For the past several decades, the teenage birth rate in the United States has exceeded that of other industrialized nations. To explore the factors behind this high birth rate, this volume summarizes recent research conducted in the United States on the perceived causes of teenage childbearing. This review is organized around the events leading to…

Using findings of the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID), this report discusses how people become poor and why they stay that way. The PSID reveals that the requirements for getting out of poverty in the United States are so minimal that it takes a mutually reinforcing cluster of behaviors to remain in poverty, even for blacks and females. The…

In 1981, information on births of Hispanic parentage was available for 22 States. The completeness of reporting of Hispanic origin continued to increase, with somewhat greater improvements measured for origin of the mother than of the father. The fertility rate of the Hispanic population continued to be very high: 97.5 births per 1,000 women, aged…

This paper provides an overview of Federal programs related to teenage pregnancy. Primary prevention and ameliorative services are explained to assist fund raisers, counselors, and policymakers in developing appropriate programs. Information is given about legislative background, purpose, eligibility, and disbursement. Programs which provide…

Faced with tight budgets and important changes in welfare policies, few States and local agencies have been able to focus on teenage mothers and their special needs. Yet their needs are different from those of older mothers, and their potential for long-term welfare dependency is high. This paper briefly describes some of the policies, programs,…

Queried unmarried adolescent fathers (N=28) about their readiness for fatherhood. Found that readiness increased as their mate's pregnancy advanced and that males who had had longer prepregnancy relationships with their mates tended to be more supportive of them prenatally. Most adolescent fathers planned to work to help support their infants.…

Case studies reveal the drift from teenage parenthood to polygamous relationships among young black women who "share" the father of their children with a woman to whom he is legally married. The drift into polygamous relations is described as a forced-choice and explained in terms of the Developmental Task Theory. (PS)

Today more than half of the women in America raising children on their own get no financial support from the fathers. The article considers the following aspects of states' roles in dealing with that problem: (1) states' powers and alternatives for action; (2) difficulties faced by states in applying those powers; and (3) suggestions for…

Presents a broad overview of recent trends, programs, and ideas aimed at solving the problem of unintended adolescent pregnancy. Asserts that the general problem of teenage parenthood results from a lack of options available to poor youngsters who, often, are members of minority groups. (KH)

Uses nationally representative, longitudinal data from Great Britain to examine the fertility patterns of daughters (N=2,183) of teen mothers. Explores how early motherhood is reproduced across generations, including an earlier inherited age of menarche, poor family and educational environments, and an early ideal age of childbearing. (RJM)

Describes two studies of the factors that influence unmarried pregnant adolescents to choose adoption rather than parenthood. Study One examines the effect of perceived parental preference and vocational goals. Study Two examines the effect of perceived parental preference and attained vocational identity status. (FMW)

Reviews the history and prevalence of teenage pregnancy and parenthood in the United States. Focuses on a somatic reaction called the Couvade Syndrome (CS) whereby expectant fathers experience the physical symptoms of their pregnant partners as it relates to teenage fathers. Notes that the effects of CS can be mitigated by school counselors. (KW)

This instructional packet consists of an essay, a wall poster, and a teacher's guide that provide information and statistics about teenage parents throughout the world. The purpose of these materials is to give junior high and high school students an overview of the health, social, psychological, economic, and demographic effects of teenage…

This report describes results of Project TEEN, a 1-year federal grant project awarded to the Louisiana State Department of Education for the purpose of conducting a state assessment of compliance with Title IX as related to middle and secondary school dropouts among pregnant female adolescents. Other stated purposes of the project include…

The second half of an examination of the school's role in preventing pregnancy among adolescents focuses on legal issues a local school board should consider in developing a policy for dealing with problems associated with adolescent sexuality. (MLF)