Sometimes you don't feel ready to be an adult or a mom: The experience of adolescent pregnancy

Janna Lesser, Nancy L.R. Anderson, Deborah Koniak-Griffin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

54 Scopus citations

Abstract

Problem: To obtain a description of pregnant adolescents' responses to the preparation for motherhood class curriculum. Methods: The design of this study was based in the anthropological tradition of qualitative research, ethnography; N = 36. Findings: Within one category identified in this study, maternal role, three primary themes emerged: responsibility, respect, and reparation. Conclusions: The findings of this study indicate that for some adolescents, pregnancy implies a desire and an opportunity to heal childhood wounds if relevant psychotherapeutic interventions can be provided. Nurses can identify pregnant teens who are already suffering with depression and encourage them to seek counseling prior to the birth of their baby before they are experiencing the added stressors inherent in new motherhood.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)7-16
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing
Volume11
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 1998
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Adolescent mothers
  • Ethnography
  • Maternal role
  • Prenatal classes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pediatrics
  • Psychiatry and Mental health
  • Phychiatric Mental Health

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