Coping Strategies on Psychological Effect of Teenage Pregnancy

INTRODUCTION

Adolescence represents a critical period in the transition from childhood to adulthood including the development of their sexuality (Patton and Viner, 2007). This stage is characterizes by adventures that are either normative or aberrant, were teenager are very active when it comes to sexual experimentation because this is the stage where a woman and a man has a higher rates of aggressiveness towards sex. Various studies have reported common risky sexual behaviors and the associated consequences among adolescence.
What comes into your mind when you hear the words Teenage Pregnancy? Well, as we all know, unintended pregnancy among female adolescents is a global phenomenon and it is rampant nowadays. Teenage pregnancy has also been found to cause psychological disturbance for some teenagers. For example, Clemens (2002) reported that teenager who had normal delivery later report and present with depressive symptoms. Approximately 750,000 teenage girls between the ages of 15 and 19 become pregnant every year according to The Guttmacher Institute. Locally, out of 92 million populations, 28.5% are at risk of becoming teen parent. being pregnant is a very personal experience for each patient. This period in her life poses many new challenges and possible problems. How she responds to these challenges is dependent on her emotional maturity or lack of it, This is just one of the reasons aside from the psychological consequences of teenage pregnancy that became our drive to pursue and conduct the study with regards to the psychological effect of teenage pregnancy and their coping strategies they had utilize. Do you know some of the psychological effects of teenage pregnancy? And what are their coping strategies? Well you may have some idea but in this research, you will know the different psychological effects of teenage pregnancy and what are their coping strategies they utilized. This research paper will also enlighten the readers especially those who are young about the consequences that they would be experiencing once they’ve got pregnant at an early age and hopefully awaken them not to engage in pre-marital sex or not to have a child at an early age. Hence, in this research, the readers may also know the chaos that they will be encountered once they engaged in pre-marital sex, psychologically, emotionally, spiritually, and socially, but in this study, the researcher will be focusing more on the psychological consequences of pregnancy that will led to both physical and mental risk for the teenager. One of the question that this study will answers is the different psychological conditions associated with teenage pregnancy and how they had cope with this.

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Review of Related Literature
Teenage pregnancy is a serious issue that may seriously impact the future of a young woman. Any teen pregnancy will be a challenge as teens typically lack skills needed to handle a pregnancy and motherhood. Patience, maturity and ability to handle stress are required by pregnant mothers of all ages. A teen pregnancy may also impact the baby. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that babies born to teens may have weaker intellectual development and lower skill set scores at kindergarten. They may also have ongoing medical issues and behavioral issues.(http://www.livestrong.com/article/86972-effects-teenage-pregnancy/)
Teenage pregnancy is largely increasing. Mostly some teenagers get pregnant for a variety of reasons. Other teenagers become pregnant after they hooked up with their partners, because of aggressiveness and curiosity of having sex. These teenagers who get pregnant are caused by the lack of knowledge about sex. Since most teenagers are not aware about the consequences of having pregnant early, effect on this problem with them are seriously important. Having a child and preparing to be a mother is not easy. A question for young teenagers on how to cope with their child might affect their behaviors. Becoming a mother with a young mind is not easy. Dealing with unplanned pregnancy among teenagers is confusing and scary.(http://teenagepregnancyinformation.wordpress.com/2008/10/10/emotional-effects-of-teenage-pregnancy/)
The facts about teenage pregnancy is that, in 2008, the latest year for which statistics are available, the U.S. pregnancy rate among girls between 15 and 19 was 67.8 per 1,000, according to the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unwanted Pregnancy. The rate has steadily declined since 1991, when it was 117 per 1,000 teens between the same ages. U.S. teen birth rates have also declined. In 2010, according to the Centers for Disease Control, the rate was 34.3 births per 1,000 teens, compared to 61.8 births per 1,000 teens in 1991. Fewer babies were born to teenagers in 2010 than in any year since 1946. Still, the teen birth rate in the U.S. remains nine times higher than in other developed countries, according to the CDC.
A teenager may suffer an psychological crisis if she becomes pregnant and does not want the baby. This crisis may lead to rash behavior such as attempting to self-abort the baby or a suicide attempt. Uncertainty about the future may arise when a teen is pregnant. A teen may feel she does not have enough knowledge to be a mother. She may also have fears about how having a baby will impact her own life and dreams for the future. Education may be put on hold when a teen becomes pregnant. Some pregnant teens may decide to leave high school. Others who were planning to attend college in the future may put off that experience after becoming pregnant. They may decide to focus on the baby or getting married rather than pursuing further education. Smoking and drug use may be problematic during a teen pregnancy. A teen may not have the willpower to stop using substances that can harm the developing baby. Exhaustion may arise during a pregnancy. A pregnant teen should try to exercise during the pregnancy; however, if exhaustion arises it is important to know that this is often a normal part of pregnancy. Getting the standard 8 hours of sleep every night (or more) is important. Depression may arise when a teenager is pregnant. The teen may fall into a depression while trying to handle the emotions a pregnancy creates and all of the possibly negative feedback about the pregnancy from friends and family. The fluctuating hormones that a pregnancy causes may also prompt depression. Once their baby is born, teenagers may not be willing or able to give it the undivided attention it needs. A teen may not be an adequate mother because she is overwhelmed by the constant needs of the baby. She may grow annoyed at the lack of freedom to interact with her peer group due to the baby. Financial difficulty may arise during a teen pregnancy or after the baby is born. It is expensive to raise a baby. Teens who do not have full-time employment may struggle to cover the basic expenses of life upon having a baby.( http://www.livestrong.com/article/86972-effects-teenage-pregnancy/)
Psychological Effects of teenage pregnancy. Babies born to teenage mothers are at risk of poverty, school failure, mental health problems and physical health conditions. Teenage moms also find themselves at risk for these problems. Being a teenage mom can have a variety of psychological effects, including postpartum depression and feelings of regret. Teenage moms may feel overwhelmed, irritated, anxious and fearful about the future of their babies and themselves. Others may not recognize the serious responsibilities that come with having a child. Some teenage mothers may be nervous or anxious about finishing school and achieving their dreams. http://www.ehow.com/info_8031087_psychological-effects-teen-mothers.html
Psychological Effects of Teenage Pregnancy are denial, narcissism, guilt, and the self-esteem issue . Denial is one dangerous reaction to a positive pregnancy test. Many teens will delay telling their parents, the father or a doctor what is going on. Narcissism, Some teenage mothers might go through a phase of narcissism, in which they become preoccupied with themselves rather than the world around them. This can happen when faced with a situation that appears too large to handle. Guilt commonly plagues teenagers who discover that they have conceived. Whether this is a religious guilt or guilt for letting down their family and friends, it is a psychological issue that needs to be dealt with. The self-esteem of a pregnant teenager has many hurdles to cross. Even older women sometimes experience body issues as they begin to put on weight during the second trimester. (http://www.ehow.com/list_5991358_psychological-issues-teenage-pregnancy.html#ixzz0oKWWd9BQ)
Review of Related Studies
Several studies that investigated the issues of teenage pregnancy and teenage motherhood suggested that these phenomena present developmental challenges that could have some negative physiological, psychological and social effects on the developing teenager (Mba, 2003; De Jong, 2001; Parekh & De la Rey, 1997). A review of South African literature focusing on the causes and consequences of teenage motherhood found that teenage pregnancy has a disrupting effect on the teenager‟s education and life in general (Macleod, 1999a & 1999b). The aim of this chapter is to review the literature that focuses on teenage pregnancy. In the first part of the chapter, the focus will be on the prevalence rate and reactions by teenagers when realizing that they have fallen pregnant. The second part will look at physical, social and mental health issues related to teenage pregnancy. The last section of the chapter will focus on the theoretical perspectives in understanding teenage pregnancy.

PREVALENCE OF TEENAGE PREGNANCY
Literature shows that 13 million children are born to women under the age of 20 worldwide. It is further indicated that more than 90% of these births occur to women living in developing countries (wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (n.d). In South Africa, media reports indicate that in 2006 over 72 000 girls aged between 13 and 19 years did not go to school because they were pregnant (Sosibo, 2007). A Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) study showed that even though total fertility rates in South Africa have been declining over the past few decades, teenage fertility has, in contrast, increased in all race groups except in the case of Indians (Makiwane & Udjo, 2006). One suggestion here is that overall fertility has been accompanied by a shift in childbearing towards younger women. The high rate of teenage fertility increases the risk of sexually transmitted infections including 17
HIV/AIDS. For example, the 2007 National HIV and Syphilis prevalence survey conducted by the National Department of Health indicated that 12.9% of young woman attending antenatal clinics were HIV positive. This suggests that teenage girls are likely to have reproductive health problems including HIV infections.

REACTION TO PREGNANCY
Teenage pregnancy is mostly unplanned; and as a result, people react to the experience differently. The teenager has to come to terms with the unexpected demands of being an adult, and in some cases, she may also have to deal with disapproval and dissatisfaction shown by significant others like parents and relatives. In several studies, teenage mothers reported having felt sad, disappointed, shocked and depressed after their pregnancies were confirmed (De Visser and Le Roux, 1996; Mpetshwa, 2000; De Jong, 2001; Clemmens, 2002). A study conducted by Parekh and De la Rey (1997) found that most teenagers started by denying the pregnancy at first, before they could inform their parents who, in most cases received the news with anger and disappointment. The following quote from a study by Kaplan (1996) shows some of the typical reactions of parents of teenage mothers: She asked me whether I was going to keep it [baby] and who‟s the father and where were I going to stay. I told her, yeah, I‟m going to stay. And she said, how do you know that I want you here? I‟ve already raised my kids. (p.100).
In a study that was conducted at Ga-Rankuwa Hospital, Kekesi (1997) focused on the social and educational background of 70 teenage mothers who had delivered their babies at the hospital between April and September 1995. Data was collected using structured interviews. The study found that even though most of the participants managed to talk to somebody, some were scared to tell others until their families realised that they were pregnant. An investigation done by Mpetshwa (2000) focusing on seven teenage mothers, found that community members tend to have a wide range of negative reactions towards pregnant teenagers. Some members of the 18 community tended to react with shock whilst others would gossip about the parents of the teenagers. In some churches the members who fell pregnant would even be refused an opportunity to participate in congregational activities. Some of the participants in Mpetshwa‟s (2000) study reported having experienced a lot of ill treatment from their family members, especially their parents who felt betrayed by their children falling pregnant. It is evident from the above studies that confirmation of pregnancy in the case of a teenager triggers different negative reactions by the teenagers and their significant others. In most cases the teenager concerned and her family find it difficult to accept the pregnancy. It is these negative responses to the pregnancy that could lead to some health problems being experienced by the teenager

CAUSES OF TEENAGE PREGNANCY
A study by Ehlers (2003) found that the majority of teenagers who end up becoming mothers lacked information about contraceptives and emergency contraceptives. Drawing from the results of South African research (both published and unpublished), Macleod (1999b) found reproductive ignorance to be one of the causal factors of teenage pregnancy. She also reported that female adolescents who were poor students with low educational aspirations were more likely to become teenage mothers than were their high-achieving peers (Macleod, 1999b). Maynard (1997) went further to suggest that one third of young women drop out of school before becoming pregnant. Furthermore, early initiation of sexual activity has been reported to be related to teenage pregnancy (Trembly and Frigon, 2004; Coley and Chase-Lansdale, 1998). According to Mba (2003), the youth in sub-Saharan Africa are initiated into sexual activity as early as age 12 (girls) and 13 (boys); and the early initiation into sexual activity was seen to be directly correlated with reproductive health problems including HIV infections and other sexually transmitted diseases.
Life experiences associated with poverty, alienation at school, prevalent cases of unmarried parenthood and unemployment, and lack of educational opportunities and 19 stable career prospects were reported to lower the perceived costs of early motherhood, resulting in more teenage pregnancies. It has also been reported that girls living in poor socioeconomic condition with an early onset of menarche, will engage early in sexual behaviour (Coley and Chase-Lansdale, 1998). Based on this finding, it can be argued that socioeconomic factors may play a role in influencing teenagers to engage in early sexual behaviour, thus increasing their chances of falling pregnant. Whilst socioeconomic factors could be seen to encourage adolescent child bearing, a study done by the HSRC in South Africa found no association between teenage pregnancy and Child Support Grant (Makiwane & Udjo, 2006). In this particular study, the authors found that the upsurge of teenage fertility predated the introduction of Child Support Grant. Consequently, the study was concluded by suggesting that Child Support Grant is not an incentive to get teenagers pregnant.
CONSEQUENCES OF TEENAGE PREGNANCY
Several studies have suggested that teenage motherhood could lead to both physical and mental health risks for the adolescent. What follows is a review of some of these studies.
Obstetric outcomes
The body of a woman has to naturally develop to such an extent that it can comfortably accommodate a developing baby. An underdeveloped body would obviously pose some problems for both the woman and the baby she carries. A teenager would be considered physically underdeveloped to comfortably accommodate a baby. Such underdevelopment is reported to pose a greater health risk to the individual concerned (Mogotlane, 1993). On the SABC 2 House Call programme, Dr Malebane (a gynaecologist) gave a report on the medical complications that could be associated with teenage pregnancy. These included pre-eclampsia, premature births and low birth weight rates (Ramathesele, 2007). In a 20 study that focused on live births in Mitchell‟s Plain (Cape Town) during the first 8 months of 1985, Rip, Keen and Woods (1986) found that 11, 9% of infants were born before the expected date. They also found that teenagers delivered a high proportion of low birth neonates, and the average birth weight of the children was very low. A study conducted by Trivedi (2000) sought to compare the different obstetric parameters of teenage women and adult women in New Zealand. The results indicated that the average birth weight for the two groups had a 100g difference, with the teenage mothers‟ babies in the lower end whilst adult women‟s babies weighed at the upper end. Seven in the teenage mothers group had neonatal birth defects when compared to the adult women group who only had one birth defect. The teenage mothers group had fifteen breech deliveries of which eleven were delivered by caesarean section. The adult women group had seven breech deliveries, of which three were delivered by caesarean section. The most common cause for caesarean section in teenage mothers was obstructed labour/poor progress in labour. With regard to pre-eclampsia / gestational hypertension, 26 teenage mothers were found to have the condition when compared to 16 women from the adult group. Based on the findings of this study, it does appear that teenage pregnancy does pose considerable obstetric health problems to the teenager herself and the child.

Socioeconomic difficulties
Socioeconomic difficulties were reported to be experienced by teenagers who become pregnant during their teenage years (De Jong, 2001; Hanna, 2001). For example, literature review done by Bissel (2000) found that women who become teenage mothers were more likely to be socio-economically disadvantaged later in life when compared to women who tend to delay childbearing. The socio-economic disadvantages relating to teenage motherhood have also been widely reported in the developing countries (Mahomed, Ismael and Masona, 1989; Barnette, 1998). A report by Turner (2004) gives a suggestion that teenage pregnancy perpetuates poor socioeconomic background. Her study found that pregnant teenagers from deprived socioeconomic background tended to keep their pregnancies, and their counterparts 21 from relatively affluent background usually abort their pregnancies. A study conducted by Barnette (1998) reported that one fourth of Brazilian teenagers were mothers. This situation was found to have serious social and health problems as teenagers and their children were likely to be at a high risk for sickness and death. Olauson et al (2001) found that when teenage mothers were compared with mothers who gave birth at ages 20 – 24, the former had significantly increased dependency on disability pension and welfare grants. Hobcraft and Kiernan (2001) suggested that teenage mothers were more likely to be having no educational qualifications at age 33. This results in the teenagers being in social housing and being recipients of state social grants. If they are employed, they are more likely to work at low-income jobs. Furthermore, these women who became teenage mothers were more likely to experience longer periods of unemployment, single parenthood and higher levels of poverty (Bissel, 2000; Hobcraft and Kiernan, 2001). Thomas and Rickel (2006) reported that pregnant teenagers experience significantly more maladjustment than their non-pregnant counterparts, and were also found to be less likely to manipulate the environment in a positive manner. The implication here is that pregnant teenagers tend to have their identity development interfered with as they find themselves grappling with developmental issues that are not appropriate for their age.

Education disruption
In the majority of cases, teenage mothers are not in a position to go back to school after delivery as they are forced to look after their children. In some cases, these young mothers‟ physical health conditions do not make it conducive for them to go back to school. Whilst some young women may be prevented from going back to school as a result of these factors, De Jong (2001) found that there are some cases of teenagers who may use their pregnant status to deliberately escape the demands of high school education. A study by Kekesi (1997) identified a number of reasons to explain why teenage mothers dropped out of school. Some were reported to have dropped out because they had to look after their children whilst others discontinued 22 with their studies due to some financial difficulties. Still, others were reported to have dropped out because their parents refused to pay the school fees. The issue of financial problems being a reason for teenage mothers dropping out of school was also raised by Mpetshwa (2000). Coping Strategies
In psychology, coping is "constantly changing cognitive and behavioral efforts to manage specific external and/or internal demands that are appraised as taxing" or "exceeding the resources of the person"
Coping is thus expending conscious effort to solve personal and interpersonal problems, and seeking to master, minimize or tolerate stress or conflict Psychological coping mechanisms are commonly termed coping strategies or coping skills. Unconscious or non conscious strategies (e.g., defense mechanisms) are generally excluded. The term coping generally refers to adaptive or constructive coping strategies, i.e., the strategies reduce stress levels. However, some coping strategies can be considered maladaptive, i.e., stress levels increase. Maladaptive coping can thus be described, in effect, as non-coping. Furthermore, the term coping generally refers to reactive coping, i.e., the coping response follows the stressor. This contrasts with proactive coping, in which a coping response aims to head off a future stressor.
Coping responses are partly controlled by personality (habitual traits), but also partly by the social context, particularly the nature of the stressful environment.
Types of coping strategies
Hundreds of coping strategies have been identified. Classification of these strategies into a broader architecture has not yet been agreed upon. Common distinctions are often made between various contrasting strategies, for example: problem-focused versus emotion-focused; engagement versus disengagement; cognitive versus behavioral. The psychology textbook by Weiten has provided a useful summary of three broad types of coping strategies:[3] appraisal-focused (adaptive cognitive),problem-focused: Any coping behavior that is directed at reducing or eliminating a stressor, adaptive behavioural, emotion-focused: Directed towards changing one's own emotional reaction to a stressor
Appraisal-focused strategies occur when the person modifies the way they think, for example: employing denial, or distancing oneself from the problem. People may alter the way they think about a problem by altering their goals and values, such as by seeing the humor in a situation: "some have suggested that humor may play a greater role as a stress moderator among women than men"
People using problem-focused strategies try to deal with the cause of their problem. They do this by finding out information on the problem and learning new skills to manage the problem. Problem-focused coping is aimed at changing or eliminating the source of the stress.
Emotion-focused strategies involve releasing pent-up emotions, distracting oneself, managing hostile feelings, meditating or using systematic relaxation procedures. Emotion-focused coping "is oriented toward managing the emotions that accompany the perception of stress" Typically, people use a mixture of all three types of coping strategies, and coping skills will usually change over time. All these methods can prove useful, but some claim that those using problem-focused coping strategies will adjust better to life.[9] Problem-focused coping mechanisms may allow an individual greater perceived control over their problem, whereas emotion-focused coping may sometimes lead to a reduction in perceived control (maladaptive coping).
Folkman and Lazarus identified five emotion-focused coping strategies:
Disclaiming, escape-avoidance, accepting responsibility or blame,exercising self-control, positive reappraisal and three problem-focused coping strategies: seeking social support and "taking action to try to get rid of the problem is a problem-focused strategy, but so is making a list of the steps to take". Lazarus "notes the connection between his idea of 'defensive reappraisals' or cognitive coping and Freud's concept of 'ego-defenses”, coping strategies thus overlapping with a person's defense mechanisms.
Positive techniques (adaptive or constructive coping)
One positive coping strategy, "anticipating a problem...is known as proactive coping." Anticipation is when one "reduce[s] the stress of some difficult challenge by anticipating what it will be like and preparing for how [one is] going to cope with it".Two others are "social coping, such as seeking social support from others, and meaning-focused coping, in which the person concentrates on deriving meaning from the stressful experience".
Keeping fit, "when you are well and healthy, when nutrition, exercise and sleep are adequate, it is much easier to cope with stress" - and learning "to lower the level of arousal... by relaxing muscles the message is received that all is well" are also positive techniques.
One of the most positive "methods people use to cope with painful situations... is humor! You feel things to the full... but you master them by turning it all into pleasure and fun!"
While dealing with stress it is important to deal with your physical, mental, and social well being. One should maintain one's health and learn to relax if one finds oneself under stress. Mentally it is important to think positive thoughts, value oneself, demonstrate good time management, plan and think ahead, and express emotions. Socially one should communicate with people and seek new activities. By following these simple strategies, one will have an easier time responding to stresses in one's life.
Negative techniques (maladaptive coping or non-coping)
While adaptive coping methods improve functioning, a maladaptive coping technique will just reduce symptoms while maintaining and strengthening the disorder. Maladaptive techniques are more effective in the short term rather than long term coping process.
Examples of maladaptive behavior strategies include dissociation, sensitization, safety behaviors, anxious avoidance, and escape (including self-medication).
These coping strategies interfere with the person's ability to unlearn, or break apart, the paired association between the situation and the associated anxiety symptoms. These are maladaptive strategies as they serve to maintain the disorder.Dissociation is the ability of the mind to separate and compartmentalize thoughts, memories, and emotions. This is often associated with Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome.Sensitization is when a person seeks to learn about, rehearse, and/or anticipate fearful events in a protective effort to prevent these events from occurring in the first place.
Safety behaviors are demonstrated when individuals with anxiety disorders come to rely on something, or someone, as a means of coping with their excessive anxiety.Anxious avoidance is when a person avoids anxiety provoking situations by all means. This is the most common strategy.Escape is closely related to avoidance. This technique is often demonstrated by people who experience panic attacks or have phobias. These people want to flee the situation at the first sign of anxiety.
Further examples
Further examples of coping strategies include: emotional or instrumental support, self-distraction, denial, substance use, self-blame, behavioral disengagement, religion, indulgence in drugs or alcohol.Religious coping has been found to be the most common coping response, with one study reporting that 17% use religion as a coping response. Women mentioned religious coping more frequently than did men. Many people think that meditation "not only calms our emotions, but...makes us feel more 'together'", as too can "the kind of prayer in which you're trying to achieve an inner quietness and peace".
Low-effort syndrome or low-effort coping refers to the coping responses of minority groups in an attempt to fit into the dominant culture. For example, minority students at school may learn to put in only minimal effort as they believe they are being discriminated against by the dominant culture.
How to deal with psychological Emotions ; There are many things to improve the emotional and psychological impact of pregnancy during young age.
Get support from parents. Some teenagers are afraid to talk about this kind of situation with their parents. It is important to know that parents are the persons who can understand what you new\nare going through now. Yes, we admit that they can be angry in a first place when they found out that you are pregnant but sooner or later they will realize that there’s nothing to do but to accept it and give support to you. Guidance and counseling. If you can’t seek for a person who can advise you what you are going to do, go with some legal counseling. Make a consultation from different counseling program.http://teenagepregnancyinformation.wordpress.com/2009/06/02/depression-and-anxiety-a-psychological-effect-of-teenage-pregnacy/
According to studies conducted by the World Bank beginning 2000 and reported in 2003, the Philippines is among the top 10 countries with an increasing number of teenage mothers. Seven out of 10 Filipina mothers are adolescents; most of them are below 19 years old. Adolescent pregnancy is pregnancy in girls 19 years old or younger, putting the health complications of both mother and infant at higher risk. And in many cases, an unplanned pregnancy ends in abortion. Teen mothers, like any other teens, are still growing in matters of physical, emotional, and social developments. Should they fail to get their parent’s support, these teens would have inadequate prenatal care and become undernourished. They also are at higher risk of serious medical complications such as: pregnancy-induced hypertension/pre-eclampsia, significant anemia, placenta previa, premature birth/Prolonged labor, low-birth weight infant with underdeveloped organs and post-partum depression
According to Dr. Amy Herold teens are at risk for pregnancy and postpartum depression. They often feel isolated from their friends and left out of social functions. They are also less likely to finish school or attend college than their non-pregnant friends. Teens are also more likely to experience mood swings from hormonal changes during pregnancy.
Signs and symptoms of postpartum depression are the following; lack of interest in surroundings, loss of emotional response toward family, unable to feel love or pleasure, feelings of guilt, and shame, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, poor appetite, insomnia, panic attacks or obsessive thoughts. Mother is able to care for the infant in a loving manner, but feels the infant is demanding and she is incompetent as a mother. Mother is unable to pick up on cues from the infant and fail to meet the infant’s needs. Symptoms are consistently present for at least 2 weeks. (Essentials of Obstetric Nursing in the Philippine Setting, 2nd Edition 2011 by Maria Stephanie Fays Cagayan, MD, FPOGS Page236)S

Statement of the problem
The study seeks to determine the coping strategies on the psychological effects of teenage pregnancy among teenage mothers of NDJC.
Specifically, this study wants to answer the following questions 1. What are the psychological effects of teenage pregnancy among teenage mothers of NDJC?

2. What are the coping strategies on the psychological effects of teenage pregnancy utilized by the teenage mothers?

Theoretical Framework
The framework was based on Behavioral System Model which was proposed by Dorothy E. Johnson. The purpose of this theory is to preserve the organization of the patient’s behavior by means of imposing regulatory mechanisms or by providing resources while the patient is under stress. Johnson proposed that nursing care facilitated the client’s maintenance of a state of equilibrium. Johnson proposed that clients were “stressed” by a stimulus of either an internal or external nature. These stressful stimuli created such disturbances, or “tensions” in the patient that a state of disequilibrium occurred. The person is a behavioral system with patterned, repetitive, and purposeful ways of behaving that link the person to his environment. The person is a system of interdependent parts that requires some regularity and adjustment to maintain balance or equilibrium. This theory emphasizes the nurse’s crucial role in the holistic caring of any patient that has been influenced by biological, emotional, psychological, and social factors.

Conceptual Framework

Coping Strategies of Teenage Mothers
Psychological Effects of Teenage Pregnancy

Independent Variable Dependent Variable

Figure1. Conceptual Framework of the Study

The figure seen above shows the relationship of the variables in the study. The Psychological Effects of Teenage Pregnancy is the independent variable in the study, on the other hand Coping Strategies of Teenage Mothers is the dependent variable in the study. Thus, the study will assess the extent of the coping strategies on the psychological effects of teenage pregnancy among teenage mother either it provide an outcome that can be positive or not.

Significance of the Study
The study seeks to provide useful information about the psychological well-being of pregnant teenagers; Also assist mental health professionals in developing appropriate psycho-educational programs to address the psychosocial challenges associated with teenage pregnancy and, Furthermore it helps to impart knowledge on the different coping strategies that they can utilize.

Purpose of the Study
The purpose of this research is to provide information about the psychological effects of teenage pregnancy that is frequently experienced by the mothers during and after their pregnancy. It also provides information not just about the psychological effects on the teenage mothers but also in the different coping strategies that they can utilize. Likewise this paper also aims to enlighten the readers especially the youth about the consequences that they would be experiencing once they become pregnant at an early age and for them not to commit to this kind of situation.

Scope and limitation of the Study
This study is concerned with the coping strategies on the psychological effects of teenage pregnancy on teenage mothers of NDJC.
The respondents of the study will be limited to the NDJC students of different departments who are officially enrolled this semester 2013-2014 and are identified as mothers who gave birth at an early age.
The respondents are come from the different departments namely; Nursing Department, Information Technology Department, Teacher Education Department, Liberal Arts Department, Criminology Department, and Business Management Education Department will comprise the target population.

Definitions of Terms Teenage Pregnancy- this refers to a group of people who got pregnant in their early age or during adolescence.
Psychological effects- In this study, psychological effects refers to the presence of symptoms related to somatic complaints, anxiety and insomnia, social isolation, and depression.
NDJC students – refers to the student’s officially enrolled in Notre Dame of Jolo College for school year 2012-2013. These are the respondents of our research which includes young woman who had engaged in pre-marital sex (PMS) and got pregnant.

Chapter II METHOD
This research will be conducted to determine the psychological effects of teenage pregnancy and the coping strategies utilized by the teenage mothers at the Notre Dame of Jolo College. Towards this determination, this chapter details the processes and procedures that will be used in the conduct of the study. It will include research method, research setting, research sample and data sources, instruments and procedures that will be used, data collection and data analysis, in the mentioned order.
Research Design
Mixed methods research will be used. This will allow an enhanced understanding of the research problems and more comprehensive analysis of the findings. In this method, quantitative inquiry using written questionnaires to gather information will be complemented by qualitative interviews and focused group discussions to add more meaning to numbers.
Using the complementing function of mixed methods brings more power to one’s research findings. Quantitative information is amenable to statistical analyses and standard tests of validity and reliability. On the other hand, qualitative data allows the researcher to explore anomalies in the results. This method therefore offers the ability to cross-check and in the process illuminate the meaning of statistical results by adding a narrative understanding to quantitative research findings.
In this study, the questionnaires will be self-administered, and respondents will personally fill them up. Utmost care would be adopted to secure a most accurate response including translating the questionnaires into the vernacular if needed for clarification. Toward this end, the researchers will be present when the respondent answers the questionnaire to assist her and at the same time interview her for insights regarding her answers to statements in the said questionnaire. On the other hand, interviews with key informants will be semi-structured in form.
The model that this research will present will be the simplest available model relevant to this study, and that is the mean. This will allow the researchers to summarize the actual situation with regards to psychological effects and the coping strategies they utilized associated with teenage pregnancy.
Research Participants The respondents of the study will be consisted of teenage mothers among selected NDJC students who got pregnant at an early age.
The respondents were from the different departments namely; Nursing Department, Information Technology Department, Teacher Education Department, Liberal Arts Department, Criminology Department, and Business Management Education Department will comprise the target population.
Research Setting
The setting of the study will be at the Notre Dame of Jolo College; an institution of the higher learning run and manage by the Priest of the oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI) Notre Dame of Jolo College offers tertiary and post graduate courses. It is located at the Gandasuli Road Jolo,Sulu and is adjacent to the airport of Sulu and department of Public work and highways. (DPWH).

Instrument
This research will utilize a three-part survey questionnaire. The first part includes demographic data about the respondents. The second part includes questions on the psychological effects they experienced. The third is the coping strategies they utilized. Carefully drafted and prepared with the help of their adviser. The tool is derived from the review of related literature and focus group discussion. The FGD that was conducted were consisted of 10 participants who got pregnant at their teenage years, who experienced psychological effects of teenage pregnancy and their coping strategies.
Data Analysis The questionnaire used as a tool in the conduct of this study is consisted of questions relating to coping strategies and the psychological effects of teenage pregnancy. Based on the five-point Likert response scale, this study will use the mean to summarize and give meaning to the categorical responses of the respondents and will be guided by the following self-devised scale for the interpretation of results: Numerical Scale | Categorical Response | Interpretation | 3.50-5.00 | Agree-Strongly Agree | Strong Emotional Effect | 2.50-3.49 | Neutral | Weak Effect | 1.00-2.49 | Disagree-Strongly Disagree | No Effect |

SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE
Part I. Demographic Profile of the Respondents. Please provide the following information:
NAME (Optional):

AGE:
CIVIL STATUS (Check Only One): Single Married Widow Separated/Divorced
COURSE : BSN MW BSED/BEED BSIT AB BSCrim BSC/BSA BS Psychology
PART II. Psychological Effects of Teenage Pregnancy. Please check the box that corresponds to your choice using the following table of equivalents: 5 Strongly Agree 4 Agree
3 Undecided 2 Disagree 1 Strongly Disagree