Pregnant and parenting teens' attitudes toward pregnancy and motherhood and their perceptions of social support

iv INTRODUCTION 1 Statement of Purpose 2 Research Questions 2 REVIEW OF LITERATURE 4 Understanding Why Teens Become Pregnant and Carry Their Babies to Term 4 Attitudes about Motherhood 7 Social Support Network 12 Strain/Stress with Social Supporters 16 METHODOLOGY 19 Participants 19 Instruments 20 Procedure 23 Analysis 24 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 26 Demographic Questionnaire 26 Teens' Level of Perceived Support by Sources 33 Levels of Financial, Social, and Emotional Support Two Years Ago and Now 38 Expectations for Relationship and Support 38 Perceptions and Attitudes About Pregancy and Motherhood 41 Relationships Between Social Support, Stress, and Perception of Motherhood 43 LIMITATIONS 46 CONCLUSIONS 47 REFERENCES 49