Abstract
This paper examines the association between adolescent pregnancy and socioenvironmental, physical, and mental health problems in 1590 inner-city females aged 13–18 who use health clinics. Adolescents who have become pregnant, those who are sexually active but never have been pregnant, and those who are sexually inactive are compared. The sexually active youngsters come from more psychosocially disadvantaged backgrounds than their sexually inactive peers; the sexually active girls who become pregnant come from more psychosocially disadvantaged backgrounds than those who have never been pregnant. Despite this, the youths who have become pregnant do not have more current relationship problems, more stressful life events, or worse physical health than the never-pregnant sexually active youths. Although sexually inactive youths have the lowest rates of mental health problems, adolescents who have been pregnant have lower rates of anxiety and conduct disorder symptoms than those who are sexually active but never pregnant.
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Supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Fieldwork conducted by Survey Research Associates.
Research interests include adolescents and children, parenting, and families.
Research interests include epidemiology of child and adolescent psychiatric disorder.
Research interests include psychiatric epidemiology/deviant behavior.
Research interests include mental health and statistical issues.
Research interests include health behavior and mental health issues.
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Stiffman, A.R., Earls, F., Robins, L.N. et al. Adolescent sexual activity and pregnancy: Socioenvironmental problems, physical health, and mental health. J Youth Adolescence 16, 497–509 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02202943
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02202943