track and not shy or overly active.

Active parenting was also associated with small to moderate improvements in child development outcomes.

Findings highlight the need for adolescent-focused, multigenerational parenting interventions that address stressors such as food insecurity and intergenerational conflict while strengthening playful parenting, stress management, and future planning. Despite significant challenges, adolescent parents can and do engage in meaningful parenting that supports early child development and contributes to positive, nonviolent parent-child relationships.

Speakers

Dr Katherine Morse genuinely likes adolescents. Kath has substantial experience programming for and researching with adolescents.

She is interested in behaviour change interventions and social learning theory. She is currently working towards an adaptation of Parenting for Lifelong Health for adolescent parents. The parenting experiences of adolescent mothers will help inform the content of the adaptation.

 27 May 2025
 12:45 - 14:00 SAST
  CSSR Seminar Room, 4.29 Robert Leslie Social Science Building, UCT

Hosted by the Centre for Social Science Research and the Institute for Democracy, Citizenship and Public Policy in Africa