Adolescents' attitudes and beliefs about pregnancy and parenthood: Results from a school-based intervention program

Abstract

This paper reports on a small, randomised controlled trial involving a school-based intervention targeting adolescents' idealised beliefs about pregnancy and parenthood. An intervention group of adolescents were assessed two weeks before and two weeks after viewing and discussing a video of three adolescent mothers describing the consequences of their pregnancies and parenthood. A control group was assessed on 2 occasions 4 weeks apart. Both the intervention and control groups showed significant decreases in idealisation. Neither group membership nor gender influenced the extent of this change. Possible explanations of this unexpected finding are presented. © 2001 A B Academic Publishers.