Teen Pregnancy and Parenting

Downloaded by [New York University] at 12:47 14 August 2016 Teen Pregnancy and Parenting Whether glamorized or stigmatized, teenage parenthood is all too often used to stand for a host of social problems, and empirical research results ignored. Identifying core controversies surrounding teen pregnancy and parenting, this book resolves misperceptions using fi ndings from large-scale, longitudinal, and qualitative research studies from the US and other Western countries. Summarizing the evidence and integrating it with a systems perspective, the authors explore ten prevalent myths about teenage parents, including: • Teen pregnancy is associated with other behavior problems. • Children of teen parents will experience cognitive delay, adjustment problems, and will themselves become teen parents. • Better outcomes are achieved when teen mothers live with their own mothers. • Teen pregnancy costs taxpayers lots of money. • Abstinence education is the best way to prevent teen pregnancy. Teen Pregnancy and Parenting ends by highlighting the prevention and inter- vention implications for families, practitioners, and policy-makers. It will be of interest to academics and advanced students from a range of disciplines and professions including psychology, public policy, nursing, social work, and sociology. Keri Weed is Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Downloaded by [New York University] at 12:47 14 August 2016 South Carolina Aiken, USA. Jody S. Nicholson is Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of North Florida, USA. Jaelyn R. Farris is Assistant Professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies at Penn State Harrisburg, USA. Routledge Advances in Health and Social Policy New titles Teen Pregnancy and Parenting Rethinking the Myths and Health Care Reform and Misperceptions Globalisation Keri Weed, Jody S. Nicholson and The US, China and Europe in Jaelyn R. Farris Comparative Perspective Edited by Peggy Watson Forthcoming titles Power and Welfare M-Health in Developing Countries Understanding Citizens’ Encounters Design and Implementation with State Welfare Perspectives on Using Mobiles in Nanna Mik-Meyer and Kaspar Villadsen Healthcare Arul Chib International Perspectives on Elder Abuse Alcohol Policy in Europe Amanda Phelan Delivering the WHO Ideal? Shane Butler, Karen Elmeland, Betsy Mental Health Services for Thom and James Nicholls Vulnerable Children and Young People The Invisible Work of Nursing Supporting Children Who Are, or Organising Work and Health Service Have Been, in Foster Care Delivery in Hospitals Michael Tarren-Sweeney and Davina Allen Downloaded by [New York University] at 12:47 14 August 2016 Arlene Vetere Innovation in Social Welfare and Providing Compassionate Human Services Health Care Rolf R ø nning and Marcus Knutagard Challenges in Policy and Practice International Perspectives on Edited by Support for Traffi cked Women Sue Shea, Robin Wynyard and Developing a Model for Service Christos Lionis Provision Delia Rambaldini-Gooding Maternity Services and Policy in an Social Development and Social International Context Work Perspectives on Social Risk, Citizenship and Welfare Protection Regimes Edited by Julie Drolet Edited by Patricia Kennedy and Naonori Kodate Downloaded by [New York University] at 12:47 14 August 2016 This page intentionally left blank Downloaded by [New York University] at 12:47 14 August 2016 Teen Pregnancy and Parenting Rethinking the myths and misperceptions Keri Weed , Jody S. Nicholson and Jaelyn R. Farris Downloaded by [New York University] at 12:47 14 August 2016 First published 2015 by Routledge 2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN and by Routledge 711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017 Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business © 2015 Keri Weed, Jody S. Nicholson and Jaelyn R. Farris The right of Keri Weed, Jody S. Nicholson and Jaelyn R. Farris to be identifi ed as authors of this work has been asserted by them in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilized in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers. Trademark notice : Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used only for identifi cation and explanation without intent to infringe. British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Library of Congress Cataloguing in Publication data Weed, Keri, author. Teen pregnancy and parenting: rethinking the myths and misperceptions / Keri Weed, Jody S. Nicholson, Jaelyn R. Farris. p. ; cm. – (Routledge advances in health and social policy) I. Nicholson, Jody S., author. II. Farris, Jaelyn Renee., author. III. Title. IV. Series: Routledge advances in health and social policy. [DNLM: 1. Pregnancy in Adolescence. 2. Parenting. 3. Social Downloaded by [New York University] at 12:47 14 August 2016 Perception. 4. Socioeconomic Factors. WA 310.1] RG556.5 618.200835–dc23 2014001962 ISBN: 978-0-415-64432-7 (hbk) ISBN: 978-0-203-07960-7 (ebk) Typeset in Goudy by Out of House Publishing Dedication In memory of our friend and colleague Deb Keogh, whose efforts and passion for the Notre Dame Adolescent Parenting Project made this book possible, and to John Borkowski and Tom Whitman, with our utmost gratitude for their leadership and wisdom, whose quest for the truth inspired us to write this book. Downloaded by [New York University] at 12:47 14 August 2016 This page intentionally left blank Downloaded by [New York University] at 12:47 14 August 2016 Contents List of fi gures x List of tables xi Preface xiii Acknowledgements xix 1 A systems perspective on myths and misperceptions 1 2 Myths and misperceptions from research 21 3 Myths and misperceptions from popular culture 41 4 Myths and misperceptions about teen pregnancy 66 5 Myths and misperceptions about teen parents 87 6 Myths and misperceptions about children of teen parents 106 7 Myths and misperceptions related to public policy 126 8 Rethinking cultural myths 149 Downloaded by [New York University] at 12:47 14 August 2016 Appendix: Select studies used to investigate teen pregnancy and parenting 174 References 190 Index 215 Figures 2.1 Conceptual model of teen parenting and child development proposed by Whitman et al. ( 2001 ) 23 4.1 Teen birth rates in the United States and England and Wales from 1991 through 2011 69 4.2a Reported pregnancy status and outcomes of young women from the NDAPP at 18 years of age 73 4.2b Reported pregnancy status and outcomes of young men from the NDAPP at 18 years of age 74 4.3 Percentage of all births to women aged 15 to 19 compared to adult women aged 25 to 29, by country 79 6.1 Rates of infant mortality in 1960 and 2011 for ten countries 109 Downloaded by [New York University] at 12:47 14 August 2016 Tables 1.1 Ten myths about teen pregnancy and parenting 3 7.1 Federal defi nition of abstinence-only education 129 8.1 Cultural myths reframed 159 A.1 Table of major studies 175 Downloaded by [New York University] at 12:47 14 August 2016 This page intentionally left blank Downloaded by [New York University] at 12:47 14 August 2016 Preface Our contributions to this book represent nearly 50 years of collective experience studying teen mothers and their children across a variety of basic and applied longitudinal studies. All three of us cut our teeth on research with teen moms with the Notre Dame Adolescent Parenting Project (NDAPP) under the guid- ance of Drs. John G. Borkowski and Thomas L. Whitman. The NDAPP began in the mid-1980s and followed a sample of over 100 teen mothers and their children for more than 20 years. We have already published two books describing the results of this study; Interwoven Lives summarized fi ndings through the fi rst fi ve years of the children’s lives (Whitman, Borkowski, Keogh, and Weed, 2001 ) and Risk and Resilience provided an overview of the lives of the mothers and their children across 14 years (Borkowski, Farris, Whitman, Carothers, Weed, and Keogh, 2007 ). Like many academics, we see the indelible impression our mentors have left in how we approach our research. We were trained to incorporate all aspects of good science while also recognizing the individual differences of the mothers and children as valuable human beings, and not just participants. Our mentors’ personal and professional dedication to social justice and “big picture” thinking continues on in our careers, yet we also bring unique personal strengths and (sometimes contrasting) perspectives. Keri brings the most experience to the group, having been a part of the NDAPP since the beginning and a signifi cant contributor to both previous books from the study. With this experience, she has constructed a deep belief in the importance of viewing teen parenting through a systems perspective that considers all the different infl uences that must be taken into Downloaded by [New York University] at 12:47 14 August 2016 account when considering human development. Jaelyn’s previous background as a clinician has informed her passion about being sure information is relevant and helpful to those directly working with teen mothers and their families. Jody, who was John’s fi nal graduate student, has recently started her independent research career, gravitating towards research relevant to public health and how research is (and is not) integrated into public policy. We see our similar training, and different perspectives, as major strengths of this book that will contribute to the existing literature on teen pregnancy and parenting. Our investigations of the NDAPP data, along with other studies on teen mothers, have been enlightening.

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