The Timing of the First Birth and Changes in Personal Efficacy

Examines the psychological consequences of the 1st birth from the life-course perspective. The 1st birth is seen as a major life event subject to normative constraints regarding its timing. It is hypothesized that a too early 1st birth (age 18 or younger) has negative psychological consequences for the mother in the form of a lowered sense of personal efficacy. No such effect is hypothesized for those remaining childless or for those experiencing an on-time 1st birth age 19 or older). The data are drawn from the National Longitudinal Survey of a cohort of women who were age 14-24 in 1967. Results indicate that having a 1st birth before age 19 reduces personal efficacy regardless of original differences in personal efficacy age education or parental socioeconomic status. (authors modified)