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This is a theoretical framework about the ecological systems theory
Typology: Essays (high school)
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Urie Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems Theory can be applied to the experiences of teenage mothers in the new normal by examining the various systems that interact with and impact their lives. This theory suggests that the development of an individual, such as a teenage mother, is influenced by the different systems and environments they belong to for us to understand the role of motherhood. According to Bronfenbrenner (1979), an ecological perspective encourages individuals to consider the holistic environment for themselves. These factors must be considered in terms of their existence at each level and their interactions across each system. This includes the microsystem (individual's immediate environment), mesosystem (interactions between microsystems), exosystem (settings indirectly affecting the individual), and macrosystem (cultural values and beliefs). In the microsystem, the experiences of teenage mothers are influenced by their immediate environment, such as their parents, neighborhood, peers, school, and the father of their child. They have a great impact, especially in the new normal that has changed the lives of these adolescents mothers. Relationships in a microsystem are bi-directional, meaning the child can be influenced by other people in their environment and is also capable of changing the beliefs and actions of other people too (Evans, 2023). Some parents are unaffectionate which causes harmful effects to young mothers. While the other parents are supporting and have a strong nurturing relationship with their daughter who is a teenage mother. In the mesosystem, the interactions between different microsystems can impact the experiences of teenage mothers. For instances, the disapproval of the parents towards their daughters' pregnancy harms young mothers. If a child experiences conflict or neglect within their family, or bullying or rejection by their peers, their microsystem may break down. This can lead to a range of negative outcomes (Evans, 2023). According to health professionals, the issues faced by pregnant and parenting teens are school dropout, financial difficulties, relationship breakdown, abandonment, stigmatization, parenting, and child-rearing challenges, as well as issues with both physical and mental health (Govender, Taylor & Naidoo, 2020).
The exosystem refers to one or more settings in which the developing person is not an active participant, but where events take place that have an impact on or are influenced by what occurs in the environment where the developing person is present (Newman, 2020). This includes external systems that impact the lives of teenage mothers indirectly, such as the media or government policies. Based on research on recurrent adolescent pregnancies, social media is one of the factors of these pregnancies and teenage mothers are affected by it (The Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM) Region 3, 2021). Furthermore, the new normal may have resulted in changes in policies related to access to healthcare or social services, which could impact teenage mothers' ability to access necessary resources. Finally, the macrosystem includes broader cultural values and beliefs that impact the lives of teenage mothers. These may include stigmatization of teenage motherhood, which could be exacerbated by the pandemic as well as in the new normal. Based on research, teenage mothers were not in sync with their macro- and exo-systems, thereby depriving themselves and their babies of the much-needed guidance and support in caring for their babies (Twintoh, Anku, Amu, Darteh & Korsah, 2021). Hence, understanding the experiences of teenage mothers through an ecological systems lens can help to identify areas for intervention and support in the new normal context. Overall, applying Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems Theory to the experiences of teenage mothers in the new normal highlights the complex and interrelated systems that impact their lives and underscores the importance of addressing these systems holistically to support their well-being.