Psychological Effects of Teenage Pregnancy
Psychological Effects of Teenage Pregnancy
In recent years, the rate of teen pregnancies in America has increased dramatically. Approximately 750,000 teenage girls between the ages of 15 and 19 become pregnant every year, according to the Guttmacher Institute. Within this number, 82% of the pregnancies are unplanned. The psychological effects of these pregnancies can be severe.
Birth and Post-Birth Issues * More than half of teenage pregnancies continue to birth. According to a researcher at the Transnational Family Research Institute, teenage mothers are at a high risk of experiencing depression, birth complications, toxemia, anemia and even death. Teenage girls are often not emotionally prepared for childbirth or being a mother and can experience extreme depression, anxiety, resentment and feelings of failure.
Esteem Issues * Because of the stigma that exists regarding teenage pregnancy in many societies, pregnant teens may deal with feelings of shame, guilt, anger, denial and depression. Only 1/3 of teenage mothers complete high school and receive a diploma, according to research conducted by the Robin Hood Foundation. Apart from future financial and employment problems, this can be a contributing factor toward negative self-esteem. Teenagers are often afraid to tell friends, parents or other family members about the pregnancy, which can lead to further anxiety, feelings of shame and withdrawal from society.
Effects of Pregnancy Termination * Guttmacher Institute research states that 43% of teenage pregnancies are terminated due to miscarriage or abortion. A pregnancy that results in an abortion can have long-term psychological effects, including depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, extreme regret, sleep disorders, and anxiety disorders, according to AbortionFacts.com. Because of the shame or guilt teens may experience regarding pregnancy and abortion, they rarely seek out help and are left trying to deal with these issues on their own. This
In recent years, the rate of teen pregnancies in America has increased dramatically. Approximately 750,000 teenage girls between the ages of 15 and 19 become pregnant every year, according to the Guttmacher Institute. Within this number, 82% of the pregnancies are unplanned. The psychological effects of these pregnancies can be severe.
Birth and Post-Birth Issues * More than half of teenage pregnancies continue to birth. According to a researcher at the Transnational Family Research Institute, teenage mothers are at a high risk of experiencing depression, birth complications, toxemia, anemia and even death. Teenage girls are often not emotionally prepared for childbirth or being a mother and can experience extreme depression, anxiety, resentment and feelings of failure.
Esteem Issues * Because of the stigma that exists regarding teenage pregnancy in many societies, pregnant teens may deal with feelings of shame, guilt, anger, denial and depression. Only 1/3 of teenage mothers complete high school and receive a diploma, according to research conducted by the Robin Hood Foundation. Apart from future financial and employment problems, this can be a contributing factor toward negative self-esteem. Teenagers are often afraid to tell friends, parents or other family members about the pregnancy, which can lead to further anxiety, feelings of shame and withdrawal from society.
Effects of Pregnancy Termination * Guttmacher Institute research states that 43% of teenage pregnancies are terminated due to miscarriage or abortion. A pregnancy that results in an abortion can have long-term psychological effects, including depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, extreme regret, sleep disorders, and anxiety disorders, according to AbortionFacts.com. Because of the shame or guilt teens may experience regarding pregnancy and abortion, they rarely seek out help and are left trying to deal with these issues on their own. This
Links: * MSc Software Systems Eng Advanced MSc at University College London for Financial Services. www.cs.ucl.ac.uk/teaching/mscsse/ 3. Teen Mom 's Needs * While pregnant, teen mothers usually cannot afford the many doctor visits, vitamins, ultrasounds and other aspects of prenatal care unless they get public assistance or are covered by their parents. When there is a problem with the baby, the lack of money becomes an even bigger issue. According to the Urban Institute, teen mothers have more low-birth-weight babies and infants with special needs, raising the hospital and health care costs that must be borne by someone. Following birth, all parents experience the squeeze of infant medical care, copayments, prescriptions, lab costs and immunizations, so the burden on teen moms often is even greater. Mom 's Education and Job Prospects * The biggest financial issue teen mothers face is that having a baby so young reduces their opportunities to finish school and get advanced education or job training. Significant numbers of teen mothers drop out of school, never get married and live in poverty relying on public assistance most of their lives. About 51 percent of teen mothers get a high school diploma and no further education. Fifteen percent get a GED by age 22, and 34 percent get neither, according to Child Trends. Lack of education can severely depress the amount of money earned over a lifetime. Because many will work long hours to support their children, teen mothers also have less time to devote to enriching their children 's educational experiences. Children of teen mothers face an uphill battle in doing as well as children from older mothers on reading and math aptitudes as well as in behavioral issues. The problems often follow them into adulthood, and without significant effort, children of teen mothers can face a life of low income and financial struggle as well. Government Spending * According to Child Trends, researchers working for the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy in 2006 estimated the total public cost of teenagers having babies at about $9 billion each year. Most of that is due to public assistance payments for child care and medical care, but significant parts of the cost are due to child welfare spending for problems with neglect and maltreatment and foster care, incarceration and the lost tax revenue by the millions of mothers who are not in the workforce.