Masters Theses
Date of Award
5-1997
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts
Major
Psychology
Major Professor
Deborah Welsh
Committee Members
Deobrah Baldwin, Ronald Hopson
Abstract
Previous studies have documented associations between self-esteem, locus of control, a number of demographic and family background variables, and premarital childbearing. The present study, a secondary analysis of longitudinal data, examines these variables, and the number of children born to young mothers over a 14 year period (1979-1993). The sample consists of 914 never-married young women who were between the ages of 14 and 22 when first interviewed in 1979. Self-esteem levels did not differ between young women who had no children, those who had 1 child, and those who had 3 or more children. Also, there were no significant differences found in the locus of control orientation for these 3 groups. Of the demographic and family background variables, age at first birth, mother’s education, father’s education, educational goals, age at first sex, socioeconomic status (SES), and father/stepfather in household were found to be significantly different for the 3 groups. No significant differences were found in the frequency of religious attendance. It was concluded that demographic variables concerning a young womans’ context, aspirations, and her sexual history are all significant determinants of the number of children born to the young mothers, while her psychological characteristics are not.
Recommended Citation
Massey, Roxie F., "Factors associated with subsequent childbearing among young unwed mothers. " Master's Thesis, University of Tennessee, 1997.
https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_gradthes/10609