Recognizes concern that today's adolescents, including early adolescents, may be making important life choices such as parenthood before they are developmentally ready for such roles. Deals with pregnancy in adolescents and modes of responding to this phenomenon by those in the counseling and other helping professions. (Author/NRB)

Explored differences between 35 women who had abortions as teenagers and 36 women who had abortions as adults. Respondents reported on their premorbid psychiatric histories, the decision-making process itself, and postabortion distress symptoms. Antisocial and paranoid personality disorders, drug abuse, and psychotic delusions were significantly…

Identifies need for more research, education, and services for males about adolescent pregnancy and parenthood to augment their social and familial learning experiences. Makes case for more participation by schools in achieving better balance between males and females in preparing for parenthood or prevention of pregnancy. Describes…

Notes usual presumption that pregnant adolescents are in good health but suffer from socioeconomic and cultural disadvantages, which the pregnancy will exacerbate. Presents case study to illustrate how problems of pregnant adolescent are more complex when she also has a severe medical handicap and when medical problems interact with the…

Notes that assertion of autonomy helps predict teenager's attitude toward pregnancy and parenthood and that ability to predict future relationship with infant has direct implications for achievement of adaptive outcome. Contends that interpersonal outcome of parent-infant relationship may be predicted by adolescent's behaviors with infant. The…

Investigated the identity formation in pregnant adolescents (N=30) as compared to a group of nonpregnant adolescents (N=30). Used the Ego Identity Scale to obtain a measure of ego identity. Analyzed data in relation to six hypotheses. Found pregnant adolescents scored significantly lower on the Ego Identity Scale. (RC)

Addresses the issue of pregnancy in adolescent girls from a psychiatric viewpoint. Explores why adolescent girls become pregnant; how pregnancy affects the adolescent's emotional process; pregnant adolescents becoming emotional/physical "at-risk" cases; and which factors affect the birth-delivery process. Discusses how sex education can help…

Examines the perception of urban African-American adolescent mothers and fathers regarding sex, love, intimacy, pregnancy, and parenting. Uses structured interviews and focus groups to gather data. Employs inductive data analysis using constant comparison methods to identify themes and patterns within and across gender groups. (Author/GCP)