Exploring the experiences of support in the life transitions of adolescent mothers living in care in Portugal

Abstract

The aim of this study was to explore how adolescent mothers living in care in Portugal experience support in their life transitions. The study purposively sampled five adolescent mothers who were living in a care facility in Portugal because they became pregnant or mothers and were vulnerable. The qualitative research design was employed because the study sought to project the lived reality of adolescent mothers. The Skype video call interviewing was used for the data collection. Using a thematic analysis, the study identified themes that explained adolescent mothers’ experiences of support prior to motherhood, experiences of support in their transition to motherhood, strengths to manage life challenges, and future expectations of support. The study revealed that prior to motherhood, the adolescent mothers living in care experienced insufficient sexual support and unstable family relationships, resulting in their early pregnancies. Also, the study revealed that after their transition into motherhood, the adolescent mothers were placed into care where they experienced institutional support, sexual support, the presence of their estranged family, and social support from friends and partners. Furthermore, adolescent mothers living in care were able to develop strengths through their experiences of support and through willpower. Finally, the study found that adolescent mothers living in care had high expectations of life. They expected future support to achieve their hopes in education, employment, accommodation, and hopes for their children. This study recommends that sexual support for adolescent girls must be improved at multiple levels; family, school, and social media networks. Also, adolescent mothers must be regarded as people with strengths and high hopes, instead of people with low life expectations.