Factors that adolescent males take into account in decisions about an unplanned pregnancy

Abstract

Little is known about what factors adolescent males consider important when making decisions concerning the resolution of an unplanned pregnancy with a teenage partner. Young men's influence on pregnancy outcome decisions can play an important part in the subsequent psychological adjustment of the female. The present report draws on data from a larger study with teenage males [Condon, J. T., Corkindale, C. J., Russell, A., & Quinlivan, J. A. (2006). Processes and factors underlying adolescent males' attitudes and decision‐making in relation to an unplanned pregnancy. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 35, 447–458], and extends the findings of that study.Using a 25‐item scale embedded in an electronic role‐play, data were obtained from 330 male Australian school students on their priorities and concerns in relation to possible outcomes of a partner's pregnancy.Common factors taken into account by almost the entire adolescent sample related to the negative effects of becoming a teenage father. The differences between participants were identified using cluster analysis, which produced three groupings. The majority group was characterised as ‘well‐balanced’ (80.6%), and the two minority groups as ‘unwilling/unready’ (10.9%) and ‘family‐centred’ (8.5%). Group membership was strongly predictive of the males' final decision regarding the hypothetical pregnancy outcome. Understanding adolescent attitudes and beliefs when faced with this decision may assist practitioners in their guidance of the young couple and help prevent negative psychological sequelae.

The role of men in induced abortion decision making in an urban area of the Philippines

“…This desire to take responsibility often presented a conflict for men as to how to balance limited material and social resources with societal expectations of parenthood. These conflicts are reflected in findings from other settings where men have described tensions between preparing for marriage and fatherhood, and meeting societal and gendered expectations of being the “breadwinner,” especially amidst increasingly limited education and employment opportunities …”

“…These conflicts are reflected in findings from other settings where men have described tensions between preparing for marriage and fatherhood, and meeting societal and gendered expectations of being the "breadwinner," especially amidst increasingly limited education and employment opportunities. [19][20][21][22][23] Men felt the decision to resolve an unintended pregnancy should be made jointly; however, men indicated that they were not always involved in this decision. In a South African study, 24 men's preference for joint decision-making was found to be rooted in gendered assumptions of men having a greater capacity than women to make rational decisions about reproductive events.…”

Adolescent Men's Attitudes in Relation to Pregnancy and Pregnancy Outcomes: A Systematic Review of the Literature From 1980–2009

“…In the Australian study, adolescent men were more likely to choose abortion (39.1%) than to keep the baby (30%), as compared with leaving the decision completely to their female partner (30.9%) [33]. A further analysis of the Australian study explored the underlying factors that helped adolescent men in their decision regarding the hypothetical pregnancy outcome choice [32]. Those who chose to maintain the pregnancy were more idealistic and placed greater emphasis on their moral beliefs in relation to abortion, whereas those who chose to discontinue the pregnancy placed greater emphasis on the negative consequences to themselves and the baby.…”

Increasing boys’ and girls’ intentions to avoid teenage pregnancy: a cluster randomised controlled feasibility trial of an interactive video drama-based intervention in post-primary schools in Northern Ireland

“…This original methodology was adapted from an earlier empirical project in which it was originally used as a tool for data collection. 1,160 The If I Were Jack IVD has already inspired other researchers to adapt this methodology into a comparable schools-based intervention, entitled Cycles, to address adolescents and marijuana use in British Columbia.…”