Sexual decision making in young black adolescent females
Pete, J.M.; DeSantis, L.
Adolescence 25(97): 145-154
1990
ISSN/ISBN: 0001-8449 PMID: 2333793 Document Number: 354797
The purpose of this study was to obtain a detailed view of the perceptions and interpretations of factors that led 5 14-year old US black, pregnant, or recently delivered girls to initiate sexual activities and the decision to keep their babies. 4 key factors that influenced the girls sexual decisions emerged from the data: 1) attempts to establish a relationship based on trust with the child's father; 2) the belief in their lack of vulnerability to become pregnant; 3) family relationship; and 4) beliefs about the alternatives available once the pregnancy was confirmed. Some of the findings from the study are not consistent with the literature: 1) the black adolescents (15-19) seek to establish a trust/love relationship before becoming sexually active; 2) that black adolescent males do not abandon their sexual partners once they are pregnant; 3) that young adolescents discuss sexual matters with sexual partners as they do with their friends; and 4) that young adolescents are capable of future- oriented thinking. Further research is also needed on the father of the baby as well as on the mother of the adolescent girl to assess their perceptions of the factors they believe influence teenagers' sexual decisions. The data were obtained by participant observation and in- debt questionnaire lead interview in low income, inner-city neighborhoods of Miami, Florida.