This study examined the role of home environments in the cognitive
and behavioral outcomes of children born to teenage mothers. The sample
consisted of 1,011 firstborn children aged 6 to 18 and their mothers selected
from the 1990 National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY). Multivariate
regression analyses revealed that the quality of home environments
mediated the effects of father presence on the behavioral adjustment of
children, even taking other socio-demographic and maternal characteristics
into account. Moreover, the results showed that the home environment was
the best predictor for both the academic achievement and the behavioral
problems of children even after controlling for such background factors as
family income, number of children, maternal education, and self-esteem.
Also, when other variables in the model were statistically accounted for, the
mothers' age at first birth was unrelated to the quality of home
environments, and with controlling for the home environment, it was not a
significant predictor of either the cognitive attainment or the behavioral
adjustment of children. The findings evidence the importance of home
environments for the optimal development of children, and suggest that
strong home environments contribute to prevent potential negative outcomes
and promote positive developmental outcomes of children born to teenage
mothers.
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