The link between childhood maltreatment and teenage pregnancy

Research on the effects of maltreatment on child development suggests a number of pathways through which maltreatment could heighten the risk of teenage pregnancy. This study investigates the conceptual and empirical links between early experiences of maltreatment and later teenage pregnancy in a representative sample of 249 teenage women. Longitudinal data indicate that there are significantly higher pregnancy rates among the teenagers in the sample with a maltreatment history. The effect is not confined to those with a sexual abuse history and seems more pronounced for those with a range of maltreatment experiences. The relationship between maltreatment and pregnancy remains when controlling for possible confounding factors such as race and family structure, and it appears to be mediated by poor school experiences and by involvement in other risk behaviors. Implications of the findings are discussed.