Options for Teen Parents
What are the four basic options available to teens who find themselves experiencing an unexpected pregnancy?
Single parenthood, Co-parenting/marriage, adoption, abortion.
Name three impacts teen pregnancy will have on the teenagers themselves.
Financial Strain, difficulty in finishing education, emotional strain, possible health problems, future career path could be altered.
Not understanding the way the body works, the risks that are out there, and believing in myths and half-truths can result in pregnancies.
Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of a teen couple choosing abortion as a means of handling an unexpected pregnancy.
Advantage: Do not have to experience a pregnancy, do not have to raise a child, able to keep moving on with life with minimal after effects.
Disadvantage: can develop a guilty conscience, possibility of medical problems, controversial in eyes of the public
Health concerns (premature birth, low birth weight), Higher risk for neglect and abuse, possible lack of guidance while growing up. Higher risk for learning and physical disabilities.
Why could teens be unwilling to communicate with their parents or partners about questions regarding physical relationships?
Most teens feel uncomfortable discussing such topics. They feel parents would react badly. They feel like they should know the information, and don't want to ask their partner.
How can pressure from a social group lead to engaging in sexual activity?
Compare the advantages and disadvantages between choosing to be a single parent and choosing to co-parent a child.
Single Parent Adv: Get to make all final decisions, may avoid tension/arguing in a relationship
Single Parent Dis: Responsible for all care. Lack of Two incomes.
Co-Par Adv: Share Responsibilities. Financial & emotional support.
Co-Par Dis: Teen marriages are more likely to end in divorce. Could lead to tension and arguing.
What impact may teen pregnancy have on the families of the teenagers?
Heightened responsibility (care, finances, raising), emotional distress (disappointment, resentment, anger), possible conflict between teens and their parents (different view points)
How might the desire for love and attention lead to teen pregnancy? What kind of home life/relationships could lead to these feelings?
If a teenager is not receiving the emotional support, affection, and guidance they need at home. They will tend to look for it elsewhere. Not having close & comfortable relationships with caregivers could lead to this situation.
How should experiencing pressure from a partner be handled?
1. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of choosing adoption as a solution to an unexpected pregnancy.
2. Describe the difference between an open and closed adoption.
3. Describe the difference between a domestic and international adoption.
1. Adv: Don't have to take on parenting responsibilities, can continue to work towards reaching own goals with less difficulty.
Dis: Don't get to see child grow up. May not get to be part of child's life. Emotional strain
2. Open adoption allows for exchange of information between birth and adoptive parents. Closed adoption does not.
3. An international adoption involves adopting a child from another country, a domestic adoption involves a child born to American citizens.
Describe the impact teen pregnancy has on our society.
Government spending on programs designed to assist teen parents, Lost potential of teens to contribute to society (may not ever be able to contribute to society as they would otherwise have done)
Explain how mental/emotional maturity lagging behind physical maturity could contribute to teen pregnancy.
In adolescence, it can be hard to understand and recognize strong emotions let alone manage them. Teens may act before fully considering the possible consequences of their behaviors.
How does society contribute to the pressure to be sexually active?
Display in the media & pop culture. Over emphasizes the pleasure, prestige, and romance. Lacks focus on responsibility and risks.
When making a decision about how to handle about an unexpected pregnancy, what should be considered by the teenagers? Will the same decision be right for everyone? Why or why not?
Everyone must handle their situation according to their own values, needs, goals, and wants. The same option won't work for everyone, because no two situations are identical.