Search Results

Author: Florey, Francesca A.
Resulting in 1 citation.
1. McLaughlin, Steven D.
Grady, William R.
Herting, Jerald R.
Florey, Francesca A.
The Effects of the Decision to Marry on the Consequences of Adolescent Childbearing: Education, Income and Subsequent Fertility
Final Report, Seattle WA: Battelle Human Affairs Research Center, 1986
Cohort(s): NLSY79
Publisher: Battelle Human Affairs Research Center
Keyword(s): Adolescent Fertility; Childbearing; Childbearing, Adolescent; Fertility; First Birth; Marital Status; Racial Differences; Wantedness; Well-Being

This report extends an earlier analysis of the consequences of adolescent childbearing (McLaughlin, et. al., 1985). It examines three primary issues: (1) how family and public sector support affected the completion of education; (2) how the economic well-being of teenage mothers is affected by the timing of marriage; and (3) the effect of marriage timing on the spacing and wantedness of the third birth. Using data from the 1979-1982 NLSY, this analysis found that while less than half of all adolescent mothers who became pregnant before completing high school were able to achieve a diploma within two years after the birth, those who remarried in the household of their parents after the birth were more likely to obtain their diploma than adolescent mothers who established separate living arrangements. Secondly, almost 40% of all white adolescent mothers and over two-thirds of all black adolescent mothers were in poverty one year after the birth. When the poverty status of those who marry prior to the birth is compared to the status of those not marrying before the birth, there appears to be an economic gain associated with marriage. However after controlling for the other factors affecting economic well- being, there is no remaining effect of marriage but the effects of living arrangements remain large and significant. Finally, marital status at first birth was found to significantly affect the timing of the third birth only among black women.
Bibliography Citation
McLaughlin, Steven D., William R. Grady, Jerald R. Herting and Francesca A. Florey. "The Effects of the Decision to Marry on the Consequences of Adolescent Childbearing: Education, Income and Subsequent Fertility." Final Report, Seattle WA: Battelle Human Affairs Research Center, 1986.