The Effects of the Resilience Enhancing Nursing Program on Depression and Life Goals among Pregnant Teenagers

Abstract

Teenage pregnancy leads to increase risks and complications for the teenage mother and her newborn. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a resilience enhancing nursing program (RENP) on depression and life goals among pregnant teenagers. A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 130 participants (experimental group = 64, control group = 66). Research instruments included the instruments for data collection and instruments for research intervention. The instruments for data collection consisted of a demographic data form, the resilience scale, depressive scale and life goals scale. The RENP was the research intervention, and included three steps; step 1: establishing a trusting relationship, step 2: improving the resilience, and step 3: monitoring and encouraging the resilience practice. All instruments were content validated by five experts and reliability was examined using Cronbach's alpha coefficient. Data were analyzed using percentage, mean, standard deviation, Chi-square test, independent t-test, and repeated measures ANOVA. The findings revealed that the depression of all participants was significantly lower than that before receiving the program at the 4th week (p = .001), and was sustained until the 8th week. However, there was no difference between the two groups in term of change in depression over time (p = .969). The life goals of participants at the 4th and 8th weeks were significantly improved compared to before receiving the program (p < .001). However, the participants in the experimental group had a significantly greater improvement in life goals than did the control group at the 4th (p=.001) and 8th weeks (p < .001). This program can guide nurses to encourage pregnant teenagers in setting life goals that can improve their quality of life.