A comparison between adolescent and adult women on prenatal anxiety and self-confidence.

The purpose of this study was to investigate anxiety and self-confidence in adolescent and adult pregnant women. Thirty-five adolescents, ages 13 to 16, and 58 adult women, ages 21 to 33, participated in this study. The majority of the sample was black and unmarried, and all attended a low-risk prenatal clinic for a first pregnancy. Spielberger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and Pharis' Self-Confidence Scale were administered during the women's second trimester of pregnancy. Results indicated significant negative correlations for both state and trait anxiety during pregnancy and self-confidence for all women, but no significant differences in anxiety and self-confidence between the two groups. Results indicate the need for nurses to develop and implement plans for decreasing anxiety and enhancing self-confidence of all pregnant women.