The relationship between female adolescent self‐esteem, decision making, and contraceptive behavior

Abstract

Purpose: To examine the relationship between female adolescent self‐esteem, decision making, and contraceptive behavior in multiethnic, 14‐ to 17‐year‐olds, residing on the Big Island of Hawaii. Data sources: This was a descriptive cross‐sectional survey design using a convenience sample of 98 female adolescents aged 14‐17 who came to five different clinics on the Big Island of Hawaii for health care. Along with a brief demographic questionnaire, global self‐esteem was measured by Rosenberg’s Self‐Esteem Scale, decision making was measured by the Flinders Adolescent Decision Making Questionnaire, and sexual activity and contraception use was measured by a nonnormed Sexual History and Contraceptive Use Questionnaire developed for this study. Descriptive statistics, logistic regression, and correlations were used to analyze associations and correlations between age, global self‐esteem, decision self‐esteem, decision coping (vigilant and maladaptive), and contraceptive use for sexually active female adolescents. Conclusions: No significant associations or correlations were found between age, global self‐esteem, decision self‐esteem, decision coping (vigilance), and the decision to use contraception in sexually active adolescent females. There was, however, significant negative correlation (p < .05) between overall maladaptive decision making and contraceptive use in sexually active female adolescents. This suggests that sexually active adolescent females with higher maladaptive scores are less likely to use contraception. There was also significant association (p < .05) between maladaptive decision making in contraceptive use and sexually active female adolescents. For every one unit increase on the maladaptive scale, the odds of using contraception were estimated to decrease by 7%. Implications for practice: Adolescence is a period of transition that involves biological, cognitive, psychological, and social changes. During the vulnerable transition period of adolescence, decisions relating to contraception may occur. Interventions focused on improving decision‐making skills and stimulating thinking around not only sexual issues but also on relationship and communication in adolescent issues may facilitate more competent decision making. Understanding the relationship between female adolescent self‐esteem, decision making, and contraceptive behavior has contributed to the knowledge base about female contraceptive behavior. Gaining further insight into these relationships will help healthcare professionals provide counseling and health care to female adolescents.

Perceived social support, self esteem, and pregnancy status among Dominican adolescents

“…Studies have shown that welladjusted adolescents have higher self esteem (Baldwin & Hoffmann, 2002;Dumont & Provost, 1999). Self-esteem has often been examined in relationship to risky sexual behavior, particularly among adolescent females (Babington, Kelley, & Patsdaughter, 2009;Commendador, 2007;Kowaleski-Jones & Mott, 1998). Studies have found that girls with poor self image will be more likely to initiate sexual intercourse, have more sexual partners and less likely to use contraception (Ethier et al, 2006;Portes & Zady, 2002).…”

Repeat pregnancies among adolescents in a tertiary hospital in Brazil

“…This stage of life is a period of transition and vulnerability that involves cognitive, psychological and social changes. Preventive programmes aiming to increase teenagers' ability to make effective decisions regarding contraception should include interventions focusing on the expression of teenagers' thoughts that are not sexually related (Commendador, 2007). The success in preventing repeat pregnancies in teenagers is depends on multiple factors and the prevention policy could be complex.…”

Decision Making Styles: A Systematic Review of Their Associations with Parenting

“…Research suggests that some of the implications of maladaptive decision making on children and adolescents are the development of low self-esteem (Leykin and DeRubeis 2010;Avsec 2012), depressive symptomology (Di Fabio 2006;Avsec 2012), and negative life events as a result of poor decision making approaches Avsec 2012). These also include engaging in risky behavior and risk-taking (Reyna and Farley 2006;Williams and Esmail 2014), diminished health promoting behavior (Commendador 2007), low life satisfaction (Cenkseven-Ö nder 2012), and increased perceived stress (Thunholm 2004). In addition to these implication, some researchers have found links to diminished physical and psychological well-being (Reyna and Farley 2006) and other researchers have found greater dependence on others , increased experience of regret ), less decisional competence (Commendador 2011) and diminished health behavior (Steinberg 2004;Wolff and Crockett 2011).…”