TOWARDS VALIDATION OF A COGNITIVE MODEL FOR PREGNANCY RISK TAKING AND RISK AVOIDANT BEHAVIOR.
Contributors: University of Wisconsin--Madison.
Published: 1988
Number of pages: 235
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.; Psychology, Social.
Description: This dissertation integrates interests of both nursing and psychology while exploring the validity of a cognitive model that explains pregnancy risk taking and risk avoidant behavior. The model is based on principles of associative network models of memory (Collins & Loftus, 1975) and assumes that concepts are represented by structures that vary in terms of availability and accessibility. Available structures become accessible when used to process information. Recent use makes a structure temporarily accessible. Activation arising from recent use decays returning the structure to an available state. In contrast, frequent use prevents the decay and the structure becomes chronically accessible. Research suggests both temporarily and chronically accessible structures are likely to influence perception, judgment, and behavior (e.g., Bargh & Pietromonaco, 1982; Fazio & Williams, 1986).

The model argues that pregnancy risk taking and risk avoidant behavior arise in response to concerns that are accessible in intimate situations. Concerns about the impact of unwanted pregnancy and concerns about career are expected to promote risk avoidant behavior. Concerns about relationships are expected to promote risk taking behavior in individuals lacking chronically accessible pregnancy concerns.

A series of studies, utilizing different methodologies, provided preliminary support for the model. In Study 1, the effects of chronically and temporarily accessible pregnancy, relationship, and career concerns were examined within the context of a story completion task. Consistent with the model, subjects with chronically accessible pregnancy concerns were least likely to write endings in which the characters risked pregnancy.

In Studies 2 and 3, regression and path analyses involving measures of accessibility and variables suggested by the contraceptive literature predicted self-reported pregnancy risk taking. In Study 2, individuals with chronically accessible pregnancy concerns took fewer risks. In Study 3, only male individuals with chronically accessible pregnancy concerns took fewer risks, but all individuals with these concerns reported thinking about the impact of pregnancy more frequently than those lacking these concerns. In both studies, measures of accessibility accounted for unique portions of the variance.

These data have implications for psychological research in attitudes and chronic accessibility. They suggest future directions for nursing research in pregnancy risk taking and warrant replication in non-college student populations.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 50-03, Section: B, page: 0905.

Thesis (PH.D.)--THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN - MADISON, 1988.

School code: 0262.