Teen Pregnancy Prevention Information - Models of Teen Pregnancy
Models of Teen Pregnancy - Facts and Statistics
Holden and colleagues identify three competing models to describe how certain antecedents increase the likelihood of teen pregnancy; the cognitive, psychosocial, and the sexual behavior model. The cognitive model assumes that teen pregnancy results from a cognitive deficit. The assumption is that one or more variables such as poor school functioning, lacking contraceptive knowledge, inability to plan ahead, inadequate problem-solving abilities, and an external locus of control will be exhibited by teens who become pregnant.
Most findings have however been inconsistent with this model or inconclusive. The psychosocial model assumes that a socially induced variable, such as social modeling, is the reason teens become pregnant. Fewer studies have been done on these variables but they tend to exert some influence. The sexual behavior model assumes that teens who get pregnant are the same as non-pregnant teens except they are more sexually active and are less likely to use contraceptives. (Holden, et al., 1993)
Results from the Holden et al. study supports the sexual behavior model. Pregnant teens reported having more sex and being less likely to use contraceptives then the non-pregnant teens. The study found some support for mothers being important models to the pregnant teens, a variable of the psychosocial model, as their mothers were considerably younger than those of the non-pregnant teens.
Five variables that, unlike other research, did not show group differences between the pregnant and non-pregnant adolescent were social support, locus of control, future-orientation, problem-solving, and except on one subscale, self-esteem. Holden et al. admit that the assessment instruments may be the source of this discrepancy but more importantly that they believe these variables are not constant antecedents of teen pregnancy. (Holden, et al., 1993)
