Positive Outcomes among School-Age Mothers: Factors Associated with Postponing a Second Teenage Birth.

Recent research has identified several long-term negative life outcomes associated with teenage childbearing for parents and their children. To better understand teen births, data from the National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988 were used to examine factors associated with a second teen birth or a closely spaced second teen birth within 24 months. Results of this study are reported here. Out of a sample of 589 teen mothers, 34.5% had a second birth at any point in their teens, and among a sub-sample of young teen mothers (n=475, under age 18 at first birth), 27.6% had a closely spaced second teen birth. Factors associated with postponing a second teen birth included characteristics measured prior to the first birth (race/ethnicity and school type), at the time of the first birth (age at first birth, dropout status and marital status), and after the first birth (living situation, child care support, and educational and employment status). Among the full sample, younger teens were more likely to have a second birth at any point. Teen mothers who were involved in educational activities or (among older mothers) employment activities, even part-time, were more likely to postpone a second teen birth. (RJM)