Direct correspondence to Jennifer Manlove, Child Trends, 4301 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 350, Washington, DC 20008 <jmanlove@childtrends.org>. All data and coding will be shared by Jennifer Manlove for replication purposes. We gratefully acknowledge research support from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development through Grant No. R01 HD044761-03 and Grant No. P01 HD045610-01A1.
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Original Article
Relationship Characteristics and the Relationship Context of Nonmarital First Births Among Young Adult Women†
Article first published online: 5 APR 2012
DOI: 10.1111/j.1540-6237.2012.00853.x
© 2012 by the Southwestern Social Science Association
Additional Information
How to Cite
Manlove, J., Wildsmith, E., Welti, K., Scott, M. E. and Ikramullah, E. (2012), Relationship Characteristics and the Relationship Context of Nonmarital First Births Among Young Adult Women. Social Science Quarterly, 93: 506–520. doi: 10.1111/j.1540-6237.2012.00853.x
- †
Publication History
- Issue published online: 7 MAY 2012
- Article first published online: 5 APR 2012
Funded by
- National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Grant Numbers: R01 HD044761-03, P01 HD045610-01A1
- Abstract
- Article
- References
- Cited By
Objectives
The objectives of this study were to examine whether and how characteristics of the relationship dyad are linked to nonmarital childbearing among young adult women, additionally distinguishing between cohabiting and nonunion births.
Methods
We used the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, 1997 Cohort and discrete time-event history methods to examine these objectives.
Results
Our analyses found that similarities and differences between women and their most recent sexual partner in educational attainment, disengagement from work or school, race/ethnicity, and age were linked to the risk and context of nonmarital childbearing. For example, partner disengagement (from school and work) was associated with increased odds of a nonmarital birth regardless of whether the woman herself was disengaged. Additionally, having a partner of a different race/ethnicity was associated with nonmarital childbearing for whites, but not for blacks and Hispanics.
Conclusions
We conclude that relationship characteristics are an important dimension of the lives of young adults that influence their odds of having a birth outside of marriage.