Neonatal behavior of infants of adolescent mothers.

The Brazelton Neonatal Assessment Scale was administered to 30 infants of adolescent mothers (under 18 years of age at delivery) and 30 infants of older mothers, at between two and five days of age. The infants of the adolescent mothers were found to be significantly less capable of responding to social stimuli, less alert, and less able to control motor behavior and to perform integrated motor activities. The results are further discussed in terms of the 'stimulus value' of the infant and areas of focus for efforts at early intervention.