Teen, Optimal, and Advanced Age Mothers in Canada: Differences in Social Support, Parenting, and Child Behavioural Outcomes

The age range of first-time mothers in Canada is increasing, with an astonishing 195% increase in the number of women delaying their pregnancies after 35 years of age. However, the research around maternal and child outcomes usually focus on teen (under 19 years) and optimal age (20-34 years) groups, and seldom focus on examining the characteristics of health-related outcomes within the advanced age group (over 35 years and older). Therefore, the importance of examining maternal and child health outcomes by maternal age, especially the advanced age group, is greatly emphasized. This three-part dissertation sought to address the research gaps around maternal and child outcomes by maternal age. The first study, Characteristics of social support among teenage, optimal age, and advanced age mothers in Canada was a cross-sectional analysis of the National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth (NLSCY), which examined the prevalence and characteristics of social support by maternal age. The second study, Characteristics of positive-interaction parenting style among teenage, optimal age, and advanced age mothers in Canada, was a cross-sectional analysis of the NLSCY examining the prevalence and characteristics of positive-interaction parenting style by maternal age. The third study, Investigating pathways to behavioural problems in children of teenage, optimal age, and advanced age mothers in Canada was a longitudinal analysis that used structural equation modeling to identify the prevalence and potential pathways to child behavioural problems across maternal age groups. This dissertation provides important findings in regards to maternal social support, positive-interaction parenting, and pathways to child behavioural problems, across maternal age groups. Further, it provides important information that analysis should be done separately by maternal age, especially examining the advanced age group, and adapts to meet the needs of Canadas growing advanced age population of women.