Degree of Seriousness of Stress Experienced and coping mechanisms adopted by teenage mothers

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the Degree of seriousness of stress experienced and coping mechanisms adopted by Teenage Mothers. Specifically, it sought to determine the degree of seriousness of stress experienced by teenage mothers during and after pregnancy in terms of physical stress, emotional stress, social stress and spiritual stress and the extent of coping mechanisms that are adopted by teenage mothers. The data was gathered from December to January 2015. There were a total of thirty (30) randomly teenage mothers. Among the respondent there were twelve (12) kankana-eys, Sixs (6) Ibalios, Five (5) Tagalogs, Four (4) Pangasinenses, One (1) Kalinga and Two (2) Ilocanos. A survey questionnaire was used in gathering the data of the study. The specific question sought to be answered were the problem of the study. The methodology adopted that of the research Lived Experiences if Incest Rape Survivors by Compipis et.al.(2007) The data gathered from the respondents were tabulated, analyzed and the statistical measures were the weighted mean to determine the degree of seriousness and the T-test to testy the hypotheses of the study. The findings of the study revealed that the Degree of Seriousness of Stress Experienced by Teenage mothers during pregnancy on physical and emotional stress is moderately serious; for social stress it is least serious and lastly for spiritual stress it is slightly serious while for the Degree of Seriousness of Stress Experienced by teenage mother after pregnancy on physical, emotional, spiritual and social aspects were all slightly serious. Coping mechanism were often adopted by teenage mothers were as follows, “I listen to music” was the coping mechanism that was always adopted by teenage mothers while “I go to prayer meetings” was seldom adopted by teenage mothers. Based on the findings the following conclusions were drawn: The degree of seriousness of stress experienced by teenage mothers is more serious during pregnancy. The Degree of seriousness of stress experienced by teenage mothers after pregnancy is less serious and lastly, Teenage mothers sometimes adopt positive coping mechanisms. Based on the conclusion of the study, the following are recommended: Teenage mothers concern about their studies should be explored by future researchers. Teenage mother are encouraged to continue using their positive coping mechanism when dealing with stress and to try using other coping mechanisms like attending prayer meeting; Information-dissemination on health education on teenage pregnancy on the extension program of the Extension Services of the College of Nursing should be conducted to help teenagers become aware of the consequences of sex; Future studies to include a population of more than 30 and not limited to La Trinidad should be undertaken. A study to include the effect of stereotyping on the degree of seriousness of stress experienced by teenage mother should also be conducted.