Structure and content of the maternal representations of Mexican teenagers during their first pregnancy

Abstract

Objectives: understand the structure and content of the maternal representations of Mexican teenagers during their first pregnancy. Methods: a study was carried out with qualitative methodology based on the concept of maternal representation and the theory of social representations with 30 adolescents who attended prenatal control at the Civil Hospital of Guadalajara "Fray Antonio Alcalde", in Jalisco, Mexico. The participants were interviewed with the consent of their tutors. Classical content analysis techniques were used to obtain codes and thematic categories to develop a conceptual map that explains maternal representations. Results: the maternal representation was identified: "Pregnant but reunited, a legitimated bad decision", which was composed of social meanings towards adolescent pregnancy, family dynamics, expectations towards motherhood, and the feelings experienced by the adolescent during the pregnancy. The content of the representations was heterogeneous for most of the identified categories; however, it is identified that the desire for pregnancy guides the expectations of the adolescent about her future way of being as a mother. Conclusions: the desire of women for pregnancy, the level of participation of the couple, and the social meanings of adolescent pregnancy, have an outstanding role in the development of models of maternal representations.

Developing the concept of maternal in teenage mothers: a hybrid model

“…Therefore, motherhood is a turning point in the life of a teenager that can cause a fundamental transformation ( Seamark and Lings, 2004 ; Soares and Lopes, 2011 ; Moridi and Aminshokravi, 2018 ; Zainudin, 2019 ; Santos et al, 2021 ). As a result of major physical, mental, social, and cognitive changes during pregnancy and early motherhood, transition to motherhood is considered a stressful process with many responsibilities ( Rentschler, 2003 ; Atuyambe et al, 2005 ; Soares and Lopes, 2011 ; James et al, 2012 ; Anwar and Stanistreet, 2015 ; Kagawa et al, 2017 ; Mangeli et al, 2018a ; Dhaka and Musese, 2019 ; Diamand et al, 2019 ; Franco-Ramírez et al, 2020 ; Gharacheh et al, 2020 ; Govender et al, 2020 ; Malatji et al, 2020 ; Tirgari et al, 2020 ; Kazal et al, 2021 ; Naidoo et al, 2021 ).“Bidirectional effects on life” was another attribute of motherhood in teenage mothers, indicating that motherhood is a process of learning ( Kaye, 2008 ; Klingberg-Allvin et al, 2008 ; Kagawa et al, 2017 ; Santos et al, 2021 ; Erfina et al, 2022 ) and an opportunity to develop, strengthen marriage, and make up for the childhood and adolescence deprivations which can create positive and meaningful paths in life. However, it is a vulnerable period ( Kaye, 2008 ; Margherita et al, 2017 ; Zainudin, 2019 ) and a negative experience for teenage mothers, their children, and society ( Klingberg-Allvin et al, 2008 ; Anwar and Stanistreet, 2015 ; Zainudin, 2019 ); therefore, it can be stated that teenage mothers wilt before blooming ( Gharacheh et al, 2020 ).…”

“…Antecedents are described as actions or measures that must occur first hand before a concept is concluded ( Nukpezah et al, 2020 ). According to the results of the theoretical phase, the antecedents of motherhood in teenage mothers were “the level of received social support,” “reaction to teenage motherhood,” “teenage mother’s characteristics,” and “family structure.” A review of the literature showed that “the level of received social support” was one of the antecedents of motherhood in teenage mothers, which is referred to as “social support” in the literature ( Kagawa et al, 2017 ; Mangeli et al, 2018b ; Dhaka and Musese, 2019 ; Nkwemu et al, 2019 ; Field et al, 2020 ; Gbogbo, 2020 ; Gharacheh et al, 2020 ; Govender et al, 2020 ; Recto and Champion, 2020 ; Tirgari et al, 2020 ; Kazal et al, 2021 ; SmithBattle et al, 2021 ), including family members’ support ( Atuyambe et al, 2005 ; Kaye, 2008 ; James et al, 2012 ; Ngum Chi Watts et al, 2015 ; Kagawa et al, 2017 ; Mangeli et al, 2017 ; Osok et al, 2018 ; Santos et al, 2018 , 2021 ; Amod et al, 2019 ; Campbell and Hart, 2019 ; Diamand et al, 2019 ; Chemutai et al, 2020 ; Gbogbo, 2020 ; Govender et al, 2020 ; Malatji et al, 2020 ; Recto and Champion, 2020 ; Kazal et al, 2021 ; Twintoh et al, 2021 ; Erfina et al, 2022 ), spouse’s support ( Atuyambe et al, 2005 ; Kaye, 2008 ; James et al, 2012 ; Ngum Chi Watts et al, 2015 ; Mangeli et al, 2017 ; Osok et al, 2018 ; Amod et al, 2019 ; Campbell and Hart, 2019 ; Franco-Ramírez et al, 2020 ; Gbogbo, 2020 ; Govender et al, 2020 ; Santos et al, 2021 ; Erfina et al, 2022 ), healthcare providers’ support ( Mangeli et al, 2017 , ...…”

“…Another antecedent of motherhood in teenage mothers was the reaction of the family, friends, teachers, healthcare providers, and society to parenting as a teenager with the most common reaction being stigma ( Sámano et al, 2017 ; Moridi and Aminshokravi, 2018 ; Osok et al, 2018 ; Sychareun et al, 2018 ; Amod et al, 2019 ; Campbell and Hart, 2019 ; Dhaka and Musese, 2019 ; Nkwemu et al, 2019 ; Apolot et al, 2020 ; Calver, 2020 ; Chemutai et al, 2020 ; Dzotsi et al, 2020 ; Field et al, 2020 ; Gbogbo, 2020 ; Gharacheh et al, 2020 ; Govender et al, 2020 ; Malatji et al, 2020 ; Recto and Champion, 2020 ; Naidoo et al, 2021 ; SmithBattle et al, 2021 ; Wainaina et al, 2021 ). Another antecedent of the concept of motherhood was the “teenage mother’s characteristics.” The subcategories that formed this category were the pregnancy status ( Margherita et al, 2017 ; Sychareun et al, 2018 ; Amod et al, 2019 ; Chemutai et al, 2020 ; Franco-Ramírez et al, 2020 ; Gbogbo, 2020 ; Govender et al, 2020 ; Tirgari et al, 2020 ), education level ( Klingberg-Allvin et al, 2008 ; Amod et al, 2019 ; Field et al, 2020 ; Gbogbo, 2020 ; Tirgari et al, 2020 ; Kazal et al, 2021 ; Twintoh et al, 2021 ), and physical and skill capabilities ( Mangeli et al, 2017 , 2018a ; Moridi and Aminshokravi, 2018 ; Osok et al, 2018 ; Erfina et al, 2019 ; Apolot et al, 2020 ; Gharacheh et al, 2020 ; Tirgari et al, 2020 ; Kazal et al, 2021 ; Twintoh et al, 2021 ). “Family structure” included the economic state ( Atuyambe et al, 2005 ; Kagawa et al, 2017 ; Mangeli et al, 2017 ...…”

“…“Negative psychological consequences” included a feeling of humiliation, shame, fear, stress, anxiety, depression, shock, guilt, anger, suicide thoughts, isolation, and identity confusion ( Rentschler, 2003 ; Atuyambe et al, 2005 ; Kaye, 2008 ; DeVito, 2010 ; Soares and Lopes, 2011 ; James et al, 2012 ; Mangeli et al, 2017 ; Margherita et al, 2017 ; Sámano et al, 2017 ; Osok et al, 2018 ; Santos et al, 2018 , 2021 ; Amod et al, 2019 ; Campbell and Hart, 2019 ; Dhaka and Musese, 2019 ; Diamand et al, 2019 ; Moridi et al, 2019 ; Nkwemu et al, 2019 ; Sommer et al, 2019 ; Apolot et al, 2020 ; Calver, 2020 ; Chemutai et al, 2020 ; Franco-Ramírez et al, 2020 ; Gbogbo, 2020 ; Gharacheh et al, 2020 ; Govender et al, 2020 ; Malatji et al, 2020 ; Recto and Champion, 2020 ; Tirgari et al, 2020 ; Kazal et al, 2021 ; Naidoo et al, 2021 ; Wainaina et al, 2021 ).“Positive psychological consequences” included gaining respect ( Anwar and Stanistreet, 2015 ; Mangeli et al, 2017 ; Calver, 2020 ; Gharacheh et al, 2020 ), feelings of joy ( Klingberg-Allvin et al, 2008 ; Moridi et al, 2019 ; Sommer et al, 2019 ; Chemutai et al, 2020 ; Franco-Ramírez et al, 2020 ), maturity, reduced risky behavior ( Anwar and Stanistreet, 2015 ; Macintosh and Callister, 2015 ; Ngum Chi Watts et al, 2015 ; SmithBattle et al, 2021 ), learning ( Dhaka and Musese, 2019 ; Santos et al, 2021 ; Erfina et al, 2022 ), an opportunity for positive changes ( Seamark and Lings, 2004 ; Ngum Chi Watts et al, 2015 ; …”

Efeitos psicossociais da gravidez na adolescência: um estudo transversal

“…Ao se analisar a sensação de vergonha como efeito da gravidez na adolescência e como condição psicológica, verificou-se que somente 8 (26,67%) jovens afirmaram ter sentido diante da gestação 12,16 . Desse total, a maioria considerou ter sentido vergonha perante os amigos (62,50%), apontando a gravidez na adolescência como geradora de alterações das relações sociais típicas da juventude, sendo continuamente reafirmadas pelos amigos e familiares (TABELA 4) 15 .…”