Family environment, affect, ambivalence and decisions about unplanned adolescent pregnancy

• Published in: Adolescence Vol. 24; no. 95; pp. 505 - 522
• Main Authors: Warren, K.C, Johnson, R.W
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Roslyn Heights, NY Libra Publishers 01.10.1989; Libra Publishers Incorporated
• Subjects: Abortion, Induced; Abortion, Induced - psychology; Adolescent; Adolescents; adoption; Adult; age differences; Biological and medical sciences; California; Canada; cultural influences; Decision Making; Demographics; demography; Discriminant analysis; early parenthood; Emotions; Families & family life; Family; Family cohesion; Family Environment; family relations; Family Structure; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gynecology and obstetrics; Home environment; Humans; Illegitimacy; nationalities and ethnic groups; parent-child relationships; parenthood; parenting; Personality Tests; Pregnancy; Pregnancy in Adolescence; Pregnancy in Adolescence - psychology; psychology; Psychology and medicine; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Social Environment; Social research; Sociocultural Factors; Teenage pregnancy; Texas; Uncertainty; Texas; California; Human; Social environment; Affect affectivity; Uncertainty; Attitude; Decision making; Social adaptation; Personality; Inquiry; Sociocultural environment; Ethnic group; Pregnancy; Ambivalence; Group cohesiveness; Adolescent; Interindividual comparison; Race; Family environment; Female; Behavior; Measurement; Americas; United States; Sociometric Technics; Research Methodology; North America; Adoption > determinants; Knowledge Sources; Fertility; Pregnancy, Unplanned; Influentials; Population; Research Report; Demographic Factors; Communication; Decision Making; Family Relationships; Adolescent Pregnancy; Reproductive Behavior; California; Family Characteristics; Northern America; Developed Countries; Texas; Family And Household; Child Rearing; Population Dynamics
• ISSN: 0001-8449

This study investigated the relationships among family environment, demographic measures, the decisions made by unintentionally pregnant adolescents regarding postdelivery plans and the certainty with which these decisions were made. Subjects were 175 pregnant adolescents, ages 14 through 22, who intended to carry their pregnancies to term. Greater uncertainty was associated with living with both natural parents or with mother only. Higher levels of negative affect were related to lower levels of perceived family cohesion, independence, expressiveness, and intellectual-cultural orientation. Age, trimester of pregnancy, and family constellation also were related to levels of negative affect. Discriminant analysis revealed that subjects choosing adoption were more likely to be older and to be white than were those choosing to keep the child. They also tended to perceive higher levels of expressiveness and independence in their families. The implications of these findings for the delivery of services and for future research efforts in this area are discussed.