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Adolescents involved in decision-making
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Wander, Marla DeMesquita. Adolescents involved in decision-making. Retrieved from https://doi.org/doi:10.7282/T3QZ28KZ

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TitleAdolescents involved in decision-making
NameWander, Marla DeMesquita (author); Hart, Daniel (chair); Atkins, Robert (internal member); Bluebond-Langner, Myra (internal member); Rutgers University; Camden Graduate School
Date Created2013
Other Date2013-05 (degree)
SubjectChildhood Studies, Decision making in adolescence, Papillomavirus vaccines, Papillomaviruses, Teenagers--Health and hygiene, Teenagers and adults
Extentx, 175 p. : ill.
DescriptionThoughtful and deliberate, adolescent decision-making is not well understood. For example, adolescents and parents visit with physicians for routine health care however the extent that adolescents participate has not been satisfactorily investigated. This study used surveys, conversations, and observations of healthy adolescents, parents, and physicians discussing issues of optional vaccination against human papillomavirus infections to interrogate the gap in understanding adolescent decision-making. The decision involves if and when to receive vaccination to prevent sexually transmitted infections that potentially cause adult cancers. Thus, sexual behavior and vaccination effectiveness infuse these discussions. Survey results from several hundred 11 thru 21 year-old Black, Hispanic, and White adolescents and parents showed adolescents’ older age, female gender, and suburban residence as significant predictors of vaccination acceptance; race, education, HPV knowledge, and judgments of adolescent autonomy were not. Survey conversations and observations substantiated that parents were the decision-makers. Information did not influence decisions; parents were influenced by their personal beliefs about vaccinations and sexual debut and their adolescents’ age. Adolescents indicated on their surveys that they would make vaccination decisions which contradicted their survey conversations and participant-physician encounters that showed adolescents deferring the decision to their parents. During survey conversations, when their parents were not present, adolescents posed thoughtful questions and engaged in HPV discussions. During participant-physician encounters adolescents rarely participated. Notably, if adolescents chose to speak they protested the shot and rallied to postpone it. An adolescent focused on a vaccination presents a vulnerable and asexual image. Adolescents’ participation in HPV vaccination decision-making is not determined by their decision-making competence but by their social competency. Both parents and adolescents understand the sexual subtexts looming in the background and neither want those perceptions to rise to the forefront. Reformulating the manner and content of HPV discussions may increase adolescent participation and vaccination reception.
NotePh.D.
NoteIncludes bibliographical references
NoteIncludes vita
Noteby Marla DeMesquita Wander
Genretheses, ETD doctoral
Persistent URLhttps://doi.org/doi:10.7282/T3QZ28KZ
Languageeng
CollectionCamden Graduate School Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Organization NameRutgers, The State University of New Jersey
RightsThe author owns the copyright to this work.
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