Options
Factors influencing the crisis pregnancy decision making process of Singapore adolescents
Abstract
The primary objective of this study was to find out which factors influenced the crisis pregnancy decision-making process of adolescents in Singapore. In particular, the study looked at whether an adolescent's decision-making process was influenced by her level of cognitive development, social and psychological factors such as her family and friends, and cultural and societal factors, such as her community. The study also looked at whether these adolescents went through decision-making processes which led to specific pregnancy decisions, according to a theoretical framework, which combined the Systems Theory, the Adolescent Decision-Making Theory and the Crisis Theory.
The study was conducted in four phases, namely, 1) analysis of quantitative data collated from counselling notes of 171 adolescents who attended face-to-face counselling sessions at the Pregnancy Crisis Service (PCS) over a 3-year period, 2) formulation of a checklist of factors for pilot interviews with a counselor and single mother, 3) interview of pilot interviewees and creation of a final list of interview questions from pilot interview data, and 4) interviews of subjects, i.e., counselors, volunteers and adolescents.
For the quantitative study, all records of adolescents from the Pregnancy Crisis Service were used to form the sample. All counselors from the Pregnancy Crisis Service, Tanjong Pagar Family Service Centre, Rosevilla, and Andrew and Grace Home, and some volunteers from the Pregnancy Crisis Service, were interviewed. Convenience sampling was used for the interviews with adolescents.
The study found that an adolescent's decision-making was indeed influenced by three main factors, i.e., her level of cognitive development, her family and friends, and cultural and societal values. Within these three main factors, there were a multitude of other influencing factors and issues. However, not all of these factors contributed equally to each type of pregnancy resolution, i.e., abortion, parenting and adoption. Influencing factors for each type of pregnancy resolution and their perceived importance were also identified according to the theoretical framework.
Some factors figured prominently in most of the crisis pregnancy resolutions. The most important factors were the attitudes and beliefs of and the degree of support given by the adolescent's parents and family for a particular course of action. The adolescent's ability to process the different facets of her diliemma, and take into account long term consequences, also contributed greatly to the decision-making process. Finally, cultural and societal attitudes towards single motherhood were found to be influencing factor for adolescents considering abortion, but not for those considering parenting.
Other significant findings were also discussed and presented. Limitations of this study, as well as its implications for future research in the areas of sexuality education and counselling strategies were explored at the end of this paper.
The study was conducted in four phases, namely, 1) analysis of quantitative data collated from counselling notes of 171 adolescents who attended face-to-face counselling sessions at the Pregnancy Crisis Service (PCS) over a 3-year period, 2) formulation of a checklist of factors for pilot interviews with a counselor and single mother, 3) interview of pilot interviewees and creation of a final list of interview questions from pilot interview data, and 4) interviews of subjects, i.e., counselors, volunteers and adolescents.
For the quantitative study, all records of adolescents from the Pregnancy Crisis Service were used to form the sample. All counselors from the Pregnancy Crisis Service, Tanjong Pagar Family Service Centre, Rosevilla, and Andrew and Grace Home, and some volunteers from the Pregnancy Crisis Service, were interviewed. Convenience sampling was used for the interviews with adolescents.
The study found that an adolescent's decision-making was indeed influenced by three main factors, i.e., her level of cognitive development, her family and friends, and cultural and societal values. Within these three main factors, there were a multitude of other influencing factors and issues. However, not all of these factors contributed equally to each type of pregnancy resolution, i.e., abortion, parenting and adoption. Influencing factors for each type of pregnancy resolution and their perceived importance were also identified according to the theoretical framework.
Some factors figured prominently in most of the crisis pregnancy resolutions. The most important factors were the attitudes and beliefs of and the degree of support given by the adolescent's parents and family for a particular course of action. The adolescent's ability to process the different facets of her diliemma, and take into account long term consequences, also contributed greatly to the decision-making process. Finally, cultural and societal attitudes towards single motherhood were found to be influencing factor for adolescents considering abortion, but not for those considering parenting.
Other significant findings were also discussed and presented. Limitations of this study, as well as its implications for future research in the areas of sexuality education and counselling strategies were explored at the end of this paper.
Date Issued
2004
Call Number
HQ759.4 Kit
Date Submitted
2004