The primary objective of this pilot study was to explore the stability of feelings about self and body during adolescent pregnancy. Fourteen pregnant adolescents kept personal diaries for six weeks concerning their perceptions of self and body. Diary entries revealed negative feelings toward self and body. However, negative feelings about body were slightly more stable than were negative feelings about self. Results indicate that practitioners should be sensitive to the pregnant adolescent's changing image of self and body. Additionally, researchers should consider the reliability of self-report data.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
DaviesE., & FurnhamA. (1986). Body satisfaction in adolescent girls. British Journal of Medical Psychology, 59, 279–287.
2.
DwyerJ. T.FeldmanJ. J.SeltzerC. C., & MayerJ. (1969). Adolescent attitudes toward weight and appearance. Journal of Nutrition Education, 1(2), 14–19.
3.
FranzaiS. L., & ShieldsS. A. (1984). The body esteem scale: Multidimensional structure and sex differences in a college population. Journal of Personality Assessment, 48, 173–178.
4.
GarnerD. M.GarfinkelP. E.SchwartzD., & ThompsonM. (1980). Cultural expectations of thinness in women. Psychological Reports, 47, 483–491.
5.
LernerR. M., & BrackneyB. E. (1978). The importance of inner and outer body parts attitudes in the self-concept of late adolescents. Sex Roles, 4, 225–238.
6.
LernerR. M., & KarabenickS. A. (1974). Physical attractiveness, body attitudes, and self-concept in late adolescents. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 3, 307–316.
7.
MulchaheyK. M. (1990). Adolescent pregnancy. Prevalence, health, and psychosocial risks. In StoryM. (Ed.), Nutrition management of the pregnant adolescent: A practical reference guide (pp. 1–7). Washington DC: National Clearinghouse.
8.
PadinM. A.LernerR. M., & SpiroA.III (1981). Stability of body attitudes and self-esteem in late adolescents. Adolescence, 16, 371–384.
9.
RierdanJ., & KoffE. (1980). Representation of the female body by early and late adolescent girls. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 9, 339–346.
10.
RosenbaumM. (1979). The changing body image of the adolescent girl. In SugarM. (Ed.), Female adolescent development (pp. 234–252). New York: Brunner/Mazel.
11.
RubinR. (1984). Maternal identity and the maternal experience.New York: Springer Publishing.
12.
SadlerL. S., & CantroneE. (1983). The adolescent parent: A dual developmental crisis. Journal of Adolescent Health Care, 4, 100.
13.
SeidelJ. V.KjolsethR., & SeymourE. (1985). The ethnograph: A user's guide.Littleton, CO: Qualis Research Associates.
14.
SimmonsR. G.RosenburgF., & RosenburgM. (1973). Disturbance in the self-image at adolescence. American Sociological Review, 38, 553–568.
15.
SladeP. D. (1977). Awareness of body dimensions during pregnancy: An analogue study. Psychological Medicine, 7, 245–252.
16.
StoryM. (1990). Nutrition management of the pregnant adolescent.Washington, DC: National Clearinghouse.
17.
ThompsonR. A. (1984). The critical needs of the adolescent unwed mother. School Counselor, 31, 460–466.
18.
TrusselJ. (1990). Teenage pregnancy in the United States. In Alan Guttmacher Institute (Ed.), Readings on teenage pregnancy (pp. 65–75). New York: Alan Guttmacher Institute.
19.
WrightM. R. (1989). Body image satisfaction in adolescent girls and boys: A longitudinal study. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 18, 71–83.
