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Maternal employment and adolescent sexual behavior

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Abstract

This study investigated whether maternal employment would be associated with teenage sexual attitudes and behaviors likely to increase the probability of teenage pregnancy. Female subjects whose mothers were employed outside the home during the high school years (a) had a greater tendency to begin sexual relations before age 19, (b) expressed less concern regarding the risk of unintended pregnancy, and (c) scored lower on an objective test of their practical knowledge about contraception.

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Received Ph.D. in social psychology from the University of Washington. Research interests include personality and environmental influences on adjustment.

Received Ph.D. from University of Georgia. Current research interests are in behavioral teratology.

Received Ph.D. from Oklahoma State University. Research interests are in loneliness and adjustment.

Received Ph.D. from North Carolina State University. Research interests are in population and urban sociology.

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Hansson, R.O., O'Connor, M.E., Jones, W.H. et al. Maternal employment and adolescent sexual behavior. J Youth Adolescence 10, 55–60 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02088423

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