Acculturation, perceived social support, self-esteem, and pregnancy status among Dominican adolescents

Abstract

In this study I explore whether pregnancy status and mainland acculturation can be used to predict perceived social support or self-esteem in 49 nulligravida and 41 primigravida adolescents of Dominican background. Self-administered questionnaires containing the Dominican American version of the Acculturation Rating Scale (DARS), the Personal Resource Questionnaire-85 (PRQ85), the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), and a pregnancy-specific demographic sheet were completed in the participant's choice of Spanish or English. Neither perceived social support or self-esteem could be predicted from pregnancy status and mainland acculturation. However, mainland acculturation was found to be significantly higher among nulligravida adolescents, while no significant differences were found between the groups in relation to perceived social support or self-esteem.