Presents information from a focus group study conducted by the National Institute for Adolescent Pregnancy and Family Services at Temple University. Discusses in detail the design of the study, outcome, and relevant findings. Included are excerpts from the transcribed sessions held with a group of sexually active teenage males. (Author/BH)

Examined data from Second National Family Violence Survey. Found women under age 25 to be more likely than older women to be both pregnant and to be hit and abused by husbands and partners. Although pregnant women were not particularly vulnerable group, pregnancy did not insulate them from high rates of violence experienced by young women.…

Presents excerpts from interviews with members of family in which four generations of women had been adolescent mothers. Most material presented came from Leticia, 20-year-old mother. Other materials are from Leticia's 39-year-old mother, 63-year-old grandmother, and 83-year-old great-grandmother. Explores psychological difficulties each…

Examined the extent to which maternal smoking before and after pregnancy was associated with disruptive behaviors in childhood. When confounding factors were removed, found that maternal smoking during pregnancy was associated with a small but statistically detectable increase in problem behaviors. Smoking after pregnancy was not associated with…

Surveyed 523 undergraduates regarding drug use during pregnancy. Rank order of relative safety of drugs existed for respondents. Tobacco, alcohol, and aspirin were perceived as similar in their consequences to fetus. Cocaine was considered most deleterious and Accutane was considered least deleterious. Seventy-five percent would imprison pregnant…

Summarizes research from the 1980s on topics of adolescent sexual activity, contraception, abortion, marriage, adoption, and childrearing. Emphasizes research about antecedents of adolescent sexual and contraceptive behavior because they are key risk factors in adolescent pregnancy. Notes advances in data and methods and highlights research gaps.…

Assessed differences between 20 negative and 36 positive pregnancy testers and evaluated pregnancy resolution decision-making process of positive testers. Subjects were Hispanic adolescents requesting pregnancy determination at outpatient clinic. Results indicated that negative and positive testers were similar, although positives were older and…

Examined relative importance of demographic characteristics, perceived alternatives to early childbearing, attitudes toward adoption and expectations regarding pregnancy, and relationships and experiences in adolescent mothers' (n=177) decisions to keep or release their child for adoption. Results indicated demographic characteristics and…

Compared records of 572 adolescents who delivered babies in 1 obstetric service with records of 978 older patients. Found no significant differences between groups regarding spontaneous and operative delivery rates or regarding neonatal risk. Findings support view that obstetric outcomes of adolescents are no worse than outcomes for older…

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…