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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Jeanne A. Saunders, PhD, Social Work, University of Iowa, 308 North Hall, Iowa City, IA 52242, 319-335-1276, jeanne-saunders@uiowa.edu

In today's fast paced society, communication between parents and children about important issues is sometimes fragmented. Children also receive information peers, important others and the media. However, the importance of parents communicating their behavioral expectations and goals to their children remains critical. Parents provide a standard for their children against which all other information can be compared and weighed. Even though parents often question if their children listen to them, the messages they give to their children play an important role in the decisions they make. In a qualitative study, African American teen parents and their non-parenting peers were asked what messages they received from their parents/guardians and their friends about teen pregnancy while growing up. All of those teens who became a parent before high school graduation, both mothers (n=10) and fathers (n=7), reported that they had never been told to avoid or postpone pregnancy or parenting by a parent. However, among their friends, it was acceptable or encouraged to become a parent while in high school. Teens who did not begin parenting in high school reported they had received a clear message from both their parents and peers that postponing parenting was paramount for a good future – and a good future was important. This pattern is consistent with social learning theory. This presentation will review the importance of social learning as reported in the literature, report the findings from this study and discuss their implications for public health social workers.

Learning Objectives:

• Better understand social learning theory and its application for public health social workers to teen pregnancy prevention and good decision making
• Become familiar with program models that encourage parents and peers to promote postponing pregnancy among adolescents
• Learn the results of a qualitative study of African American teen parents and peers that explored the importance of message from parents and peers about delaying parenting

Keywords: Children and Adolescents, Teen Pregnancy Prevention

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation