Childbearing Adolescents and Problem Behavior Theory.

Understanding problem behavior among adolescent mothers is critical, as their behaviors affect not only their own lives but the lives of their children. Using confirmatory factor analysis with an ethnically diverse sample of 233 pregnant adolescents, we test a hypothesis derived from problem behavior theory that diverse problem behaviors are manifestations of a single underlying construct. Three measurement models of problem behaviors are compared: a single factor model, a four factor model, and a second order factor model in which a single higher order factor is posited to account for the covariation among the four factors. The results show support for the higher order factor model, suggesting a constellation of related problem behaviors in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]