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Female Adolescent Attitudes and Decision-Making Towards a Hypothetical Unplanned Pregnancy: An Exploratory Research

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Abstract

This paper assessed the emotional and cognitive decision-making process regarding a hypothetical unplanned pregnancy in a convenience sample of female adolescents (N = 85; mean age 16.8), throughout an electronic role playing simulation. This work aimed at: describing adolescent’s emotional reactions and cognitive responses to an unplanned pregnancy; identifying personal attitudes toward parenthood; evaluating the role played by adolescents’ personal attitudes toward parenthood and positive and negative attitudes toward continuing the pregnancy or having an abortion in predicting the final choice (keeping the baby vs. having an abortion). Findings highlighted the presence of three main attitudes toward parenthood (parenthood idealization, rejection of commitment, adolescents’ expectations toward the partner) and the importance played by them together with negative attitudes toward continuing the pregnancy and having an abortion in guiding the adolescents’ decision-making process.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CRIdee, Department of Psychology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan, Italy

    Maria G. Olivari, Chiara Ionio & Emanuela Confalonieri

  2. Department of Statistical Sciences, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan, Italy

    Andrea Bonanomi

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  1. Maria G. Olivari
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  2. Chiara Ionio
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  3. Andrea Bonanomi
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  4. Emanuela Confalonieri
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Correspondence to Maria G. Olivari.

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Olivari, M.G., Ionio, C., Bonanomi, A. et al. Female Adolescent Attitudes and Decision-Making Towards a Hypothetical Unplanned Pregnancy: An Exploratory Research. J Child Fam Stud 24, 2934–2943 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-014-0097-z

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