Exploring the Causes and Psychological Consequences of Teen Pregnancy

Abstract

Teenage pregnancy has become a global and a public health concern as mortality
rates associated with it are on the increase. In the last two decades, worldwide, the
rate is slowly decreasing. However, this is not the case in the Philippines, yet not
much is known about its background as majority of the studies have focused on the
outcomes. This current study explored the causes of teenage pregnancy and the
psychological consequences in the light of Bronfenbrenner’s ecological model.
Utilizing qualitative case study, nine participants were interviewed. Data were
transcribed and analyzed using Miles, Huberman, and Saldana’s thematic analysis.
Three main themes emerged, namely: sociocultural factors (peer influence, lack of
parental guidance, culture, and transactional sex); individual factors (curiosity and
poor sex knowledge, uncontrolled emotions, and revenge), and psychological
consequences (emotional reactions, fear, and low self-esteem). The study
concluded that teenage pregnancy is multifaceted and is influenced by
psychological factors within the micro, meso, and macro systems. A
multidisciplinary approach using coordinated effort may prove appropriate in
reducing cases of teenage pregnancy.