PSYCHOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF YOUNG WOMEN'S ATTITUDES TOWARDS THE INFLUENCE OF UNINTENDED PREGNANCY ON THE RELATIONSHIPS WITH A PARTNER

Abstract

In our study we focused on the youth’s thoughts, concerns and attitudes regarding the development of intimate personal relationships with a sexual partner in a situation of unintended pregnancy. We briefly analyzed the previous research on the formation of the maternal sphere, development and changing woman's attitude towards pregnancy. At the same time, many psychological issues, related to the problem of unintended pregnancy, remain unaddressed by researchers. For example, the problem of restructuring and rebuilding the relationships. Realizing the fact of pregnancy determines not only the changes in the individual’s self-awareness, but reconsidering the whole system of relations with a sexual partner. Frequently, it is associated with anxiety and concerns about his response to the situation of expecting a child.

Based on the factor analysis of the semantic content of attitudes towards changes in relationship with a partner, we identified four groups of attitudes: «Complicating the relationship» (Factor 1 was represented with descriptors: «conflicts», «complications», «avoiding»); «Breaking the relationship» (Factor 2 was represented with descriptors: «breaking up», «disappearing», «loosing freedom»); «Relationship Development» (Factor 3 was represented with descriptors: «new level of relationships», «building relationships»); "Personal development" (Factors 4 was represented with descriptors: «maturing», «becoming an adult», etc.). Our results indicate the traumatic nature of unintended pregnancy. Our participants assumed the negative impact of pregnancy on the relationships with the partner. Dominance of the negative descriptors, included into first two factors, confirms this conclusion. Young women had significant doubts about the further development of a relationship with their partners. Unplanned pregnancy was perceived by them as a potential threat to the relationship, while the idea of positive relationship development was less expected.