Growing Up Fast: Re-Visioning Adolescent Mothers' Transitions to Young Adulthood
About this ebook
A new introductory chapter to the book suggests that we can look at the previous findings through a new lens that emphasizes not only the diversity of outcomes for young mothers and the sources of their strengths, but also asks what we can learn from these women about supporting their educational and work goals, as they transition to adulthood. New attention to emerging adulthood shows that this is a critical stage of life when the foundations for health and healthy life styles are laid down. Developmental tasks of this phase include building the capacity for financial and residential independence through post-secondary education and job training, and establishing stable sources of support from parents, romantic partners, and peers for all youth. Leadbeater addresses the societal changes that make these tasks particularly salient for young women and focuses attention on how we can support youth who make this transition with children.
About the author
Bonnie J. Ross Leadbeater, Ph.D., has an interdisciplinary background with an emphasis on health, education, and psychology. She holds degrees in Nursing and Educational Psychology from the University of Ottawa, and in Developmental Psychology from Columbia University, New York. She has made internationally recognized contributions to knowledge on bullying and victimization, adolescent depression, resilience in high-risk youth, and transitions to young adulthood. She also developed and evaluated the WITS Programs for the prevention of bullying and victimization in elementary school children. She is highly committed to efforts to translate theory and research into student training and into policy and program actions that can improve the lives of children, youth, and their families.
