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Title: AtRisk Female Adolescents and the Factors that Affect their Sexual Attitudes and Behaviors


1
At-Risk Female Adolescentsand the Factors that
Affect their Sexual Attitudes and Behaviors
  • A Qualitative Case Study
  • By Danielle Martinez
  • Social Science 193
  • Dr. Jeanett Castellanos

2
Girls like us are in the clearance bins at
half-off thrift stores.Girls like us will let
you unlock their bedroom windows at night,And
under bleachers and stairwells you can kiss
us,And tell us we are beautiful.Open your eyes
wider, sweetheart, and try to look earnest.We
don't have Valentine cards with our names drowned
in red foil glitter.Girls like us will only fog
up the windows of your pathetically broken-down
sedan,But be easy to get rid of later.Girls
like us are perfectFor boys like you.
I close my eyes,and fall back into my mold while
you tighten the rope.The chains around my neck
are kept strong,so you can lead me and I'll
follow.You tell me what you want from me,and
take me where you want to go.I do everything you
could ever want. -I dress to impress, I smile to
kill.Such a shame that it's not real.My heart
breaks, And my smile fakes the emotions that I
will never feel.I gravely bear andawait the day
my guard goes down.And even if youre not worth
itI'll just wear my smile.After all, my life is
not so perfect.
Author, 17, female at-risk teen
3
National Statistics
  • 1 in 5 teens have had sex before 15th b-day
  • ?
  • A sexually active teen who does
  • NOT use contraception has a 90 chance of
    pregnancy within one year
  • ?
  • 14 and under 20,000 pregnancies, 8,000 births
  • 15-19 years 850,000 pregnancies, 450,000 births
  • (National Campaign Publication, 2003).
  • (Alan Guttmacher Institute, 1998).

4
The BIGGER Picture Problem
  • 34 of all teenage girls in this country will get
    pregnant at least once before the age of 20!!
  • 78 of teen pregnancies are unintended
  • (National Campaign, 2004)

5
International Pregnancy and Birth Rates, Teens
15-19The United States has much higher teen
pregnancy and birth rates than other fully
industrialized countries. U.S. teen pregnancy
rates are twice as high as rates in Canada and
eight times as high as rates in Japan.
Unfortunately, Were 1!
UNICEF. (2001).
6
100 teen girls get pregnant each hourNearly 1
million teen pregnancies occurred in 1996. To
put it another way, more than 100 U.S. teens
become pregnant each hour. Forty percent of
these pregnancies were to girls under age 18, and
60 percent were to girls aged 18-19.
Total 905,000
542,640
337,530
24,830
The Alan Guttmacher Institute. (1999). Special
report U.S. teenage pregnancy statistics with
comparative statistics for women aged 20-24. New
York Author.
7
Who are At-Risk Female Adolescents?
  • 13-19 years of age
  • Experience chronic school failure
  • Usually attend alternative education
    (continuation HS)
  • Vulnerable to peer persuasion
  • Family/social environment of abuse, neglect,
    poverty, dysfunction, or unemployment
  • Usually engage in more risky behavior
  • Tendency to prove not fearful of risk

(Kagan, 1991).
8
Problems of At-Risk Teen SexualityIndividually
  • Peer pressure to have sex
  • non-voluntary sexual activity
  • Limited academic success ? low self-efficacy
  • Early initiation of sex leads to other risk
    behaviors and consequences

9
Problems of At-Risk Teen SexualityCollectively
  • Teen mothers prone to
  • experience low achievement,
  • poverty, lack of provisions
  • Likewise, have children with behavioral problems
    ? feeds the cycle
  • 2nd pregnancy can exacerbate problems of early
    childbearing

10
Purpose of Study
  • To investigate the psychological,
  • social, and educational factors
  • that affect the sexual attitudes and behaviors of
    at-risk female adolescents
  • (PSE model)

11
Review of the LiteratureBackground Variables
  • Socioeconomic Status
  • Teens of a lower SES more likely to be sexually
    active
  • (Casper, L., 1990)
  • Family Problems
  • Teen pregnancy parenthood frequent results of
    family dysfunction.
  • (Hanson, 1992)
  • Girls whose mothers gave birth in adolescence
    also have sex birth earlier than teens whose
    mother at least 20 yrs during 1st pregnancy.
  • (National Campaign, 2003)
  • Age
  • 13- if same age, 26 if partner 2yrs older, 33
    if partner 3 yrs older.
  • (National Campaign, 2003)
  • Ethnicity
  • Black and Hispanic adolescents have higher
    birthrates than white adolescents.
  • (Moore, K.A et al., 1998)

12
Review of the LiteraturePsychological Factors
  • Self-Motivation
  • Individual sexual experiences including
    motivation and opportunity to have sex most
    prevalent risk factors
  • (Blum, R.W. et al., 2000)
  • ? academic success, ? job opportunities, ?
    motivation and aspirations ? ? sexual activity
    and pregnancy
  • (Shearer, et al., 2002)
  • Low-cognitive ability
  • Young women with low cognitive ability are at
    increased risk for early initiation of sexual
    activity and pregnancy
  • (Shearer, et al., 2002)

13
Review of the LiteratureSocial Factors
  • Social Networks/Dating
  • Significant association between dating
    relationships and sexual activity
  • (Ibid, D. et al., 1993)
  • Peer Pressure/Acceptance
  • Girls whose group of close friends is composed
    primarily (75) of high-risk friends is twice as
    likely to initiate intercourse as girls with
    mostly low-risk friends.
  • (Bearman, P. et al., 1999)
  • Family Support
  • Adolescents who perceive that they have little
    parental support and do not communicate well w/
    their parents are more likely to be sexually
    experienced.
  • (Jessor, S.L. et al., 1972).

14
Review of the LiteratureEducational Factors
  • Sex education
  • Factors associated w/ recent decline in teen
    birthrate include parent-child communication,
    formal sex education programs and engagement in
    schooling
  • (Manlove, J. et al., 2000)
  • Low academic performance
  • Low academic performance associated w/ early
    sexual initiation and pregnancy.
  • (Kasen, S. et al., 1998)
  • 9 out of 10 adolescents enrolled in alternative
    H.S. have already had sex.
  • (Grunbaum, J.A. et al., 1999).

15
Review of the LiteratureGaps in Research
  • Limited studies on high-risk adolescents, only
    teenagers in general not sufficient in this area
  • Sexual activity of girls in group homes?
  • Limited stats on perceptions of both parent-teen
    relationships communication

16
Research Questions of Study
  • What personal factors lead at-risk female
    adolescents to engage in premature sexual
    activity? P
  • What roles do family, peers, and other social
    figures play in the daily lives of female
    adolescents? S
  • What attitudes and perceptions do at-risk female
    adolescents have towards sex education and teen
    pregnancy programs? E

17
Methodology of Study
  • Research Design
  • Qualitative case study
  • Site interaction
  • Observe behaviors record patterns of meaning
  • Social influences and
  • relationships
  • Triangulation
  • Multiple sites hours
  • Comparison of data
  • Site Selection
  • Girls, Inc. PAP
  • Based on location, risk, city, times,
    availability
  • Boys Girls Club
  • 17th Ross
  • Century Day
  • Participants
  • Convenience sample
  • 18 girls (14-19 yrs)
  • Constant and irregular participants

18
Methodology of StudyBackground of Participants
(18)
  • Ethnicity
  • 3 Caucasian
  • 12 Latina
  • Mexican, Salvadoran, Cuban, Puerto Rican
  • 3 Asian
  • Vietnamese, Filipino, Samoan
  • Age
  • 22-- 15 yrs old
  • 45-- 16 yrs old
  • 22-- 17 yrs old
  • 11-- 18yrs old

questionnaire Latina (18), White (2), Asian
(1) GARD predominately older (17) SANT
predominately younger (15)
19
Methodology of StudyBackground of Participants
(18)
  • Living Arrangement
  • Dual-parent household -- 5
  • Single-Parent household -- 4
  • Group Home -- 4
  • Extended Family 3
  • Friend/Significant other -- 2
  • Family Income (SES)
  • 0-15,000 -- 2
  • 15,000-30,000 4
  • 30,000- 45,000 2
  • 60,000 or more 1
  • Dont know 5
  • Not applicable -- 4

questionnaire dual (8) and single (7) -- mom
20
Methodology of Study
  • Informal Discussions
  • Voluntary on-site
  • Few pre-determined
  • Focus Group
  • Demographics (BVs)
  • Timeline activity
  • Photo Reaction
  • Formal Interviews (2)
  • Key informant and gatekeeper
  • Predetermined and controlled
  • Questionnaires
  • To both consistent irregular
  • Open-ended, written response
  • Data Collection
  • Participant Interaction
  • Observations
  • Character profiling
  • Extensive Field Notes
  • Quality/relevancy
  • Mapping of interactions
  • Matrices of participants
  • Enumerated moods, activity, participation, unique
    actions

Note unwillingness w/ authority, comfortable
w/ group work opposite of low-risk teens or high
school teens not considered at-risk
21
Generations, pre-marital pregnancy, single parent
household, teen pregnancy, mother-daughter
relations
Romantic relationships, partner age, time period
of sexual behavior, what is appropriate in public
vs. private, values, peers
22
Methodology of Study
  • Data Analysis
  • Extensive review of field notes RQs
  • Sorting, Coding and Recoding
  • Hi-lighting, circling, underlining, symbols
  • Common variables and patterns
  • Theme Selection
  • Modeling of Relationships
  • Matrix Enumeration Tallying-- triangulation

23
Summary of FindingsBackground Variables
Living Arrangement
Age
age at first sex
Sexual Activity
Ethnicity
SES
Religion
24
Summary of FindingsBackground Variables
  • If she is sexually active
  • 16
  • Latina
  • Dual or group home
  • SES Dont Know
  • Junior level ed
  • Religion-- Catholic
  • If she is NOT sexually active
  • 16
  • Caucasian or Latina
  • Single parent mom
  • SES 30,000-45,000
  • Sophomore level ed
  • Religion- Christian

25
Summary of FindingsPsychological
  • High self-esteem despite situations and sexual
    behaviors
  • Dont fear failure
  • I dont think it matters how old you are just
    as long are you are mature enough to handle sex
    and if something bad comes out of it like if you
    can take care of yourself and the other person
    that means pregnancy too. NOTE, GARD, V, PREG
  • Very aggressive and largely outspoken not shy or
    low self-image
  • Im very intelligent, social, I like anything to
    everything. I like to go anywhere in my
    underwear. QUEST, GARD, I
  • Even though low academic success, high goals and
    motivation
  • 93 expressed future ambitions concerning HS
    graduation, college, profession, or family
  • Go to a UC after graduating from high school and
    get a good job and help my parents. GARD, CY
  • Only 8 did not know or did not have any future
    goals
  • Opposite of literature for sexually active
    at-risk teens

26
Summary of FindingsPsychological
when asked to describe yourself in
questionnaire
27
Summary of FindingsSocial- Family
  • Lack of parental influence and communication
  • Confide most in sister or relative then parents
    (see chart)
  • Feel cant go to parents for many reasons
  • Oh my gosh, my mom drives me crazy! She always
    thinks Im having sex and she doesnt even
    believe me when I tell her Im not like Im
    lying or something! I havent even had sex
    before! NOTE, CY, VIR, GARD
  • My mom had me when she was 15 so she knows
    better than to tell me what to do. NOTE, TUST,
    DI
  • Similar Experience relationship between teen mom
    and at-risk teen
  • Become teen mother as well
  • Yeah, of course Im gonna keep it oh, Im
    staying with my mom for right now. She said
    shes gonna help me nah, shes not mad.
    (after telling shes 4 months pregnant) 16,
    anonymous, never came back to class
  • Or, are knowledgeable in sexual activity and
    consequences
  • Its every time you have sex, theres a chance
    of getting pregnant. Youre stupid if you dont
    know that. -- 16, Cuban, in single mom household

28
Social- Family InfluenceWho do you go to when
you need advice about the following?
Parents lack influence over teens go most to
sister or extended relative in a family Result
Friends was found most common in all areas
main source of information and influence
29
Summary of FindingsSocial- Peers and Partners
  • Strong Peer Influence
  • At-risk friends and peers influence attitudes
    toward sex
  • If you dont want to have sex, you dont have to
    have sex you should wait anyway until youre
    married like meer, maybe. I guess it depends
    on the guy like if were in love or something.
    -- (as eyes roll, she changes opinion frequently
    throughout course) 16, Caucasian, single
    household w/ father after mother left, high SES
  • Sense of competition, especially in group homes
  • Girls are always talking about who they screwed
    last night its not even a big deal. -- 17,
    Mexican, group home, unwanted by mother, doesnt
    know father
  • Partner Relationships increase premature sexual
    activity
  • Need to have affection through sex
  • that the girl ends up giving up her virginity
    and has sex anyway because if she really cares
    for the guy shell do anything to keep him
    shes scared of losing him it happens all the
    time. NOTE, GARD, ES
  • Especially age at first sex and older partners
  • I was only 12 years old and this older guy I
    liked forced himself onto me it doesnt matter
    anymore guys always tell me they love me so
    sex is easy. 15, extended household, Salvadoran
  • Ive been with my boyfriend for almost a year
    now he buys me everything! (giggles) Oh hes 23
    he only does what I want though. (which later
    meant everything from massages to oral sex) 15,
    single household w/ mom, Mexican

30
Social InfluencePeers
Who do you go to when you need advice about the
following?
31
Social InfluencePartners
Who do you go to when you need advice about the
following?
32
Summary of FindingsEducational
  • Sex education positive impact on female at-risk
    teens
  • Especially Girls, Inc. PAP doesnt stress
    abstinence like HS ed
  • Found helpful and influential in sexual attitudes
    and decisions
  • I do think it helps because maybe a girl is
    planning to have sex, but then hear of all that
    could happen and decide not to. But for the
    girls like me, who wont have sex until they get
    married, it teaches them how to protect
    themselves when they dont want to have a baby.
    NOTE, GARD, CY, VIR
  • It makes you think before you do stuff. NOTE,
    SANT, anonymous
  • It gets us aware of things, like diseases.
    QUEST, ES, GARD
  • Teens want to know more about sexual consequences
  • They should teach about what happens after you
    have a baby. QUEST, GARD, SA

33
Educational InfluenceDo you think sex education
helps?
Sex education refers to sex ed class in school
and pregnancy prevention programs such as Girls,
Inc.
34
Initial Research Model
Independent Variable Domain
Dependent Variable Domain
At-Risk Peer Influence
Sexual Activity/ Behavior
Family Support/ Communication
Social/Dating Relationships
Age at 1st sex
35
Final Research Model
Independent Variable Domain
Dependent Variable Domain
Psychological Factors
Female At-Risk Teen Sexual Attitudes Behaviors
NOT COMPLETED YET
Social Factors
Educational Factors
36
Closing
  • Limitations
  • Only one agency with specific sites
    (govt-assigned)
  • Small sample venture outside of O.C.??
  • Cant generalize findings to larger at-risk
    population
  • Not enough background info/literature on
    at-risk
  • Recommendations
  • Further research of sexual behaviors of at-risk
    female adolescents their relationships to
    family

37
Closing
  • Implications
  • Sexually experienced more apt to other risky
    behaviors and consequences
  • Parent(s) should communicate w/ teen about sex
    and relationships at early age
  • Need more mentorship programs and role models for
    at-risk teens, esp. in group home environment
  • We still have much to learn about this
    population!
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