Prenatal attachment, anxiety and depression in pregnant adolescents and the emotional availability of their parents

Objective: Adolescent pregnancy is a common sociological problem in undeveloped and developing countries. An adolescent is not able to reach neither physical nor psychosocial maturity regarding marriage, founding a family and having a child. For this reason, not only girls but also their children born are exposed to many negative consequ-ences as a result of adolescent pregnancies. This study aimed to investigate the prenatal attachment and the anxiety/depression levels of pregnant adolescents. We also examined the emotional availability of their parents. Methods: Fifty-five pregnant adolescents and 61 non-pregnant adolescents were included. Prenatal Attachment Inventory, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and Lum Emotional Availability of Parents were filled out by the participants. Results: The education of pregnant adolescents ends earlier than control group. The mothers' age of marriage and age of having the first child in the case group were lower (p [Anadolu Psikiyatri Derg 2020; 21(2.000): 124-132]