Adolescent Pregnancy

1. Adolescent Pregnancy Education & Support Traci Carter & Shayla Williams Messiah College Family Service Workshop: 2009

2. Methodology Zeck et. al Brosh et. al Mix- Method Approach Survey Focus group sessions 54 female participants between 13-18 years old Measures included: Educational Career Support Exploring: Most valued sources of formal support Most important to achieve educational goals Differences among peers • Longitudinal study • October 2000 – October 2005 • 131 female participants ranging ages 17 and younger • Already have delivered a child • Conducted telephone interviews • Performed by obstetric physicians • Question concerned: • Sociodemographic background • Changes since pregnancy

3. Methodology Prater(1992) Benson(2004) Literature review Empirically based Analyzed by using five dimensions of pregnancy Pregnancy Abortion Childbearing Adoption Teen parenting • Interview • 10 Adolescent mothers • Ages 15-19 years old • Adolescents at least 2 children, or confirmed with 2nd child • At risk of dropping out of school • Deficit Model

4. Results Zeck et. al Brosh et. al The adolescent mother with more importance of support directed to the educational system; higher educational goals Helpful supports: Husband/boyfriend Parents/ Family Teachers Care takers • Subsamples: • Group I: 0-2.5 yrs after delivery • Group II:2.5-5 yrs after delivery • Group II: improved more so in educational & career goals, social networking and use of hormonal contraception than Group I

5. Results Prater(1992) Benson(2004) The adolescent mother with more importance of support directed to the educational system; higher educational goals Helpful supports: Husband/boyfriend Parents/ Family Teachers Care takers • Results gathered by pattern matching (Yin, 1989) • Matches results with prior assumptions • Parenting interfered with schooling • All had educational deficits prior to parenthood • Lack of specialized cognitive programs to address “deeper” concepts.

6. Results (Zeck et. al)

7. Results--- Brosh et. al Top 3 Types of Help

8. Results Dimensions of Adolescent Sexuality ,Pregnancy and Parenthood (Benson, 2004)

9. Conclusion Zeck et. al Brosh et. al Support Formal Informal Access to resources and information like reliable childcare and school based adolescent parenting programs, are highly impactful on achieving goals Adolescent mothers who valued support directly related to education, had higher goals and achievements, than those with the latter. • Study did not support the common assumption that adolescent pregnancy may be a disadvantage • Considerable number of adolescent mothers to achieve higher education

10. Conclusion Prater(1992) Benson(2004) For individuals, pregnancy initiates marked physical, emotional, and socialization shifts. (Benson,pg 435) Poorer communication with others and fathers (Guijarro et.al, 1999) Self-esteem linked to relationship quality with mother during pregnancy • School climate held a big impact in regards to faculty.(Prater, 1992) • Average curriculum; for average student • Does not address differing needs.

11. Overall Research Findings • Pregnancy not the principal variant in consideration way adolescent parents perform struggle educationally. • Resiliency to be considered • Childcare, parental and spousal/boyfriend support and aspiration to achieve goals most predictive to academic, emotional and physical well being • School found to not equip faculty with teaching techniques to assist “non-traditional” students • Family support has a great impact on happiness during pregnancy and parenting.

12. School based programs • ELECT (Education Leading to Employment and Career Training) This program is dedicated to working with pregnant and parenting teens up to age 22 residing in Pennsylvania to empower them to complete their high school education, gaining economic independence and improving the quality of life for themselves and their children by becoming the best parents they can be. ELECT currently provides   services to many school district in the state.  Some of the services provided are: health & nutrition education, individual and group support, job preparation and career exploration, secondary pregnancy prevention, intensive case management, domestic violence information, GED preparation, monitoring of school attendance, parenting education and life skills, field trips, workshops and various activities to broaden their knowledge in infant/child safety and assisting with childcare needs. Courtesy of : Crispus Attuck ELECT program

13. Resources • Zeck, W. et.al (2007). Impact of adolescent pregnancy on the future life of young mothers in terms of social, familial, and educational changes. Journal of Adolescent Health, 41,4, 380-388. Retrieved from PsyInfo Database • Brosh, J. et.al (2007)Pregnant and parenting adolescents’ perception of sources and supports in relation to educational goals. Child Adolescent Social Work, 24, 565-578. Retrieved from PsyInfo Database • Prater,L.P. (1992). Early pregnancy and academic achievement of african-american youth. Exceptional Children, 59,2, 141-149. Retrieved from PsyInfo Database • Benson, M.J. (2004). After the adolescent pregnancy:parents,teens and families. Child Adolescent Social Work, 21,5, 435-455. Retrieved from PsyInfo Database