Michigan State University Extension
Diversity and Pluralism - D4110112
12/95/
ERIC TITLE NUMBER: ED344140 AUTHOR: von der Hellen, Cheryl; And Others
TITLE: A Study of Self-Esteem and Romanticism among
Pregnant Adolescents, Adolescent Mothers, and a Control
Group in Southern California.
YEAR PUBLISHED: 1990
NOTE: 6 p.
ABSTRACT: In the United States over one million adolescent
girls will become pregnant each year. Adolescent pregnancy
often leads to truncated educational attainment and
subsequently results in a prolonged cycle of poverty and
dependence. This study investigated feelings of self-esteem
and romanticism among pregnant adolescents (N=276),
adolescent mothers (N=128), and a control group of non
pregnant, non-parenting adolescent girls (N=316). The
Bachman Self-Esteem Scale and the Dean Romanticism Scale
were administered to these subjects. In regard to self
esteem, results indicated that there was a significant main
effect for race, but not for group or age. In regard to
romanticism, significant effects were found for group and
race, but not for age. The significant findings for self
esteem and race suggest that self-esteem remains stable
with age among White and Hispanic subjects. However, Black
subjects' self-esteem scores seem to increase with age and
Asian subjects' scores tend to decrease with age. A
possible explanation for this finding could be that
different socialization experiences of these ethnic groups
significantly influence feelings of self-worth. With regard
to group differences, the control group had significantly
lower romanticism scores when compared to pregnant
adolescents and adolescent mothers. This finding suggests
that respondents in the control group may be more realistic
and practical than pregnant adolescents or adolescent
mothers. (ABL)
KEY DESCRIPTORS: Age-Differences; High-Schools; Racial
Differences
KEY DESCRIPTORS: *Adolescents-; *Early-Parenthood; *Females
; *Pregnancy-; *Self-Esteem
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