title: Perceived social support, self esteem, and pregnancy status among Dominican adolescents.
abstract: Adolescent pregnancy is a major health concern among Dominicans in the U.S. and in the Dominican Republic (DR). Twenty three percent of adolescents age 15-19 have experienced pregnancy and this trend is rising.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to explore and compare social support, self-esteem and pregnancy between Dominican adolescents in the DR with those who have immigrated to the U.S.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study used an exploratory, descriptive design including study samples from both the U.S. and DR. Findings showed that young women with stronger social support and higher self esteem experienced lower pregnancy rates in both the DR and U.S.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Neither self esteem nor social support was found to be predictors of pregnancy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Important findings from this study will inform the development of interventions aimed at preventing pregnancy in adolescents.
authors.affiliation: Fairfield University, Fairfield, CT, USA. Electronic address: lbabington@fairfield.edu.
authors.forename: Lynn M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Babington
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Bouve College of Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address: l.malone@neu.edu.
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Malone
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Bouve College of Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address: b.kelley@neu.edu.
authors.forename: Barbara R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Kelley
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004293:Dominican Republic / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011253:Pregnancy in Adolescence; D012649:Self Concept; D012944:Social Support; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Adolescent pregnancy; Dominican Republic; Self-esteem; Social support