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Psychiatric aspects of pregnancy in schoolgirls: a review

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2009

D. Shaffer ,
A. Pettigrew ,
S. Wolkind  and
E. Zajicek
D. Shaffer*
Affiliation:
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, London; Department of Social Work, The Maudsley Hospital; and the Department of Psychiatry and the Child Development Research Unit, London Hospital Medical School, London
A. Pettigrew
Affiliation:
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, London; Department of Social Work, The Maudsley Hospital; and the Department of Psychiatry and the Child Development Research Unit, London Hospital Medical School, London
S. Wolkind
Affiliation:
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, London; Department of Social Work, The Maudsley Hospital; and the Department of Psychiatry and the Child Development Research Unit, London Hospital Medical School, London
E. Zajicek
Affiliation:
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, London; Department of Social Work, The Maudsley Hospital; and the Department of Psychiatry and the Child Development Research Unit, London Hospital Medical School, London
*
1Address for correspondence: Dr D. Shaffer, Department of Child Psychiatry, New York Psychiatric Institute, 722 W168th Street, New York 10032.
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Synopsis

This review has searched the literature to examine the hypothesis that illegitimate pregnancy in girls of school going age is an indicator of underlying psychopathology and, in particular, that pregnancy or sexual activity provide a form of gratification for otherwise deprived young girls. Surveys suggest that precocious sexual activity is more common in disadvantaged young teenagers and that pregnant schoolgirls are especially likely to come from large families, and to have unskilled parents. There is a suggestion that the younger groups of pregnant teenagers come from unsatisfactory home backgrounds. However, these conclusions are derived from inadequate studies and should be treated with caution.

Relatively few sexually active teenagers use contraceptives but there is no evidence that this represents a subconscious intent to conceive and there is greater support for more straightforward explanations. There is a further suggestion that girls who continue with their pregnancy when the choice for termination is available are more disadvantaged than girls who obtain a termination, although the reasons for this association are not clear. Children born to very young mothers appear to do less well than children born to older mothers. However, it may be that this difference can be attributed to greater overall disadvantage in the younger group rather than to specific age related deficiencies in ‘mothering ability’.

The problems of schoolgirl pregnancy are compounded by interruption of her schooling and early re-conception. There is evidence that these complications can be lessened by the provision of specially designed intervention programmes.

Type
Research Article
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 8 , Issue 1 , February 1978 , pp. 119 - 130
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1978

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