Do adolescents who relinquish their children fare better or worse than those who raise them?
When background and other characteristics are controlled for, older adolescents who rear their children are as likely as those who place them for adoption to complete high school. However, relinquishers are more likely to complete vocational training and have higher educational aspirations. Further, relinquishers are more likely to delay marriage, to be employed six and 12 months after the birth and to live in higher income households than are child rearers. Child rearers are more likely to become pregnant again sooner and to resolve subsequent pregnancies by abortion. Adolescents who relinquish their children do not suffer more negative psychological consequences than do those who raise their children. Overall, both groups indicated very high levels of satisfaction with their decision to relinquish or to rear, although relinquishers were slightly less satisfied with their decision than were child rearers. The study sample consisted of 123 child rearers and 146 relinquishers who had attended a pregnancy-counseling program affiliated with a large adoption agency that practices open adoption. Hence, the findings are limited to a select sample and should not be generalized beyond adolescents who participate in a similar program.
McLaughlin
S D
SD
Battelle's Health and Population Research Center, Seattle, Washington.
Manninen
D L
DL
Winges
L D
LD
D000293:Adolescent; D000300:Adoption; D002668:Child Rearing; D004522:Educational Status; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011247:Pregnancy; D011253:Pregnancy in Adolescence