Teen Pregnancy - Environmental Antecedents
Teen Pregnancy - Environmental Antecedents
Teens are more likely to engage in sex earlier and become pregnant when they live in poor communities with fewer opportunities. When teens live in communities in which the adults have low levels of education, engage in higher levels of crime, have lower incomes, and are less likely to be employed, they are more likely to have sex and become pregnant, as opposed to teens who live in communities with lower levels of crime, higher levels of education, income and employment. In the latter mentioned communities, better role models are available and adults are more likely to place an emphasis on education and discourage early pregnancy. Teens in these communities may still engage in sex and can also become pregnant, but both occur less frequently. (Kirby, 2002).
When adolescence is reached, teens do not experience the same adult supervision they once experienced as children. Many families today consist of dual wage earners, which is a contributing factor to the lack of adult supervision after school, on school breaks, and summer vacation. Consequently, teen are more likely to engage in sexual intercourse in the homes of parents who work than in any other setting. ( McCullough and Scherman, 1991) Teens who live in families where parents have higher levels of education and higher incomes are less likely to engage in sex early and fail to use contraceptives, as opposed to teens with parents who have low levels of education and lower incomes. This may partly be due the parents modeling and ideals but also to the availability of resources. If an adolescent lives with both parents, as opposed to only one or neither parent, they are less likely to engage in unprotected sex and become pregnant. (Kirby, 2002).
Peers can influence the sexual behavior of teens. Teens are more likely to engage in sex when their peers are unattached to school, engage in negative behaviours, and get poor grades. They are less likely to engage in sex when their peers are more attached to school, engage in less negative behaviour, and get good grades. If an adolescent believes their peers are engaging in sex they are more likely to do so as well, and they are more likely to use contraception when peers support its use. (Kirby, 2002). Peers undoubtedly exert influence over adolescent’s sexual behaviours but McCullough and Scherman (1991) found that teen mothers did not most frequently mention peer pressure as a reason for their initiation in sexual activity. Especially the younger respondents to their questionnaire often reported “being in love” as the reason for initiation.
