Examining External and Internal Poverty as Antecedents of Teen Pregnancy
Methods: Data from the National Education Longitudinal Study were analyzed. This data set allowed us to identify eighth-grade antecedents of teen pregnancy/childbearing.
Results: The variables that were found to be most predictive of later pregnancy were reflective of internal poverty (locus of control, subject's educational expectations, and confidence in graduating from high school) and external poverty (parents' highest education).
Conclusions: Prevention programs must begin before the eighth grade, instill an internal locus of control, promote academic achievement by enriching children's perception of personal life options for which an education is needed, empower children and their familial models, and prevent internal poverty.
Keywords: adolescent pregnancy
Document Type: Research Article
Affiliations: 1: School of Human Environmental Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR. 2: Associate Professor, Educational Leadership, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR. 3: University Professor, Program in Health Science/Director, Health Education Projects Office, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR.
Publication date: 01 July 2004
The American Journal of Health Behavior seeks to improve the quality of life through multidisciplinary health efforts in fostering a better understanding of the multidimensional nature of both individuals and social systems as they relate to health behaviors.
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