Research Information System
ANADOLU PSIKIYATRI DERGISI-ANATOLIAN JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY, vol.21, no.2, pp.124-132, 2020 (SCI-Expanded)
Objective: Adolescent pregnancy is a common sociological problem in undeveloped and developing countries. An adolescent is not able to reach neither physical nor psychosocial maturity regarding marriage, founding a family and having a child. For this reason, not only girls but also their children born are exposed to many negative consequences as a result of adolescent pregnancies. This study aimed to investigate the prenatal attachment and the anxiety/depression levels of pregnant adolescents. We also examined the emotional availability of their parents. Methods: Fifty-five pregnant adolescents and 61 non-pregnant adolescents were included. Prenatal Attachment Inventory, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and Lum Emotional Availability of Parents were filled out by the participants. Results: The education of pregnant adolescents ends earlier than control group. The mothers' age of marriage and age of having the first child in the case group were lower (p<0.05). Depression levels and parents' emotional availability were similar in two groups. However, HADS anxiety scores were 7.4 +/- 3.8 in the case group and 9.1 +/- 4.1 in the non-pregnant adolescent group and it was statistically significant. There was a significant correlation between prenatal attachment and depression and parents' emotional availability scores in the case group. Discussion: Adolescent pregnancies cause early termination of girls' education. In addition, as our study findings have shown, daughters of early married women are at risk for adolescent pregnancies. The higher anxiety scores in non-pregnant adolescents suggest that these girls continue their education and may have more future anxiety. The preventive and comprehensive programs need to be developed to struggle with adolescent pregnancies.