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Pregnancy

Running head: PREGNANCY IN ADOLESCENCE: PSYCHOSOCIAL ASPECTS

Pregnancy in Adolescence: Psychosocial Aspects
April 16, 2007

Pregnancy in Adolescence: Psychosocial Aspects
Introductory statement
Pregnancy in adolescence is a national problem. It affects not only the mother and her newborn but also the community and society in general (Spear, 2004). Teenagers throughout the United States are initiating sexual intercourse at an earlier age than most adults in America would believe; teen mothers are giving birth soon after they are starting puberty, some as young as age 11. Although sexual education and pregnancy prevention classes are available in most junior high and high schools, the United States statistically has the highest rate of teen pregnancy and birth rates when compared to other developed countries (Spear, 2004). Nearly half of all the pregnancies in this country are unintended according to Moos (2003). Young girls have to take on the responsibility of raising a child when they themselves are still children. The added stressors that come with pregnancy can have negative effects when added to the stress already present during adolescence which include pressure from school, peer pressure, and trying to fit in and find a place among peers. The purpose of this paper is to explain some of the leading causes of teen pregnancy, to report accurate and up to date statistics on this subject, to discover how pregnancy in adolescence affects mothers psychosocially, and to discuss the role of the nurse in prevention settings as well as the future implications for nursing regarding this topic.
Sexual activity in adolescence is quite common and is becoming a major topic of discussion in regards to public health due to the increased risk of sexually transmitted infections, pregnancy, and early parenthood (Maurer & Smith, 2005). Bennett, Bloom, & Miller (1995) state that in 1970 there were 200,000 births to unmarried teenagers, and in twenty years that number...