Abstract
The purpose of this study was to explore perceptions of unintended adolescent pregnancy as associated with level of neoliberal beliefs and type of contraceptive problem. Northeastern U.S. undergraduate college students (N = 72) completed a measure of neoliberal beliefs and were randomly assigned to read about a couple that became pregnant after contraceptive non-adherence or a contraceptive accident. As expected, observers with greater neoliberal beliefs perceived an unintended adolescent pregnancy as more controllable than those with lesser neoliberal beliefs. Additionally, a pregnancy following a contraceptive accident was perceived as less controllable and elicited more sympathy than a pregnancy following contraceptive non-adherence. These findings suggest perceptions of unintended adolescent pregnancy are both context-dependent and related to the observer’s level of neoliberal beliefs. This knowledge can be applied to promote the well-being of pregnant and parenting adolescents in social service, clinical, and school settings through increased awareness and improved attitudes toward these individuals.
Recommended Citation
O’Brien, Caroline and Katz, Jennifer
(2018)
"Perceptions of Unintended Adolescent Pregnancy: Associations with College Students’ Neoliberal Beliefs and Type of Contraceptive Problem,"
Proceedings of GREAT Day: Vol. 2017, Article 1.
Available at:
https://knightscholar.geneseo.edu/proceedings-of-great-day/vol2017/iss1/1