Teen Pregnancy and Parenting

by Tarah Doyle, M.A./CAGS School Psychologist

Teen pregnancy rates are on the rise for the first time in 15 years, up 3% in recent years, according to the most recent data from the National Center for Health Statistics. Fittingly, teen pregnancy has been in the headlines as of late, from an alleged “pregnancy pact” between 17 teens in Gloucester, Massachusetts to the very public pregnancy of former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin’s teenage daughter.

The cause of this increase in teen pregnancy is uncertain, however organizations like The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy are taking this as a call to action on the education of teens and adults to reduce and prevent teen pregnancy.  Lack of parental engagement, attitudes and beliefs, social norms, media exposure, violence, and sexual abuse are just some of the influences that have been identified.

One study recognized the importance of a father’s role in a girl’s life in relation to her risk of becoming sexually active and/or pregnant at a young age.  Findings from long-term studies in the United States and New Zealand have found that “fathers who leave their families may increase their daughters’ risk for early sexual activity and teenage pregnancy” (Ellis et. al, 2003).

Other risk factors, like violence or sexual abuse, also appear to increase a teen girl’s chance of becoming pregnant.  One study (Ellis et. al., 2003) estimates that 60 percent of teen girls’ first pregnancies are preceded by experiences of molestation, rape, or attempted rape.  Girls who have had such tragic experiences may be at an increased risk for pregnancy because they have lost a sense of control over their bodies.

An important aspect in avoiding a teen pregnancy is prevention education.  In the past, emphasis was placed more on “abstinence only” programs, which give teens no other option than to abstain from any and all sexual activities to avoid sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy.  A staggering 90% of teens and 93% of adults polled by The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy still believe a strong abstinence message is important to give to young people.  Alternately, the same study shows that 73% of adults and 56% of teens polled also believe young people need more information such as abstinence and contraception, rather than either/or.  (There are many options for contraception available; see organizations like Planned Parenthood for various birth control methods).

Learning about sexuality is both a normal and healthy part of life. Providing young people with a comprehensive education in this area is key in helping them make informed decisions about sex in their futures.  Research shows that parental influence is an important piece of teen pregnancy prevention.  While parents of teens underestimate their own influence over their children’s decisions about sex, teens report that parents significantly influence their decisions about sex, and 64% of teens share their parents’ values about sex (National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy).  Without a comprehensive sexuality education and parental involvement, young people may, “base their decisions regarding sexual activity, abstinence, birth control, dating, and relationships on the misinformation provided them by peers, television, movies, and what they read in novels and the popular press” (NASP, 2003).

When prevention is no longer an option, that is, when a pregnancy does occur, teens and their families should be aware of the options available to them. Teen pregnancy is a life-changing experience that could easily be one of the most difficult things a young person might face.  It often takes the form of a crisis for the pregnant girl and her family causing feelings of anger, guilt, and denial.  The American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry lists several different emotional reactions teens may experience upon becoming pregnant:

• Some may want to keep their babies
• Some may have idealized and unrealistic reasons for wanting to keep their babies
• Some may view the pregnancy as an achievement and not realize the responsibility involved
• Some may keep a child to please another family member
• Some may want a baby to have someone to love/have someone that loves them, but fail to recognize the amount of care required in raising a child
• Depression is common among pregnant teens
• Overwhelming feelings of guilt, anxiety, and fear about the future is also common

Teens and their families can seek support from both medical and mental health professionals to help them cope and make decisions about a teen pregnancy.  The sooner the pregnant teen consults a doctor, the sooner she can access prenatal care. Prenatal care is the health care you get when you are pregnant.  The earlier prenatal care is received the better the odds are of having a healthy pregnancy and baby.  Some lifestyle changes may be necessary to make upon becoming pregnant.  The following are important to ensure a healthy pregnancy:

• Healthy diet
• Exercise regularly
• Rest
• Quit any alcohol, marijuana, or other drug use

Individual or family counseling may help cope with the emotional aspects of teen pregnancy and aid the family in exploring and making difficult decisions.  Teens may also seek to join support groups for teen pregnancy/parenting.  Specialized support groups not only provide expecting teens with a safe, non-judgmental place to talk about their feelings and gain support from teens like them, but also to learn from the experiences of other teens who are going through, or have gone through, the same situation.

The information in the article above was drawn from the following sources:

• Albert, B. (February 2007). With One Voice 2007: America’s Adults and Teens Sound Off About Teen Pregnancy.  From: The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy.
• American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. (August 2007). Especially for Teens: Having a Baby. Retrieved June 25, 2009 from www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp103.cfm
• The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. (July 2004). When Children Have Children. Retrieved: July 20, 2009, from www.aacap.org/cs/root/facts_for_families/when_children_have_children
• Ellis, B J., Bates, J.E., Dodge, K.A., Fergusson, D.M., Horwood, J.L., Pettit, G.S.& Woodward, L. (2003). “Does Father Absence Place Daughters at Special Risk for Early Sexual Activity and Teenage Pregnancy?” Child Development 74 (3), p801-821.
• Position Statement on Sexuality Education (2003). The National Association of School Psychologists. Retrieved July 21, 2009 from www.nasponline.org/about_nasp/pospaper_sexed.aspx
• Teen Pregnancy. (2009). Retrieved June 25, 2009, from: www.teenpregnancy.com/

Additional Sources of Information

• Pregnancy in adolescence: information for parents and educators, by Adena B. Meyers, PhD. Published by the National Association of School Psychologists.
• The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, www.thenationalcampaign.org.
• Pregnant Teen Help, www.pregnantteenhelp.org.
• Facts on American Teens' Sexual and Reproductive Health, www.guttmacher.org/pubs/FB-ATSRH.html.