Date of Award

5-1985

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Legacy Department

Nursing

First Advisor

Sara E. Bargen

Second Advisor

Wilbert Byrd

Third Advisor

Elizabeth Barnes

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to describe the association between perceived social support and birth control attitudes of adolescent mothers. Understanding this association may help explain why adolescent pregnancies and repeat pregnancies occur. The sample for this study consisted of 60 adolescent mothers from two health department postpartum clinics. Subjects completed three instruments: the Norbeck Social Support Questionnaire, a birth control attitude scale, and a demographic questionnaire. The Norbeck Social Support Questionnaire measured the subjects' perceptions of social support according to Kahn's (1979) definition. The birth control attitude scale was developed by this researcher and measured positive and negative birth control attitudes. The demographic questionnaire obtained data on socio-economic factors thought to influence birth control attitudes and social support. Data were analyzed by correlational and descriptive statistics. Findings revealed several negative contraceptive attitudes held by adolescent mothers. Correlational coefficients between birth control attitudes and social support revealed no significant associations. A single significant association was formed between the affect subscale of the Norbeck Social Support Questionnaire and birth control attitudes using Mood's test of medians. Implications for nursing practice involved clinic management, nursing interventions, and family planning education. Recommendations were made regarding future research and practice.

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