The changing self-concept of pregnant and parenting teens

Abstract

Self-concept has been recognized and researched as a powerful variable in relation to teenage pregnancy. Low self-concept frequently has been identified as a cause and consequence of teenage pregnancy as well as a factor in participation and compliance with health care recommendations. Most of the research on self-concept and teenage pregnancy occurred in the 1970s to mid-1980s, and all found lower self-concept in pregnant and parenting teens when compared with their nonpregnant contemporaries and normative data. This study found the opposite to be true. The 126 pregnant and parenting teens in this study had higher self-concepts than the reported normative group. Also, important variations in self-concept were found in relation to sociodemographics. This potentially suggests that what was once known about this aggregate is no longer true, and a reinvestigation is warranted. The purpose of this study was to reinvestigate the self-concept of pregnant and parenting teens and compare them with published normative data and to examine the relationship between sociodemographics and self-concept. The study employed a survey methodology. Data were analyzed using frequencies, percentages, measures of central tendency and dispersion, t test, chi-square test, and analysis of variance. This study found that pregnant and parenting teens had a higher self-concept than the normative data on nonpregnant teens reported by the research instrument authors. Furthermore, this older sample of pregnant and parenting teens (mean age, 17.83 years) had self-concepts more similar to the junior high school normative sample than their senior high school-age contemporaries. Also, this study found that self-concept varies according to the pregnant and parenting teens; ages, years of schooling, types of schools attended, income sources, and receipt of public assistance. This study has implications for health care providers, health and public educators, and nursing researchers in terms of program development and evaluation, health marketing, and development of primary prevention strategies.

PIP: Self-concept was explored in a study of 126 pregnant and parenting US adolescents 14-19 years of age (mean age, 17.83 years) from a large midwestern city. 90% were White, 84% were unmarried, and 60% were not employed. The mean score on the Tennessee Self-Concept Scale (and scores on its seven subscales) was significantly higher among pregnant and parenting adolescents (337.36) than among junior and senior high school normative groups (325.45 and 320.63, respectively). Important variations in self-concept scores were found in relation to sociodemographic factors. Self-concept subscale scores increased significantly with each additional year of schooling completed. Higher scores were also recorded among Catholics, women who received financial support from the infant's father, those who received Women, Infant, and Children nutritional services, and women with monthly incomes of US $701-1000. Mothers who attended alternative high schools and those who received Medicaid benefits, Aid to Families with Dependent Children, or food stamps had significantly lower self-concept scores. Most previous studies have found lower self-concepts among pregnant and parenting teens. Longitudinal studies are urged to determine whether the self-concept patterns observed in this study are maintained over time.