Motivational factors in pregnant adolescents

A study of 52 pregnant adolescent residents in New Orleans maternity homes revealed little support for commonly held beliefs about etiologic factors in these patients. Information regarding contraception was widespread and accurate, and motivational factors relating to guilt about planning sexual activity and reactions to psychological loss were seen as more important. It was possible, through the use of the MMPI, to separate them into normal and abnormal groups, with the latter largely composed of acting-out character disorders of the anti-social type. This group showed trends toward more drug use, more trouble with school authorities and police, more parental loss, and less inclination toward religious practice. Further replications of these findings is needed because of the implications of these findings for increasing our precision in the definition of the problem, and for enabling us to better construct and evaluate our therapeutic efforts.