Where Are the Adults?: The Attitudes of Parents, Teachers, Clergy, Coaches, and Youth Workers on Teen Pregnancy--A Focus Group Report

Abstract:
In 1997, the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy commissioned focus group research among parents of teens and other adults who work with teens in various capacities. Nine focus groups (held in Baltimore, Phoenix, and Indianapolis) elicited participants' perceptions and beliefs about teen pregnancy and their reactions to creative message concepts about preventing teen pregnancy. According to focus group participants, teen pregnancy is inextricably intertwined with other issues teens face. Participants feel that teens and their parents have the primary responsibility to prevent teen pregnancy but that schools, religious institutions, and community organizations have important roles in supporting parents in their efforts and filling in when parents fail to teach appropriate values and pay adequate attention to their children. Perceived barriers to prevention include lack of strong values among teens and their parents; teens' knowledge and skill deficiencies; teens' lack of understanding of the real-life complexities of conception and pregnancy; parental lack of skills; social acceptability of teen pregnancy; low self-esteem among teens; teens' immaturity, irresponsibility, and impulsiveness; lack of parental attention, adult supervision, and appropriate activities; negative influence of 'the media;' and inconsistent messages about teen pregnancy.


Date Published: 4/1/1998

Pages: 58

Comments:
The cost of this publication is $15. The publication is included in the folder "The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy," May 1998, #6158.

Location Code: 8250