Teen Mothers Marital Hopes and Realities

[futureshock]

On another site that gives health information to teens, an increasing number of teen girls are asking for tips on how to get pregnant. While this is disturbing for many reasons, here are some reasons for teens to think twice before getting pregnant which are not often discussed:

Important information teens should think about before having children:

Quote:

Teen Mothers Marital Hopes and Realities 

Many teen mothers have unrealistically high expectations for marriage.

At the time of their child's birth, almost 1/3 of unmarried teen mothers say they are "certain" that they will marry the biological father of their child. An additional 23% say their chances of marrying are "good."

In reality, not even 8% of unwed teen mothers are married to the baby's father within the year.

Teen Mothers Marital Hopes and Realities 

Marriage expectations and behaviors of unmarried teen mothers aged 15-19 (2002)

Marriage expectations and rates among unwed teen mothers vary by race and ethnicity. 
 
 
 
 
 

Marriage expectations and behaviors of unmarried teen mothers aged 15-19, by race/ethnicity (2002)

Teen Mothers Marital Hopes and Realities 

Non-Hispanic whites have substantially higher expectations for marriage than other racial and ethnic groups.

Almost 2/3 of non-Hispanic whites say they are "certain" they will marry their child's father, compared with 35% of Hispanics and 20% of non-Hispanic blacks.

One year later, only 12% of both non-Hispanic whites and Hispanics had actually married their child's father, as had only 2% of non-Hispanic blacks.

Teen Mothers Marital Hopes and Realities 

Teen mothers have reduced chances of ever marrying.

Childbearing outside of marriage is associated with a decreased likelihood of ever marrying and an increased risk of divorce among those who eventually do marry.

Since most teen births are non-marital, women who give birth during their teenage years face reduced chances of marriage.

Teen Mothers, Marriage, and Consequences 

Unmarried mothers are at greater risk of poverty.

Women who give birth out of marriage have lower educational attainment, lower incomes, and are more likely to receive public assistance.

Since teen mothers are less likely to ever get married, they are at greater risk for long term single motherhood and consequently, of being poor later in life.

Teen Mothers, Marriage, and Consequences 

Children born to unmarried teen mothers face higher risk of poverty, low educational attainment, early sexual activity, and are more likely to engage in problem behavior and become teen parents themselves.

Teen Mothers, Marriage, and Consequences 

Teen mothers who do marry are more likely to have a closely-spaced subsequent birth.

Short birth intervals increase risks for mother and child: premature birth, low birth weight, lower quality and quantity of parental time, increased physical, emotional and economic stress.

The instability of teen marriages combined with rapid subsequent births can result in more single-mother households with greater numbers of children.

http://74.125.93.132/custom?q=cache:gDRyE-aF36YJ:www.thenationalcampaign.org/resources/PPT/TeenMotherhoodMarriage.ppt+men+marriage+children&cd=3&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&client=google-csbe 

[megarooniduh]

Statistics are stupid.

[maddiesmommy626]

Since this is a site for moms & I doubt that a large number TTC teens are on here, you're preaching to the wrong congregation.  

[Ixchel183]

thanks for sharing, hopefully someone who needs to see this information will read it.

[ryleesmommy2009]

i was married at 17 to my husband now and i'm 19 now had my daughter at 18 almost 19 i wasn't pregnant when i got married and me and my husband got married because we love each other we have been together for a long time not in marriage but a relationship and our relationship couldn't be better so i could care less about what that says i know my husband is right for me and we made a good decision in how we chose to go about our lives and i think ppl should worry about there own relationships instead of teen moms yeah there young yeah sometimes things don't work the way they want them to but does life go the way anyone wants it to people of all ages have problems not just teens don't get me wrong i'm not saying for teens to go out and get pregnant but i'm just stating my opinion.

[kylismomma]

I had my first child and got married at 17. I DID marry the father of my child, in January we are celebrating two happy years of marriage and welcoming our second child into the world. I did not TRY to conceive, but birth control obviously isn't 100% effective. I would not change a thing. My husband and I have a very happy and healthy relationship and we do not live in poverty. We already have a nicer house than his parents do. Statistics all say basically the same thing, but there are PLENTY of exceptions. =)

[Dzyre1115]

That is nice and has been my experience as well but you must admit that it is not the norm!

Quoting MidwestMom-2-3:

First child: 16

Second child: 18

Third child: 29

Marriage: 13 yrs

Father of children: Same father to all!

Marriage status: Happy, established.

:)

[hopeledbetter]

Unless you are a teen unwedded/wedded mother I don't think you truely know.. Me and my DH got pregnant before we got married.. Have a Beautiful 18month old daughter. We own our own home. I am a stay at home mom.. And I am only 19 and he is 20, been together for 4 years and are celebrating our 2nd year of marriage in Dec. so unless you know, you have no right to say amything.. Statics or not

[Nzumbe]

Many teen mothers have unrealistically high expectations for marriage.

At the time of their child's birth, almost 1/3 of unmarried teen mothers say they are "certain" that they will marry the biological father of their child. An additional 23% say their chances of marrying are "good."

In reality, not even 8% of unwed teen mothers are married to the baby's father within the year.

Within the year?  I'm sure most of those people just had something come up.  Like, not getting approval from their parents or something.  What really matters is if the father stayed with her.

[imthatgirl728]

There is nothing shocking about this. And I would have to guess that even teen moms can see the validity of it.

[hfs1998]

I don't think it is necessarily a bad thing.  I was not a teen mom (I was 28 and married for almost 3 yrs before I had my first) but I know that if I had married my boyfriend from high school, it would have been a disaster!  At the time, I thought I loved him and maybe I did, but time passes and you want different things.  So while many girls may say that they are going to marry their boyfriends or want to marry their boyfriends, it is not a bad thing that they don't, esp if it is just going to end up a mess.  I think the stats are reflecting maybe a change in outlook or maturity or future plans, rather than boys stringing girls along.