Peer Influence, Self-Esteem and Attitude to Life as Predictors of Pre-Marital Adolescent Pregnancy in Owerri Municipal Imo State Nigeria

Abstract

Adolescent pregnancy out of wedlock is often accompanied by unimaginable crisis with negative implication on the well-being of pregnant adolescents. This study adopted a descriptive survey research design to investigate peer influence, self-esteem and attitude to life as predictors of adolescent pregnancy in Owerri Municipal Imo State Nigeria. Purposive random sampling technique was used to select one hundred pre-marital pregnant adolescents attending antenatal clinic from ten community maternity centres in Owerri Municipal Imo state, Nigeria. A researcher’s made questionnaire was used and three research questions were answered at 0.05 level of significance. Data were analysed using Multiple Regression statistical tool. There was significant relationship between the independent variables and the dependent variable. Also, the independent variables accounted for 66.4% of the total variance on the prediction of pre-marital adolescent pregnancy. In order of magnitude, of the contribution: peer influence contributed most to the prediction of pre-marital adolescent pregnancy (β = 0. 594, t = 9.805, P < 0.05) followed by attitude to life (β = 0. 462, t = 7.243, P < 0.05) and self-esteem (β = 0. 188, t = 4.161, P < 0.05) to adolescent pre-marital pregnancy. Therefore, counselling programmes should be put in place and used as a measure to guide and lead adolescents to the path of self-discovery.