Date of Conferral

9-7-2026

Date of Award

September 2026

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Human Services

Advisor

Gregory Hickman

Abstract

Adolescent pregnancy remains a major public health and social issue, but research has primarily focused on risk factors and not the protective factors that contribute to resilience among those who successfully break the cycle. This qualitative study explored protective factors that African American adult offspring of teenage parents identified as supporting them in avoiding teenage pregnancy and parenthood. The study was theoretically grounded in Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory, which was used to explore the role of influence across environmental systems in participants’ developmental outcomes. The primary research question was “How do African American adult offspring of teenage parents describe the protective factors that helped them avoid adolescent pregnancy and parenting?” A general qualitative design was used, and semistructured interviews were conducted with nine purposively selected participants. Thematic analysis was applied to the interview data using first-cycle descriptive coding and second-cycle pattern coding. The analysis produced six themes explaining the protective factors that strengthened participants’ resilience and decision-making. Findings were that protective factors within the ecological system, working together, helped them avoid repeating the cycle. Findings highlight the relevance of strengths-based approaches that focus on resilience rather than risk alone. This study contributes to positive social change by giving information that may inform culturally relevant prevention programs, family interventions, educational initiatives, and community-based services to strengthen protective factors among youth at risk of adolescent pregnancy.

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