Pregnancy feelings among adolescents awaiting pregnancy test results.
OBJECTIVE
The authors surveyed adolescent girls about their feelings regarding pregnancy.


METHODS
A survey was administered to 117 13- to 18-year-olds who obtained pregnancy tests at nine clinics in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1998. The survey included four measures of pregnancy feelings. The authors used bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses to examine the associations of these measures with engagement with school, future expectations, social and environmental characteristics, and perceived partner desire for pregnancy.


RESULTS
The four measures of pregnancy feelings were highly correlated (P = 0.0001). Participants reported a range of positive, negative, and ambivalent feelings on all measures. Perceived partner desire for pregnancy, limited future expectations, and lack of school engagement were significantly associated with positive pregnancy feelings for the four measures.


CONCLUSIONS
Successful adolescent pregnancy prevention interventions may include the involvement of partners and key adults as well as strategies to enhance the educational or employment aspirations of girls and adolescents.
Hellerstedt
W L
WL
National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Research Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 55454-1015, USA. hellerstedt@epi.umn.edu
Fee
R M
RM
McNeely
C A
CA
Sieving
R E
RE
Shew
M L
ML
Resnick
M D
MD
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003151:Community Health Centers; D003625:Data Collection; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008910:Minnesota; D011247:Pregnancy; D011258:Pregnancy Tests / Q000523:psychology*; D011253:Pregnancy in Adolescence / Q000523:psychology*; D011275:Pregnancy, Unwanted / Q000523:psychology; D011322:Primary Prevention; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D012572:School Health Services; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012931:Social Environment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires