Contraceptive Behavior Among Unmarried Young Women: A Theoretical Framework for Research

Adopt ion of the most ef fect ive methods of contracept ion requires ind iv idua l dec is ion-making and negot ia t ion wi th con t racep t i ve providers. In order to take account of both behavioral elements, a twodimensional f ramework for understanding contracept ive adoption and cont inuat ion by unmarried young is proposed, incorporat ing a "socialpsycho log ica l m o d e l " of i nd i v idua l dec is ion-mak ing and an ù interpersonal model " of factors affect ing provider-cl ient interaction. The social-psychological model is based on an earl ier value-expectancy theory of behavior mot ivat ion as appl ied to health-related behaviors. The interpersonal model is derived from conf l ict-bargaining perspectives on professional-cl ient interaction; it is suggested that expectations for this interact ion are based on a l imi ted number of internal ized "models" : the ùprofessional" ; the "bureaucra t i c " ; the " commerc ia l " ; and the