Don Honorio Ventura State University

College of Social Sciences and Philosophy

Department of Psychology
A.Y. 2019 – 2020

On Post Self-esteem: The Psychological Construction of Teenage Pregnancy

Deguinon, Myan Mar O.

Entero, Ailen B.

Go, Eunice Kezia M.

Mallari, Almira May L.

Manalo, Kristine Joy G.

Ocampo, Rachel V.

Talavera, Liezel D.
 CHAPTER I

Introduction

Teenage pregnancy is the backwash of engaging in premarital sex that, indeed, start

different problems either, financial, physical, or most especially on the emotional state of a

teenage woman who undergone the said pregnancy that may lead to an unavoidable behavioral

turmoil.

One of the post behaviors that is commonly affected after experiencing teenage

pregnancy is the Self-esteem. Self-esteem is the self-evaluative part of the self-concept, the

judgment a person makes about his or her self-worth (Papalia,Olds, & Feldman, 2010). This is a

relevant demeanor in every individual which is necessary in building a firm foundation of trust,

hope and love on the person's abilities, and developing a positive impression towards life.

In this manner, teenagers who involved themselves in premarital sex that, in the end,

resulted to an unexpected conception, and gradual changes on physical appearances, shifting on

responsibilities, and financial instability, indeed, have a widely effect on the mother's self-

esteem.

Theoretical Background

This research relies on Maslow’s study of Holistic: Dynamic Theory, pointedly on the

person’s self-esteem that goes under the Fourth level of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs.

According to him, esteem needs extent that people satisfied their love and belongingness needs,

they are free to pursue esteem needs, which includes respect, confidence, competence, and the

knowledge that others hold them in high esteem. He also identified two level of esteem needs –
reputation and self-esteem. Reputation is the perception of the prestige, recognition, or fame a

person has achieved in the eyes of others, whereas self-esteem is a person’s own feelings of

worth and confidence. It is based on more than reputation or prestige; it reflects for a “desire or

strength, for achievement, for adequacy, for mastery and competence, for confidence in the face

of the world, and for independence or freedom” (Feist, Feist, 2018).

A person’s self-esteem might be based on what others say about him or what he says

about himself. Having positive feelings about yourself is necessary for the overall emotional

health and well-being. Without properly meeting esteem needs, we are field with feeling of

inferiority and negativity regarding our lives, which is depicted in the fourth stage of Maslow’s

Hierarchy of Needs (Thomas, 2014).

Esteem needs refer to the need for respect, self-esteem, and self-confidence. Esteem

needs are the basis for human desire. We all have to be accepted and valued by others.

Throughout our lives, we participate in activities either professionally or as hobbies that give us a

sense of accomplishment. If you are not able to accomplish your esteem need, it can cause issues

regarding self-esteem and inferiority. As a result of low self-esteem, you might look for respect

from others in order to improve your view of yourself; however, it is important to remember that

until you feel good about yourself, it is difficult to truly appreciate others view you.

Also, there are lower levels and higher levels of esteem needs. Maslow consider lower

level esteem needs as the need for respect of others through status, recognition, fame, prestige,

and attention while he described higher level esteem needs as the need for self-esteem, strength,

competence, mastery, self-confidence, independence, and freedom (Thomas, 2014).

Significance of the Study

The Relevance of this study is to flaunt the further knowledge on how early pregnancy,

age raging from thirteen to seventeen years old, may resulted to a sudden change on the mother's

self-esteem if she happens to get pregnant at the stage of adolescence. This may also serves as a

precaution for young people after knowing how their self-esteem will be affected once they

engage on teenage pregnancy.

Scope and Limitation

The scope of the research focuses only on how undergoing teenage pregnant may come

up with sudden changes on the level of the Self-esteem of the mother. In this case the discussion

only revolves on the Levels of the Self-esteem, if it will ascend or goes the other way around

after engaging to teenage pregnancy.

Review of Related Literature

Maslow's theory of Hierarchy of needs helps people to rationalize and understand the

way a person behave and to make themselves satisfied. Humans need never stops. According to

Maslow (1949), humans are perpetually wanting creatures. After they have satisfied themselves

they tend to desire for another thing. Teenagers acclimate what is readily available for them.

Those adolescents who have experienced extreme hardships physiologically learned to adapt,

adjust and move to the ensuing need which is the love and belongingness (Ware,2017). The need

that is freely available found comfort through sexual gratification (Maslow, 1949) which may

result to early pregnancy. Teenage motherhood preeminent to homelessness because of their

social, emotional and economic status (Ware,2017). But the success in transforming teenage

mother's into exceptional parents need self-confidence and self-efficacy. Self-esteem is one of
the fundamental topics of psychological studies which was categorized by Maslow through his

Hierarchy of needs theory. Self- esteem was defined by Maslow as "person's desire for respect,

recognition and attention" (Keshky et. al, 2017). When a teenage mother receives respect,

recognition, and attention from the society by promoting and supporting them in completing their

developmental stage will remove society's myth of doom and it can transform a great leader

(Ware,2017).
 Chapter 2
Methodology

Research design
The researchers utilized the Quasi-Experimental Design in gathering information. Quasi-

Experimental Design defined (often referred to as Causal-Comparative) seeks to establish a

cause-effect relationship between two or more variables (Kistonis, 2009). The researchers did not

assign groups and did not manipulate the independent variable. Control groups are identified and

exposed to the variable. Results are compared with results from groups not exposed to the

variable. The participants of this study are the teenage mothers in the selected Barangays in City

of San Fernando, Pampanga in a particular period of time. Each participant will be given a test

questionnaire wherein the participants will put a check on every question the best way to

describe their experience. The method of collecting and analyzing data will be discussed on the

next part of this research.

Population
In this study, the researchers decided to have Five (5) samples that will represent the

whole population of this study. The samples are all females age ranging from 13-17 years old

who undergone teenage pregnancy at the said age range in some Barangays of San Fernando

Pampanga. The chosen samples are said to have the same characteristics and criteria.

Sampling method
The researchers used Judgment(Purposive) Sampling Technique in gathering participants.

This sampling method is said to be the most appropriate one to use in this study because the

researchers will be the one to select specific people that, based on their knowledge, would

contribute reliable and precise data needed for the study. This sampling technique is the most
effective one for this research because it focuses on particular characteristics of a population that

are of interest (Bhat, 2019). It also enables to hold an accurate result necessary for data analysis.

Researchers believe that this sampling technique fits best for their data gathering process,

because the participants will be chosen in a subjective manner. They set standards to follow, so

that the information they would gather will not fall out of the categories they aim for.

Data gathering procedure

In this part, a letter to conduct the study was prepared by the researchers. A constructed

survey and interview questionnaire, validated by the validator of the study are distributed. The

researchers conducted the study in some Barangays in San Fernando, Pampanga through survey

and interview. The researchers will be asking for the participant’s willingness to be part of the

study and their rights and considerations throughout the whole process. Therefore, the

importance of the study and some clarifications of terminologies will be explained by the

researchers to the participants because it will be helpful for them to answer the given

questionnaire. The researchers came up with Judgement (Purposive) Sampling because the Five

(5) are selected based on the researchers’ knowledge and judgement (Bhat, 2019). The main goal

of the researchers is to recognize the level of the self-esteem of teenagers who undergone

teenage pregnancy therefore the said sampling method is what the researchers believed to be the

most appropriate one to be used in the said study. The survey questionnaire, as for the

quantitative data, will be the first one to distribute to the participants and after they answered the

questionnaire, the researchers will proceed to the interview, as for the qualitative part of the

research. After then, the data will be collected and tallied for the interpretation. The researchers

are now to decide on what will be the most appropriate statistical tool to be used in the

interpretation of data, but it will be also done with the help of a statistician. After then, based on
the gathered data, tallied, and interpretation, the researchers will come up with the conclusion

and recommendation for the study.

Ethical considerations
The purpose the study is to determine the level of the self-esteem of a teenager who

undergone early pregnancy. The researchers will ask the participants to answer some of the

question that will be given to them. The researchers ensure to protect the participant’s

confidentiality and respect for their dignity will be prioritized. Informed consent will be issued to

the participants providing sufficient information and assurances in taking part of the study. The

participants will not be subjected to any harm in any ways throughout the whole process and the

uncomfortableness or other factors that may contribute for their withdrawal will be highly

accepted and respected.

Data analysis
Data Analysis right after the data gathering process, the researchers used different

method to analyse and organize the information that they acquired throughout the process.

Following the arrangement of raw data, they decided to use One-Way Analysis of Variance

(ANOVA) for statistical treatment. This statistical tool will compare the mean of each group and

determine whether there are any statistically significant differences between the two. This is the

prime option for the researchers since analysis of variance provides the formal tools to justify

intuitive judgments. It can also be used as an exploratory tool to explain observations.

 Appendix A

Name (Optional): ___________________ Date: ________________

Age: _______________ Signature: ____________
Dear Respondents,
This survey will be used for research purposes, all of the information that you will
provide will remain confidential. Your cooperation is highly appreciated.
Thank you!
Direction: Put a check on your answer. Please answer each question honestly. Rate them
according to the following:
1 – Agree 4 – Disagree
2 – Strongly Agree 5 – StronglyDisagree
3 – Neutral
Test Questions Agree Strongly Neutral Disagree Strongly
Agree Disagree
1 I still like going outside to talk and mingle
with my friends.
2 I still believe that I’m beautiful after giving
birth.
3 I feel ashamed.
4 I’m confident about myself.
5 I no longer interact with others.
6 I feel ugly.
7 I feel bad about myself.
8 I’m happy with how things turned out to.
9 I feel ashamed.
10 I feel proud about myself.
11 I lost my self-confidence.
12 I doubt myself.
13 I’m happy with myself.
14 I still believe that I’m beautiful after giving
birth.
15 I don’t like how things turned out to.
16 I always think about how people see me being
a young mom.
17 I like the way how my physical figure look
after giving birth.
18 I don't mind other people judgment about me
and my baby.
19 I became more responsible after I gave birth to
my child.
20 I avoided going outside our house to avoid
gossips.
21 I don't care about what people say about me
being a young mom.
22 I accept and love my baby wholeheartedly.
23 I don't like how my physical body changed
after giving birth.
24 I feel stress about people's judgments about me
and my baby.
25 I still manage to go outside our house despite
people talking about me.
26 I don’t bother changing myself for the sake of
my baby and me.
27 I don't pay much attention about my baby.
28 I feel blessed even though I gave birth at an
early age.
29 I feel so much negativity in my life after giving
birth.
30 I feel miserable for having a baby at young
age.
31 I still see positive things in me after giving
birth.
32 I feel bad about myself for getting pregnant an
early age.
33 I stopped doing things I used to do.
34 I’m proud about my pregnancy.
35 My self-esteem dropped because of early
pregnancy.
36 I regret getting pregnant an early age.
37 I stopped socializing because I’m shy about
my situation.
38 I’m not proud about my pregnancy.
39 My self-confidence boosted even more after
giving birth.
40 I often feel like I’m not accepted or belong.
41 I dropped the idea of going back to school.
42 I’m still happy despite everything that
happened.
43 I’m still confident towards life.
44 I’m always worried how people see me.
45 I feel so much guilt for getting pregnant at an
early age.
46 I’m still doubting myself and my ability to be a
good mother.
47 I became more independent.
48 I feel uncomfortable about being a young
mother.
49 I still want to go back to school and to study.
50 I’m proud about my pregnancy.
51 I’m proud about being a young mother.
52 I avoided going outside our house to avoid
gossips.
53 I still feel complete despite everything that
happened.
54 I don’t mind people talking about me.
55 I’m happy with myself.
56 I often get sad whenever I think of my
situation.
57 I feel stress and worried about everything.
58 I’m still confident towards life.
59 I don’t feel bad about myself.
60 I still do things I used to do before I get
pregnant.
61 I’m so disappointed about myself.
62 I feel comfortable being a mother.
63 I’m always positive towards life.
64 I still mingle with people outside our house.
65 I doubt myself most of the time.
66 I don’t think I can handle being a mother.
67 I feel ashamed about myself.
68 I still believe I’m beautiful.
69 I’m confident with my body.
70 My self-esteem boosts after my delivery.
71 I felt so down after my delivery.
72 I still see myself as when I am not yet
pregnant.
73 My self-concept remains even after giving
birth.
74 I even love myself more after giving birth.
75 I regret being pregnant at an early age.
76 I am not happy with how my physical
appearance went after giving birth.
77 I don’t regret being pregnant at an early age.
78 My self-confidence boosts after my pregnancy.
79 I think I wasn’t able to get a job I deserve
because I got pregnant at an early age.
80 I am not comfortable being a mother.
81 My pregnancy at an early age does not define
what I can do.
82 I am afraid for my future and for my baby.
83 I believe that after I gave birth there are no
opportunities available for me.
84 I got insecure with other teenagers who didn’t
get pregnant at an early age.
85 I don’t feel ashamed.
86 I value myself more after giving birth.
87 I am confident that I can provide all the needs
for my baby.
88 I still believe that I am beautiful after giving
birth.
89 I think I just become more sociable after
giving birth.
90 I don’t care about what others think of me.
91 I feel that if I go outside my comfort zone
specifically my home, people will judge me.
92 My self-concept never changed.
93 I don’t feel stress about what people’s
judgment about my baby.
94 I still trust myself even after pregnancy.
95 I can myself little after delivery.
96 I think that my pregnancy at an early age is the
reason why I don’t give enough self care.
97 I am proud that I got pregnant at an early age.
98 I am still worthy despite being pregnant at an
early age.
99 Often times, I blame my pregnancy at an early
age for being unable to socialize.
100 I think because of my pregnancy at an early
age makes me unable to do things I love to do.

Qualitative questions:

1. What do you feel when you found out that you were pregnant?

2. Do you still interact with other people like your friends during and after your pregnancy?

3. Do you still see yourself same as you see yourself before your pregnancy?

4. How is your self-confidence/esteem right now? Do you still believe in your capabilities?

5. Are you proud of what you have become?

Appendix B
 Appendix C

Don Honorio Ventura State University

College of Social Sciences and Philosophy
Department of Psychology
A.Y. 2019 – 2020

Dear Respondents,
We are the students of Don Honorio Ventura State University, under the College of
Social Sciences and Philosophy, department of Psychology, and we are here to conduct our
study, On Post Self-esteem: The Psychology Construction of Teenage Pregnancy. The result
of this study hopefully contribute in understanding the self-esteem of a mother who undergone
teenage pregnancy. In line with this, we would like to ask for your willingness to be one of our
participants. So we have enclosed here a questionnaire which asks you to respond to a series of
statement and questions. We want to inform you that this is purely voluntary participation
therefore you are allowed to withdraw anytime. We would like to assure you that your identity
and information will be kept confidentially.
If you choose to participate, please have your signature below. Your participation will be
greatly appreciated.

_______________________________
Researchers:
Deguiñon, Myan Mar O.
Entero, Ailen B.
Go, Eunice Kezia M.
Mallari,Almira May L.
Manalo, Kristine Joy G.
Ocampo, Rachel V.
Talavera, Liezel
Introduction
This study tackles about women who undergone teenage pregnancy and what the said
situation brought changes in the level of their self-esteem. The aim of this study is to grasp the
further knowledge of how early pregnancy developed a sudden change on the mother’s self-
esteem and this may also serve as an advance knowledge for the young generation now by
knowing that their self-esteem might be affected once they engaged in teenage pregnancy.

Direction: Please respond to the following question/statement by placing a check mark in the
answer box that correspond to your answer.

1 – Strongly Agree 2 – Agree 3 – Disagree4 – Strongly Disagree

Test Questions Strongly Agree Disagree Strongly
Agree Disagree
1. I still like going outside to talk
and mingle with my friends.
2. I still believe that I’m beautiful
after giving birth.
3. I’m confident about myself.
4. I no longer interact with others.
5. I am proud about myself.
6. I always think about how people
see me being a young mother.
7. I like the way how my physical
figure look after giving birth.
8. I don’t mind people’s judgement
about my situation.
9. I became more responsible after
giving birth.
10. I still manage to go outside
despite people talking about me.
11. I feel bad about myself for getting
pregnant at an early age.
12. I regret getting pregnant at an
early age.
13. I’m still confident with life.
14. I’m always worried how people
see me.
15. I’m still doubting myself and my
ability to be a good mother.
16. I still want to go back to school to
study.
17. I often get sad whenever I think of
my situation.
18. I don’t feel bad about who I
became.
19. I doubt myself most of the time.
20. I feel ashamed about who I turned
into.
21. I still believe I’m beautiful.
22. I still see myself same as when I
am not yet pregnant.
23. I even love myself more after
giving birth.

Qualitative Questions:
1. After your pregnancy, how was your self-esteem? Is there any changes that had occurred

on you?

2. What are the factors that affect your self-esteem after you had given birth?

3. How do you see yourself as of now? What are the changes on your self-esteem?