The impact of anxiety on pregnant adolescents

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the repercussions of anxiety on the health of pregnant adolescents based on the evidence available in the scientific literature. Methods: This is an Integrative Literature Review conducted following five methodological steps. The PICo strategy was used to develop the research question, resulting in the following question: What are the repercussions of anxiety on the health of pregnant adolescents presented in the national and international literature? Article searches were conducted in three scientific journals: LILACS, MEDLINE/PubMed, and Elsevier. The search strategies were constructed based on descriptors selected from DeCS (Health Sciences Descriptors) and MeSH (Medical Subject Headings). During article selection, we used the PRISMA 2020 Flowchart, resulting in eight articles comprising the final sample. Results: Anxiety during pregnancy can compromise the physical and mental health of adolescents. Furthermore, this condition can also increase the baby's chances of experiencing anxiety, hinder the establishment of emotional bonds, and impair their neurological development. Final considerations: The importance of comprehensive care is emphasized, based on interdisciplinary interventions and public policies that promote mental health and strengthen psychosocial support networks for pregnant adolescents.