The relationship between locus of control and unintended teenage pregnancy

The purpose of this study was to determine if there was a relationship between locus of control and unintended teenage pregnancy. Two groups of teenage girls, pregnant and nulliparous were compared. The final sample consisted of sixty adolescents (30 nulliparous, 30 pregnant), ages 13-18. All subjects were white and low income (family income less than $10,000/year).

Rotter's Internal-External Scale was used to measure locus of control of the two groups of teenagers. A questionnaire developed by the researcher assessed sociodemographic characteristics.

Analysis of Variance was applied to the data to inspect the differences between groups. There were significant differences between the groups in relation to locus of control and age. Pregnant adolescents were older and more likely to hold external locus of control beliefs than nulliparous adolescents. There was no significant interaction between locus of control and age.

Implications for future research and for nursing interventions to alter locus of control were discussed. Prospective studies may help to identify the teenager at risk for unintended pregnancy.