Analyzes attitudes and values concerning marriage and fertility using data from the 1987 wave of the National Survey of Children. Most respondents were aged 18 to 22. Their views on marriage, divorce, abortion, and related topics should be taken into account in developing policy. (DM)

Developed and tested a model of roll-call voting by U.S. senators on a cloture motion relating to the Parental and Medical Leave Act of 1988. Senate roll-call voting was found to be dominated by policy liberalism and party, whereas the impact of contextual demand variables was relatively minor and indirect, and votes could be accurately predicted.…

Explored reasons that pregnant teenagers rarely consider option of adoption. Interviews with 21 unmarried pregnant adolescents and their significant others revealed 4 phenomena pivotal to their willingness to consider adoption: societal sanctions, low level of knowledge, anticipated psychological discomfort, and lack of support from helping…

Couples for whom in vitro fertilization (IVF) or gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT) treatment failed (N=20) were followed up and compared with successful couples. Current mental-health status, quality of life, and marital adjustment were assessed via questionnaires; experiences were explored by interview. Results and recommendations for…

Exercise is encouraged in the management of pregnant women with gestational diabetes or women with Type II diabetes who become pregnant. Although non-weight-bearing exercises may be best for sedentary women, moderate workouts appear to be safe for most women with gestational diabetes. The role of exercise, risk factors, warning signs, and examples…

Examines the Rodgers, Rowe, and Buster (1998) epidemic model of the onset of social activities for adolescent sexuality. Maintains that its strengths include its theoretical potential to generate new hypotheses for further testing at the individual level. Asserts that its limitations include the lack of a well-developed statistical framework and…

Reviews and comments on Stoolmiller's (1998) criticisms of an epidemic model of the onset of social activities (EMOSA) and about nonlinear modeling in general. Discusses the idea of social contagion as a general theoretical tool. (Author)

Examines sociodemographic, family, and health factors associated with repeat pregnancy in a clinical sample of urban, first-time mothers. Results indicate that postpartum contraceptive method was associated with repeat pregnancy at year one; contraceptive use, maternal age, history of miscarriages, and postpartum contraceptive method were…

Examines art as a means to understand the physical and emotional loss of miscarriage. "The Secret Club Project," an innovative exhibit featuring 10 women artists' visual responses to miscarriage, is described. Rituals related to pregnancy loss are reviewed, as well as artists' and art therapists' use of the creative process to move…

Studied the relationships among sexual activity, pregnancy, and deviance in a cohort of 196 urban African American adolescent girls and compared the risk factors that predict these behaviors. Results indicate that girls who engage in early sexual activity and those who become pregnant are more likely to be involved in substance abuse and status…

Evaluation of adolescent and teacher perceptions of adolescent pregnancy-prevention programs using dolls that simulate infant behavior. Uses experimental and control groups of high school students from Midwest suburban areas. Finds increased appreciation for difficulty of infant care among adolescents in experimental groups. Majority of teachers…

Although teenage pregnancy is at the center of much current social concern and political debate, the focus tends to be on the young mothers and their children. The lives and parenting experiences of young fathers typically receive less attention from researchers, practitioners, and policymakers. This article presents findings from a qualitative…

Infant simulators are a popular means for providing a realistic experience of caring for an infant and are often used as a supplement in sexuality education programs. The goal of this activity is to help adolescents realize the enormous responsibility that raising a child entails and to motivate them to avoid risking pregnancy. The little research…

This review focuses on prenatal stress as a risk factor for psychopathology. Evidence from animal studies is summarized, and the relevance of prenatal stress models in animals for human studies is discussed. In the offspring of prenatally stressed animals, overactivity and impaired negative feedback regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal…

The purpose of this study was to explore the comparative contribution that (a) multiple sources of education about sexual topics (peers, media, school and other adults), and (b) the timing of this sex education, make on American adolescent sexual attitudes and behavior. Participants were 672 ethnically and economically diverse male and female,…