Social and Psychological Research concerning Adolescent Childbearing: 1970-1980

Social and psychological research in the U.S. concerning the apparent causes and consequences of adolescent childbearing increased enormously during the 1970s. Most was funded by the federal government espeially the Center for Population Research NICHD. Among the major research findings: the prevalence of nonmarital intercourse among teenagers rose markedly during the early 1970s. A cluster of interacting biological social and psychological variables are associated with both early nonmarital coitus and contraceptive behaviors. The direct effects of adolescent childbearing tend to be minor when direct statistical techniques are used to control for the impact of socioeconomic status and race. Studies show an impressive improvement in methodology between 1970 and 1980 but progress in sophisticated conceptualization of the issues remains fairly minimal. (Authors modified)