NCJ Number
125574
Journal
Youth and Society Volume: 22 Issue: 1 Dated: (September 1990) Pages: 35-53
Date Published
1990
Length
19 pages
Annotation
Information from interviews of 2,230 black women between the ages of 20 to 44 years formed the basis of this analysis of the relationships among adolescent childbearing, educational attainment, and income.
Abstract
The participants were part of the National Survey of Family Growth administered by the National Center for Health Statistics in 1982. The analysis showed that women who experienced pregnancy during adolescence did not differ significantly from those who delayed pregnancy, in terms of family background as indicated by the parents' educational attainment. In addition, the experience of adolescent pregnancy lowered educational attainment and income in the early and middle adult years. The differences were significant but modest, amounting to a gain of less than 2 years of education and approximately $1,500 in yearly income from delaying pregnancy. Results indicate the importance of preventing adolescent pregnancy and also demonstrate the importance of education. Tables and 22 references.