The costs and consequences of teenage childbearing for mothers.

Abstract

This study estimates the causal effects of adolescent childbearing in the US on future behavior and socioeconomic attainment. The research design is unique in that it compares a control group of teenagers who became pregnant and miscarried with women who had their first birth as teenagers. Data are obtained from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth among a sample of women who were teenagers during 1970-85. Blacks and Hispanics were oversampled to ensure sufficient representation. There were an estimated 18.9% of women who were teenagers during the study period who had first births as teenagers. Findings do not support the general position that teenage childbearing results in adverse consequences. Teenage mothers were no more likely to receive public assistance in their teen years than in their later childbearing years. Teenage mothers were not disadvantaged by reduced labor market earnings. The adverse consequences for teenage mothers did include the lower likelihood of obtaining a high school diploma the greater chance of single motherhood and higher fertility by 0.5-1 additional child over their lifetime. In 1993 first-time teenage mothers were expected to receive $11.9-19.9 billion in public assistance benefits over their lifetime. This is estimated to range between $72724 and $121360 per teenage mother for public assistance and between $95508 and $176444 per teenage mother for public assistance food stamps and Medicaid. The authors emphasize that delayed childbearing results in minimal savings of 6-10% for delaying childbearing by 2-2.5 years among teens aged over 16 years. Greater savings of 13-15% would accrue by delaying childbearing among teens aged under 16 years.