Judy Didion

Defense Date

11-8-2007

Graduation Date

Fall 2007

Availability

Immediate Access

Submission Type

dissertation

Degree Name

PhD

Department

Nursing

School

School of Nursing

Committee Chair

Rick Zoucha

Committee Member

Kristy Martyn

Committee Member

Patricia D. Fedorka

Keywords

adolescent males, adolescent risk taking, goal setting, grounded theory method, male reproductive health, pregnancy prevention, prevention strategies, public health, teen pregnancy

Abstract

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the process of adolescent male involvement in teen pregnancy prevention. Grounded theory method was used to discover the meaning of pregnancy prevention from the adolescent male perspective. Individual interviews were conducted with eighteen 18-year old boys who were seniors in high school. The data collected from the interviews were analyzed using constant comparison and theoretical sampling techniques. The concepts and constructs which emerged from the data analysis depict the social processes of adolescent male relationships in regards to pregnancy prevention.

The findings revealed that these adolescent boys were very involved in the process of teen pregnancy prevention and that they assigned meaning to their experiences with pregnancy risk and prevention within the context of social norms, academic environment, culture and religion, and societal myths and preconceived notions. Through the psychosocial processes of becoming aware, having goals for the future, being prepared, avoiding risk and using protection, these boys carried out strategies to avoid teen fatherhood.

The substantive theory of 'deliberate action to protect future goals' was derived from the relationships of the concepts that emerged from the data. The study revealed that the boys associated pregnancy prevention with a means to protect and preserve their future goals. This theory explains how these boys managed pregnancy risk. The findings from this study have important implications for adolescent male health services, nursing practice, and public health program planning and policy development.

Format

PDF

Language

English

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