Considered role of cohabitation in legitimation of premarital conceptions using data from 920 women. Found that, for white women in their twenties, pregnant cohabiting women were more likely to legitimate their first birth. Among black women and teenage white women, pregnant cohabiting women were no more likely to marry before their child was born…

Used June 1985 Current Population Survey data to provide detailed analysis of childbearing after second marriage among women who remarried during reproductive years. For both Whites and Blacks, approximately one-half of women gave birth in second marriage; most births occurred within 24 months of remarriage. Among Whites, childbearing…

Studied marital satisfaction in 106 women, evaluating satisfaction both early and late in their pregnancy. Found that coping resource and pregnancy decision-making were related to marital satisfaction at both stages. Marital satisfaction remained consistent, both for individuals and for group. Marital satisfaction late in pregnancy was related to…

Examined changes in spouses' experiences of their mates and marital relationships from last trimester of pregnancy through 3 years postpartum. Found 4 distinct patterns of marital change (accelerating decline, linear decline, no change, modest positive increase). Findings from 128 families revealed that patterns of marital change were determined…

Uses data from Cycle IV of the National Survey of Family Growth to evaluate whether adoption is feasible pregnancy resolution strategy for African-American teenagers. Results indicated that existing data do not provide sound basis for conclusions about whether adoption can ultimately serve as alternative to early child rearing for larger numbers…

Used data from National Longitudinal Survey of Labor Market Experience of Youth to examine relationship between whether or not women wanted to become pregnant with first child, and their subsequent maternal behaviors and infant's birth weight. Being Black or younger was associated with below-average levels of pregnancy wantedness; living in urban…

Assessed effects of violated parenting expectations on adjustment to parenthood among 473 married women. Interviewed women during final trimester of first pregnancy and at one-year postbirth. Found women expected things to be better at one year than they actually were. Discrepancies significantly affected ease of adjustment to motherhood.…

Obtained data on Canadian adoptions (1981-90) from adoption coordinators of all 10 provinces and 2 territories. Found downward trends in use of adoption as means of family formation across decade. By 1990, most infant adoptions were facilitated by private practitioners and agencies whereas older children were primarily adopted through public…

Addresses the impact of religious affiliation on intercourse risk and contraception use among adolescent women during the 1980s when church-based groups were increasingly involved in debates over reproductive and family issues. Results show that adolescent nonmarital intercourse and birth rates were rising suggesting that religious organizations,…

Examined how sexually active adolescent women intended to deal with premarital pregnancy and what influenced intentions. Subjects holding positive general attitudes toward abortion showed stronger intentions toward terminating unwanted pregnancy. Abortion attitudes of significant others influenced intentions. More career-oriented subjects…

Tested causal models predicting unmarried adolescent pregnancy using data from 2,158 young adults. Among the males, having a girlfriend become pregnant is associated with school difficulties, low parental socioeconomic status, and high popularity. Among females, pregnancy risk is related to race, low socioeconomic status, father absence, number of…

This paper examines fertility patterns of women in two different types of marital unions (monogamous and polygynous) in 16 sample villages of eastern Nigeria. Results show polygyny tends to reduce fertility through the intermediary of a comparatively wider age differential between the polygynists and their wives. (Author)

Explored relationship between family variables and adolescents' sexual behavior among 224 Latino and 160 Anglo adolescents. Sexual behavior regressed on family variables explained 30% of variance in sexual behavior. Results suggest that conservative maternal attitudes about sex and presence of dating rules that are followed or enforced delay…

Hypotheses regarding the relationship between "enforced" marriage and church affiliation, degree of urbanization and level of education are tested with data from the Netherlands pertaining to the periods 1959-1961 and 1969-1971. Differences between the first and the second time period are attributed to sexual permissiveness during the last decade.…

Reduction in fertility of remarried women relative to once married women was investigated. When marital history of husband was controlled, it became evident that a greater reduction of fertility was observed among women with previously married husbands than among remarried women whose husbands had not been previously married. (Author)