Consequences of Parenthood in Late Adolescence: Findings from the National Longitudinal Study of High School Seniors

Research based on a panel study of over 22 thousand high school seniors in the class of 1972 who were the subjects of follow-up surveys in 1973 74 and 76. Outcome measures analyzed included: expected educational attainment self esteem locus of control orientations toward work family and community; satisfaction with career progress; number of children expected; homemaker aspirations; and welfare dependency. The effects of early marriage and parenthood are assessed by comparing outcome measures across categories of respondents classified according to when they initially entered the parenthood role as well as when they first became married. Analysis indicates that late adolescent parents differ considerably from nonparents on many of the above measures. The differences shrink however when differences in related background characteristics are considered and shrink even further when the outcome measures for married parentss and married nonparents are compared. A clear shift is noted in career aspirations among married women marked by both lower work orientation and a higher tendency to select homemaking as the most likely career by age 30. Among the married women mothers indicate less satisfaction with career progress than those without children and the extent of dissatisfaction is related to timing of first birth. On average adolescent parents expect to have slightly larger families than nonparents and there is an association between timing of childbirth and welfare dependency that merits further investigation. There is a measurable effect associated with early marriage for some outcome measures (e.g. educational aspiration) but the married parents and nonparents do not differ appreciably. It is not clear whether this reflects absence of parenthood effects. An effect due to economic exigencies and other circumstances associated with early family formation may be showing up. Since many adolescent marriages are instigated by premariatal pregnancy the effects of early family formation among these adolescents may reflect the consequences of adolescent parenthood. (Authors)