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.
Robinson
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Florida A & M University, School of Nursing, Tallahassee 32301.
Frank
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D000293:Adolescent; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology; D003268:Contraception Behavior; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011247:Pregnancy; D011253:Pregnancy in Adolescence / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D012649:Self Concept; D012736:Sex Education; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology