AbstractsPsychology

This study evaluated the association between sex and/or age group with regard to minimum expectations for preferred goal achievement by teenagers prior to conceiving a child. Participants were 314 individuals aged 12-82, living for a minimum of one year in an urban, low income and predominantly African American community with high rates of teenage pregnancy. Participants completed a questionnaire about their attitudes regarding preferred minimum expectations for goal attainment in the areas of yearly income, education level, social supports, and housing and relationship status prior to teenagers conceiving a child. Analyses revealed that age groups have statistically different views regarding minimum expected yearly income, X² (10, n = 312) = 35.21, p=001, Cramer's V = .24 (medium effect size), and preferred relationship status, X² (8, n = 309) = 25.34, p = .001, Cramer's V = .20 (small effect size), for teenage girls. There was no association found for minimum expected educational attainment for both teenage females and males. Additionally, age groups have different opinions about where teenage females acquire information about birth control, X² (6, n = 308) = 22.67, p = .001, Cramer's V = .19 (small effect size). There were no significant differences found between male and female respondents reported preferences for minimum expectations for goal achievement prior to conception.