The incidence of pregnancy, as related to self-esteem, in a group of high-risk adolescent females

Includes bibliographical references (pages 28-31)This paper is to examine whether pregnancy in high-risk\ud adolescent females is significantly facilitated by levels of low self-esteem,\ud experienced as a result of dysfunctional families or\ud functionally unhealthy' families, plus difficulties in the adolescent's\ud school and social adjustments.\ud Self-esteem defined as pride in oneself and ultimately\ud determined by one's behavior, is essential for growth and maturity; a\ud review of Eric Erickson's developmental tasks will attest to the\ud credibility of this statement. Self-esteem is an integral part of the\ud mature personality, encompassing totally one's value system. I want to\ud find out the self-esteem levels of a group of pregnant, high-risk\ud adolescent females, at a California school. Is the phenomenon of\ud pregnancy entered into to enhance one's self -esteem --- i.e., does\ud becoming a mother become equated with becoming.............someone? Are\ud feelings of low self-worth, feelings of nothingness, and feelings of\ud poor self -image so inherent in high-risk, adolescent females, that\ud becoming a mother is seen as a way out of the helplessness and\ud hopelessness of one's life situation? "Before I was pregnant, I was\ud nothing. Now, I am somebody. I???m a mother." (Reported by Watson,\ud Sharon, The Crittenton Center, Los Angeles, in TIME, December 9, 1985.)\ud Claudia Wallis, reporting in this same article, says that ??????..a sense of worthlessness and despair???.." may account for pregnancy in the teen\ud population. The second part of my study will ask if low self-esteem\ud manifests itself equally as often, in a non-pregnant group of high-risk,\ud adolescent females, aged 13 - 20.\ud Self-esteem is manifested at different levels, depending\ud on its basic motivation. In the very beginnings of life, the influence\ud of one's family of origin is paramount. It is thought now that even\ud prior to birth, the attitudes of the mother and the father, including\ud both internal and external pressures, will have a bearing on the\ud developing baby.\ud If a child is born into a dysfunctional family, meaning a\ud family whose members are fused, where ego boundaries overlap and there\ud is difficulty of the members to individuate, that child is likely to\ud have less of a good self-image than one born into a family wherein roles\ud and functions are clear and each person's innate desire and drive for\ud self-actualization is promoted in a cooperative spirit with each other\ud family member. The pride, the good feeling, the self-esteem one\ud develops regarding oneself depends on one's self-image, how a person\ud sees herself, according to her own values and according to the reality\ud of her environment and those in it. The influence of spiritual values\ud will be examined. In school, as relationships with peers and authority\ud figures is pursued, the teens' adjustments and adaptability to societal\ud pressures will be perused. As social skills are learned, positive and\ud negative influences will be examined as to how they have a bearing on\ud the developing teenager. Social learning and communication skills are\ud key concepts for the bridge to adulthood.\ud When self-esteem is threatened, a fear response is\ud evoked, causing much anxiety. It may be in the attempt to quell this\ud anxiety that pregnancy results, as the young person emerges from\ud childhood and enters into adolescence. Pregnancy is an affirmative\ud statement: I an female; I am mature biologically; I am woman, capable\ud of reproduction. Affirming one's status is a necessary task of\ud adolescence, thereby contributing to one's self-esteem