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PubMedDate not supplied

The role of sexual self-concept in the use of contraceptives.

Sexual self-concept--defined as an individual's evaluation of his or her own sexual feelings and actions--is proposed as an important predictor of contraceptive behavior among teenagers, and a scale measuring the concept is described. In exploratory analyses among university students, sexual self-concept is found to be associated with frequency of contraceptive use and use at most recent intercourse. It is also associated with their choice of contraceptive--students who had used prescription methods at last coitus had significantly higher scores on the sexual self-concept scale than did those who had used nonprescription methods or no method. These findings, together with the finding from analysis among high school students that sexual self-concept appears to improve with age, suggest that younger teenagers may be poorer users of contraceptives because of a lower sexual self-concept. Counseling and sex education that address social and psychological issues may help improve adolescent contraceptive practice by addressing teenagers' views of their own sexuality.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Pregnant adolescents attending prenatal parent education classes: self-concept, anxiety and depression levels.

Past research has indicated that pregnant adolescents who attend parent education programs (PEP) are more likely to have better outcomes after delivery than those who leave school. This study compared pregnant adolescents who attended a PEP (PA), those who did not attend a PEP (PC), and nonpregnant adolescents (NP) for differences in personality characteristics--self-concept, anxiety, and depression--which might account for postdelivery outcomes. On pre- and posttests administered four to six weeks apart, the PA did not indicate any changes over time and the groups did not differ significantly in self-concept and state and trait anxiety levels. Although the PA group showed a significantly higher level of depression on the pretest than did the NP group, they did not differ significantly at posttesting. According to demographic variables, the number of persons in household was significantly higher for the NP group than for the PA and PC groups. These results, not always consistent with past research on teenagers' personality characteristics, suggest: that the groups did not differ in terms of these personality characteristics, and that for these subjects (88% black), the tendency toward higher depression and anxiety levels in adolescence may not be significantly different from that experienced during pregnancy. The drawbacks of research in this area and for this project are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Contrasts in the self-esteem of unwed teenage mothers.

The self-esteem of 93 unmarried females between the ages of fourteen and nineteen was measured upon entry into several state-sponsored training programs. Some significant differences were discovered concerning the impact of early motherhood on these individuals. The symbolic importance of motherhood, as a passage into adult status, and the intervening effects of normative group anchorage may mediate between individuals' cognitive ability and their level of self-esteem.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Differences in adolescent self-concept as a function of race, geographic location, and pregnancy.

This study compares the self-concept scores of pregnant African-American adolescents from urban and rural areas. It was conducted in alternative schools for pregnant adolescents using the Offer Self-Image Questionnaire (OSIQ) as a data collection instrument with 199 girls 13 to 19 years of age. It was hypothesized that the self-concept of pregnant, African-American adolescents would not be influenced by their age or geographic location. Results of the data analysis refuted the null hypotheses. The self-concept scores of both groups were not as high as those of a nonpregnant norm group of adolescents, but the scores of the pregnant adolescents were very similar regardless of age or geographic location.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Women's protective sexual behaviors: a test of the health belief model.

Heterosexual transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has become a significant health issue for women. The present study describes the extent to which a sample of women from an urban area report making efforts to protect themselves from becoming infected with HIV through several protective sexual behaviors. Secondly, we assess the extent to which adoption of these protective behaviors can be explained by health beliefs and previous HIV testing. Forty-nine percent of the sample reported having used a condom in the past year because of fear of AIDS and 48% reported having carried condoms. Women in this sample perceived themselves to be moderately susceptible to AIDS and they were well aware of the severity of the disease. Women tended to think that protecting themselves from AIDS would not be overly burdensome and that the recommended sexual protective behaviors were highly effective for preventing AIDS. Messages about the severity of AIDS and the effectiveness of protective sexual behaviors seem to be reaching women. Beliefs about personal susceptibility were consistently associated with the adoption of multiple protective behaviors, suggesting that messages emphasizing the ubiquity of risk, especially in demographically high-risk populations, may be particularly appropriate and effective.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

The relation between self-esteem, sexual activity, and pregnancy.

This study examined self-esteem in relation to sexual behaviors which often result in teen pregnancy. A sample of 141 male and 172 female adolescents of racial diversity was surveyed to elicit levels of self-esteem, sexual activity, pregnancy and fatherhood status. The Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory was used as well to elicit qualitative data about self-esteem, demographics, and sexual activity. Analysis revealed no differences in the self-esteem of males vs. females. Further, sexual activity or virginity was not related to self-esteem in either males or females. Pregnant teens did not have different levels of self-esteem from the nonpregnant. However, males who had fathered a child had lower self-esteem than did nonfathers. The findings support a multifocused approach to sex education for pregnancy prevention and also emphasize a need to include males in both pregnancy prevention efforts as well as in further research on teen pregnancy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Safe sex? Misconceptions, gender differences and barriers among injection drug users: a focus group approach.

Heterosexual transmission is one factor involved in the spread of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) within the injection drug use (IDU) population and between IDU and non-IDU individuals. Insufficient information is currently available to reduce this heterosexual transmission. As a basis for designing a questionnaire aimed at the IDU population, we conducted 5 focus groups to collect information on knowledge of and attitudes toward safe sex as held by male and female IDUs in methadone treatment. We identified misconceptions related to HIV infection, condoms, and sexual behavior. We also found gender-based differences in knowledge and learning style. Also, while individuals felt a responsibility to prevent HIV transmission, they lacked sufficient control to do so. The wide range of responses on questions concerning sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), condoms, reproductive decisions, and methods of promoting safe sex provides a basis for developing a questionnaire designed to identify and target specific subgroups for educational intervention.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Do adolescent pregnancy and childbearing affect younger siblings?

To understand the consequences of adolescent pregnancy and childbearing on siblings, a study compares 309 younger brothers and sisters of pregnant, parenting and never-pregnant teenagers. Compared with the younger siblings of never-pregnant teenagers, the younger sisters of pregnant teenagers see school and career as less important, are more accepting of adolescent childbearing, perceive younger ages as appropriate for first intercourse, marriage and childbearing and engage in more problem behavior. The younger sisters of parenting teenagers are more accepting of teenage childbearing than are younger sisters of never-pregnant teenagers and have more definite intentions of having a child at a young age. Compared with boys who have a never-pregnant older sister, younger brothers of pregnant and parenting teenagers are more accepting of nonmarital childbearing, ascribe more importance to childbearing, perceive fewer problems related to early childbearing, have lower self-esteem and report engaging in more drug use and partying behavior.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Evaluation of an intergenerational program for pregnant and parenting adolescents.

PROBLEM: Poor life outcomes for teenage mothers SUBJECTS: Young mothers (N = 65) several years after the birth of their first child. Half had mothers (called grandmothers) who attended the Teenage Mothers-Grandmothers program. METHODS: A long-term evaluation study of the effects of the Teenage Mothers-Grandmothers Program on outcomes for the teens. Instruments used: demographic questionnaire, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, the Arizona Social Support Inventory Schedule, and an open-ended questionnaire. FINDINGS: Teens whose mothers participated in the program were significantly less likely to drop out of school and had significantly better self-esteem. CONCLUSIONS & IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: Including the mothers of pregnant and parenting adolescents in programs can be beneficial.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Measurement of condom use self-efficacy and outcome expectancies in a geographically diverse group of STD patients.

The aim of this project was to conduct an initial evaluation among sexually transmitted disease (STD) patients of the psychometric properties of two instruments: the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) multisite condom use self-efficacy scale and the NIMH multisite condom use outcome expectancy scale. The condom use self-efficacy scale was designed to measure one's degree of confidence in various aspects of condom use, whereas the outcome expectancy scale was designed to measure one's belief about the consequences of using condoms. Using a sample of 641 patients from five geographically diverse STD clinics in the eastern United States, initial reliability coefficients were computed. The alpha coefficient for the self-efficacy scale was .91 and for the outcome expectancy scale .88, indicating high internal consistency for both scales. Both scales were analyzed using common factor analytic procedures. Five factors emerged from the analysis of the self-efficacy scale and six factors from the analysis of the outcome expectancy scale. Reliability coefficients for the individual factors ranged from .76 to .86. Construct validity of each scale was assessed by hypothesis testing. As predicted, participants with higher levels of self-efficacy and more positive outcome expectancies were more likely to use condoms.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

A pre-intervention survey to determine understanding of HIV and AIDS in farm worker communities in Zimbabwe.

A cumulative total of 41,298 AIDS cases have been reported in Zimbabwe as of March 1995. Of concern is the growing evidence of high levels of seroprevalence among rural farm workers. A pre-intervention survey was conducted by interview in one district to examine behavioral factors likely to place farm workers in marginalized rural communities at risk for sexually transmitted diseases (STD) and HIV infection. Seven hundred seventy commercial farm workers from 17 randomly selected commercial farm participated in the study. We found that farm worker communities, which are characterized by educationally disadvantaged women when compared with men (p < .001), have had little exposure to AIDS prevention activities. Beliefs that AIDS is brought about by divine or ancestral retribution were upheld by less education women (p < .001). A significant association was found with respect to perceived risk to HIV and low self-efficacy among uneducated women who articulated helplessness and an inability to protect themselves from HIV infection. Among more educated men, we found acknowledgment about multipartnering and that changes in behavior are more likely to develop as a result of changes in normative values (p = .075). Condom use among men, which is probably the most effective barrier against STD infection, was shown to be associated with age (p < .01) and education (p < .01). The study concludes with recommendations for an appropriate intervention.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Contraceptive knowledge, contraceptive use, and self-esteem among Navy personnel.

This study evaluated the sexual knowledge (including contraceptive and reproductive knowledge), contraceptive use, and self-esteem among a sample of 158 male and female United States Navy sailors assigned to Navy ships. In spite of the fact that men and women viewed themselves as relatively knowledgeable with respect to contraception, results showed substantial knowledge deficits. Women demonstrated significantly greater sexual knowledge than men, and contraceptive/ reproductive knowledge was highly correlated with self-reported use of contraceptives. Finally, self-esteem was highly correlated with sexual knowledge and certain contraceptive use behaviors.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Romanticism and self-esteem among teen mothers.

This study examined teen mothers' romanticism and self-esteem. The Dean Romanticism Scale and the Bachman Self-esteem Scale were administered to 94 mothers between the ages of 13 and 18 in Southern California. The study also investigated the relationship between the dependent variables--romanticism and self-esteem--and ten independent variables--age, age of mother when first child was born, incidence of sexual abuse, incidence of abortion, current sexual activity, adoption considerations, current use of birth control, whether paternity was denied by the baby's father, whether the mother's parents were living together, and the quality of the relationship between the mother's parents. Results indicated that five variables were significantly related to romanticism--whether the teenager had a previous abortion, adoption considerations, current sexual activity, whether the parents were living together, and the quality of the relationship between the parents. Two variables were significantly related to self-esteem--age and current use of birth control.

Adolescent↗