Unprotected Intercourse: The Value of Motherhood, Ambivalence, Masculinity, and Femininity

Abstract

In the past 20 years, the rate of unintended pregnancies has remained unchanged, despite the fact that birth control has become more accessible. This research project investigated potential predictors for unintended pregnancies other than the accessibility of birth control. The hypotheses of this study were: greater motherhood value, higher levels of ambivalence, and high femininity and low masculinity would be correlated with higher frequency of Unprotected Intercourse (UI). An online survey was administered to sexually active women at Texas State University, who were not intending to become pregnant within the next three months. The instruments used were a 60-item Bem Sex Role Inventory (BSRI), a 6-item Ambivalence Scale, a 17-item Motherhood Value Scale, and other combined scales. Exploratory factor analysis indicated that Motherhood had two components: Benefits of Motherhood and Costs of Motherhood. In a multiple logistic regression Benefits of Motherhood was found to be a significant predictor for UI. Exploratory analyses found that Benefits of Motherhood significantly correlated with Certainty of wanting children. Also, Ambivalence2 significantly correlated with UI and Ambivalence.