Coping Strategies on Psychological Effect of Teenage Pregnancy Essay Example

in this research, you will know the different psychological effects of teenage pregnancy and what are their coping strategies they utilized. This research paper will also enlighten the readers especially those who are young about the consequences that they would be experiencing once they’ve got pregnant at an early age and hopefully awaken them not to engage in pre-marital sex or not to have a child at an early age.

Hence, in this research, the readers may also know the chaos that they will be encountered once they engaged in pre-marital sex, psychologically, emotionally, spiritually, and socially, but in this study, the researcher will be focusing more on the psychological consequences of pregnancy that will led to both physical and mental risk for the teenager. One of the question that this study will answers is the different psychological conditions associated with teenage pregnancy and how they had cope with this.

Teenage pregnancy is a serious issue that may seriously impact the future of a young woman. Any teen pregnancy will be a challenge as teens typically lack skills needed to handle a pregnancy and motherhood. Patience, maturity and ability to handle stress are required by pregnant mothers of all ages. A teen pregnancy may also impact the baby. The U. S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that babies born to teens may have weaker intellectual development and lower skill set scores at kindergarten.

They may also have ongoing medical issues and behavioral issues. http://www. livestrong. com/article/86972-effects-teenage-pregnancy/) Teenage pregnancy is largely increasing. Mostly some teenagers get pregnant for a variety of reasons. Other teenagers become pregnant after they hooked up with their partners, because of aggressiveness and

curiosity of having sex. These teenagers who get pregnant are caused by the lack of knowledge about sex. Since most teenagers are not aware about the consequences of having pregnant early, effect on this problem with them are seriously important. Having a child and preparing to be a mother is not easy.

A question for young teenagers on how to cope with their child might affect their behaviors. Becoming a mother with a young mind is not easy. Dealing with unplanned pregnancy among teenagers is confusing and scary. (http://teenagepregnancyinformation. wordpress. com/2008/10/10/emotional-effects-of-teenage-pregnancy/) The facts about teenage pregnancy is that, in 2008, the latest year for which statistics are available, the U. S. pregnancy rate among girls between 15 and 19 was 67. 8 per 1,000, according to the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unwanted Pregnancy.

The rate has steadily declined since 1991, when it was 117 per 1,000 teens between the same ages. U. S. teen birth rates have also declined. In 2010, according to the Centers for Disease Control, the rate was 34. 3 births per 1,000 teens, compared to 61. 8 births per 1,000 teens in 1991. Fewer babies were born to teenagers in 2010 than in any year since 1946. Still, the teen birth rate in the U. S. remains nine times higher than in other developed countries, according to the CDC. A teenager may suffer an psychological crisis if she becomes pregnant and does not want the baby.

This crisis may lead to rash behavior such as attempting to self-abort the baby or a suicide attempt. Uncertainty about the future may arise when a teen is pregnant. A teen may feel she does not

have enough knowledge to be a mother. She may also have fears about how having a baby will impact her own life and dreams for the future. Education may be put on hold when a teen becomes pregnant. Some pregnant teens may decide to leave high school. Others who were planning to attend college in the future may put off that experience after becoming pregnant.

They may decide to focus on the baby or getting married rather than pursuing further education. Smoking and drug use may be problematic during a teen pregnancy. A teen may not have the willpower to stop using substances that can harm the developing baby. Exhaustion may arise during a pregnancy. A pregnant teen should try to exercise during the pregnancy; however, if exhaustion arises it is important to know that this is often a normal part of pregnancy. Getting the standard 8 hours of sleep every night (or more) is important. Depression may arise when a teenager is pregnant.

The teen may fall into a depression while trying to handle the emotions a pregnancy creates and all of the possibly negative feedback about the pregnancy from friends and family. The fluctuating hormones that a pregnancy causes may also prompt depression. Once their baby is born, teenagers may not be willing or able to give it the undivided attention it needs. A teen may not be an adequate mother because she is overwhelmed by the constant needs of the baby. She may grow annoyed at the lack of freedom to interact with her peer group due to the baby. Financial difficulty may arise during a teen pregnancy or after the baby is born.

It

is expensive to raise a baby. Teens who do not have full-time employment may struggle to cover the basic expenses of life upon having a baby. ( http://www. livestrong. com/article/86972-effects-teenage-pregnancy/) Psychological Effects of teenage pregnancy. Babies born to teenage mothers are at risk of poverty, school failure, mental health problems and physical health conditions. Teenage moms also find themselves at risk for these problems. Being a teenage mom can have a variety of psychological effects, including postpartum depression and feelings of regret.

Teenage moms may feel overwhelmed, irritated, anxious and fearful about the future of their babies and themselves. Others may not recognize the serious responsibilities that come with having a child. Some teenage mothers may be nervous or anxious about finishing school and achieving their dreams. http://www. ehow. com/info_8031087_psychological-effects-teen-mothers. html Psychological Effects of Teenage Pregnancy are denial, narcissism, guilt, and the self-esteem issue . Denial is one dangerous reaction to a positive pregnancy test. Many teens will delay telling their parents, the father or a doctor what is going on.

Narcissism, Some teenage mothers might go through a phase of narcissism, in which they become preoccupied with themselves rather than the world around them. This can happen when faced with a situation that appears too large to handle. Guilt commonly plagues teenagers who discover that they have conceived. Whether this is a religious guilt or guilt for letting down their family and friends, it is a psychological issue that needs to be dealt with. The self-esteem of a pregnant teenager has many hurdles to cross. Even older women sometimes experience body issues as they begin to put on weight during the second trimester.

Review of Related Studies

Several studies that investigated the issues of teenage pregnancy and teenage motherhood suggested that these phenomena present developmental challenges that could have some negative physiological, psychological and social effects on the developing teenager (Mba, 2003; De Jong, 2001; Parekh & De la Rey, 1997). A review of South African literature focusing on the causes and consequences of teenage motherhood found that teenage pregnancy has a disrupting effect on the teenager? education and life in general (Macleod, 1999a & 1999b).

The aim of this chapter is to review the literature that focuses on teenage pregnancy. In the first part of the chapter, the focus will be on the prevalence rate and reactions by teenagers when realizing that they have fallen pregnant. The second part will look at physical, social and mental health issues related to teenage pregnancy. The last section of the chapter will focus on the theoretical perspectives in understanding teenage pregnancy.