The relationships among adolescent pregnancy, pregnancy resolution, and juvenile delinquency

Citation

Hope, Trina L.; Wilder, Esther I.; & Watt, Toni Terling (2003). The relationships among adolescent pregnancy, pregnancy resolution, and juvenile delinquency. Sociological Quarterly. vol. 44 (4) pp. 555-576

Abstract

We apply criminological theories of social control to explore the relationships among adolescent pregnancy, pregnancy resolution, and juvenile delinquency. While most ever-pregnant girls have especially high rates of delinquent behavior, adolescent mothers exhibit delinquency levels no higher than those of their never-pregnant peers. Unlike adolescent females who end their pregnancies through abortion, those who keep their babies experience a dramatic reduction in both smoking and marijuana use. Our results suggest that among adolescent girls, the birth of a child has a strong trajectory-modifying effect. It serves as a mechanisms of social control and substantially reduces the likelihood of delinquent behavior.

URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1533-8525.2003.tb00525.x

Keyword(s)

Crime & delinquency Reproductive Health

Reference Type

Journal Article

Journal Title

Sociological Quarterly

Author(s)

Hope, Trina L.
Wilder, Esther I.
Watt, Toni Terling

Year Published

2003

Volume Number

44

Issue Number

4

Pages

555-576

DOI

10.1111/j.1533-8525.2003.tb00525.x

Reference ID

259