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Abstract
Grounded theory principles were systematically employed to reveal key differences in pregnancy risk and underlying disparities in contraceptive use in (a) never-pregnant (b) pregnant-terminated and (c) pregnant-continued teenagers. Analysis of 69 semistructured interviews revealed a bicausal model of pregnancy protection that accounted for variation in contraceptive use across the sample. Diverging pregnancy/childbearing desires and risk perceptions were conceptualized into three behavioral patterns that represented higher and lower levels of commitment to prevent pregnancy. The various ways that teenagers made sense of their behavior highlight the importance of acknowledging and respecting diversity in perspectives and experiences and provide a useful framework for educational and practitioner-delivered interventions with greater relevance and impact.
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