Unexpected increases in the teen birth rates have stimulated a renewed focus on the prevention of teen pregnancy. Although many adults believe there are certain costs associated with teen parenting, the attitudes of teens toward the parenting experience are not known. The purpose of this descriptive study was to determine teens’ thoughts on how their lives would change if they experienced a teen birth in the areas of relationships, vocation, and life impacts. The Thoughts on Teen Parenting Survey (TTPS), designed to measure demographic variables and perspectives on the costs and rewards of teen parenting, was administered to 695 high school students. The survey yielded a composite score, subscale scores, and aggregate data measuring teen thoughts on the consequences of the teen parenting experience. Findings may be used to identify teens at risk for pregnancy, develop interventions, and evaluate prevention strategies based on the insights of teens.
Adler, N.E., Kegeles, S.M., Irwin, C.E., & Wibbelsman, C. (1990). Adolescent contraceptive behavior: An assessment of decision processes. Journal of Pediatrics, 116, 463-471.
2.
Clemmens, D. ( 2003). Adolescent motherhood: A meta-analysis of qualitative studies. MCN: The American Journal of Maternal Child Nursing , 28, 93-99.
3.
Corcoran, J., Franklin, C., & Bell, H. ( 1997). Pregnancy prevention from the teen perspective. Child and Teen Social Work Journal, 15, 365-382.
4.
East, P., Reyes, B.T., & Horn, E.J. ( 2007). Association between adolescent pregnancy and a family history of teenage birth. Perspectives on Sexuality and Reproductive Health, 39, 180-195.
5.
Gallup-Black, A., & Weitzman, B.C. (2004). Teen pregnancy and urban youth: Competing truths, complacency, and perceptions of the problem. Journal of Adolescent Health, 34, 366-375.
6.
Hacker, K.A., Amare, Y., Strunk, N., & Horst, L. ( 2000). Listening to youth: Teen perspectives on pregnancy prevention . Journal of Adolescent Health, 26, 279-288.
7.
Hamilton, B.E., Martin, J.A., & Ventura, S.J. ( 2009). Births: Preliminary data for 2007. Washington, DC: National Center for Health Statistics /National Vital Statistics System.
8.
Herrman, J.W. ( 2006). The voices of teen mothers: The experience of repeat pregnancy. MCN: The American Journal of Maternal Child Nursing , 31, 243-249.
9.
Herrman, J.W. ( 2007). Repeat pregnancy in adolescence: Intentions and decision making. MCN: The American Journal of Maternal Child Nursing , 32, 89-94.
10.
Herrman, J.W. ( 2008). Adolescent perceptions of teen births: A focus group study. Journal of Obstetrical, Gynecological, and Neonatal Nursing, 37(1), 42-50.
11.
Herrman, J.W., & Nandankumar, R. (2010). Development of a survey to assess adolescent perceptions of teen parenting. Manuscript submitted for publication.
12.
Hulton, L.J. ( 2001). Adolescent sexual decision making: An integrative review . World-views on Evidence-based Nursing, 8, 48-60.
13.
Jaccard, J., Dodge, T., & Dittus, P. ( 2003). Do adolescents want to avoid pregnancy? Attitudes toward pregnancy as predictors of pregnancy. Journal of Teen Health , 33, 79-83.
14.
Jewell, D., Tacci, J., & Donovan, J. ( 2000). Teen pregnancy: Whose problem is it? Family Practice, 17, 522-528.
15.
Kegler, M.C., Bird, S.T., Kyle-Moon, K., & Rodine, S. ( 2001). Understanding teen pregnancy from the perceptive of young adolescents in Oklahoma City. Health Promotion Practice, 2, 242-254.
16.
Kelly, P.J., Lesser, J., & Paper, B. ( 2008). Detained adolescents’ attitudes about pregnancy and parenthood. Journal of Pediatric Healthcare, 22, 240-245.
17.
National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy. ( 2002). Not just a another single issue: Teen pregnancy prevention’s link to other critical social issues. Washington, DC: Author.
18.
National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy. ( 2006). Teens attitudes toward pregnancy and childrearing, 1988-2002 . Washington, DC: Author.
19.
National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy. ( 2008). Unplanned pregnancy in the United States. Available from http://www.teenpregnancy.org
20.
Paskiewicz, S. ( 2001). Pregnant adolescents and their mothers: Shared experience of teen mothering. MCN: The American Journal of Maternal Child Nursing, 26, 33-38.
21.
Rentschler, D.D. ( 2003). Pregnant adolescents’ perspectives of pregnancy . MCN: The American Journal of Maternal Child Nursing, 28, 377-383.
22.
Robinson, K., Price, J., Thompson, C., & Schmalzried, H. (1998). Rural junior high school students’ risk factors for perceptions of teen-age parenthood. Journal of School Health, 68, 334-338.
23.
Rosengard, C., Phillips, M., Adler, N., & Ellen, J. ( 2004). Adolescent pregnancy intentions and pregnancy outcomes: A longitudinal examination. Journal of Adolescent Health, 35, 453-461.
24.
Rosengard, C., Pollock, L., Weitzen, S., Meers, A., & Phipps, M. ( 2006). Concepts of the advantages and disadvantages of teenage childbearing among pregnant adolescents: A qualitative analysis. Pediatrics, 118, 503-511.
25.
SmithBattle, L. ( 2009). Reframing the risks and losses of teen mothering. MCN: The American Journal of Maternal Child Nursing, 24(2), 122-128.
26.
Somers, C.L., Johnson, S.A., & Sawilowsky, S.S. (2002). A measure for evaluating the effectiveness of teen pregnancy programs. Psychology in the Schools, 39, 337-342.
27.
Spear, H. ( 2001). Teenage pregnancy: "Having a baby won’t affect me that much." Pediatric Nursing, 27, 574-580.
28.
Spear, H. ( 2004). A follow-up case study on teenage pregnancy: "Havin’ a baby isn’t a nightmare, but it’s really hard." Pediatric Nursing, 30(2), 120-125.
29.
Unger, J.B., Molina, G.B., & Teran, L. ( 2000). Perceived consequences of teenage childbearing among adolescent girls in an urban sample. Journal of Adolescent Health, 26, 205-212.
30.
Wiemann, C.M., Rickert, V.I., Berenson, A.B., & Volk, R.J. ( 2005). Are adolescent stigmatized by pregnancy?Journal of Adolescent Health, 36, 352.e1-352.e7.
