View all articles in this issue
Factors Affecting Teens’ Attitudes Toward Their Pregnant Peers
Download this article for $1.00 (FREE for Members)
by Jennie M. Kuckertz - University of San Diego
Research has shown that pregnant teens experience
negative consequences resulting from stigmatization, but little
research has explained why teenagers stigmatize pregnant peers to
a greater degree than sexually active peers. We investigated factors
affecting how teens view their pregnant peers. We hypothesized that
belief in the effectiveness, availability, and ease of use of
contraceptives; belief in a just world; feelings of invulnerability; and
male gender would be associated with negative attitudes toward
pregnant teens. Data from 101 high school students indicated that
attitudes toward contraception and belief in a just world correlated
in the expected direction with stigmatization and that male
participants reported more negative attitudes. As a group, the study
variables predicted negative attitudes, and in particular, attitudes
toward contraception and gender uniquely contributed to negative
beliefs about pregnant peers. This research may help educators and
youth advocates understand and improve the outcomes of pregnant
teens who face stigmatization.
Spring 2011 | Psi Chi Journal of Undergraduate Research (Vol. 16, No. 1, p. 32), published by Psi Chi, The International Honor Society in Psychology (Chattanooga, TN). Copyright, 2011, Psi Chi, The International Honor Society in Psychology. All rights reserved.