Teen Pregnancy and Rural Poverty

Teen Pregnancy, Rural Poverty and Youth Well-Being Outcomes: 

Teen Pregnancy, Rural Poverty and Youth Well-Being Outcomes Anastasia R. Snyder Extension Specialist Assistant Professor of Rural Sociology and Demography Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology College of Agricultural Sciences snyder@pop.psu.edu http://fipa.aers.psu.edu

Objectives for Today’s Talk: 

Objectives for Today’s Talk Discuss trends in child and family poverty among rural and urban populations. Discuss what we know about family formation and teen pregnancy among rural youth. Present new findings about teen pregnancy and youth sexual risk behavior among the rural and urban youth.

Measuring and Discussing Rurality: 

Measuring and Discussing Rurality Two main ways to measure ‘rurality’ are: Rural/Urban Metro/Nonmetro Today’s talk I will be using metropolitan status and when possible using a three category measure: central city, suburban, nonmetro Will also be looking at poverty among PA’s rural school districts

Measuring and Discussing Poverty: 

Measuring and Discussing Poverty Poverty is measured at the individual, family and household levels. Family and individual poverty are common measures Child poverty Elderly poverty Proportion of county’s population in poverty We will be discussing poverty at the county, family and individual levels today

Poverty in Nonmetro America: 

Poverty in Nonmetro America Poverty is highest in central city metro and nonmetro counties More nonmetro counties have high (20% or higher) poverty 4.4% of metro in 2000 21.8% of nonmetro in 2000 Persistent Poverty is more of a problem in nonmetro counties 12% of all counties 2% of metro counties 16% of nonmetro counties

Poverty in Nonmetro America: 

Poverty in Nonmetro America Structural and Individual factors contribute to poverty in nonmetro areas. Structural factors: Fewer good jobs Low-quality schools Barriers to employment (transportation, childcare) Fewer job seeking assistant programs Individual factors: Low education of the adult population

Comparing Metro and Nonmetro High Poverty and Persistent Poverty Counties: 

Comparing Metro and Nonmetro High Poverty and Persistent Poverty Counties Source: Weber, Duncan, Whitener & Miller, 2003; Weber & Jensen, 2004

Percent Poverty Among Married Couple Families with Children by Residence : 1980, 1990, and 2000: 

Percent Poverty Among Married Couple Families with Children by Residence : 1980, 1990, and 2000 Source: Snyder & McLaughlin, 2004

Percent Poverty Among Female-Headed Families with Children by Residence : 1980, 1990, and 2000: 

Percent Poverty Among Female-Headed Families with Children by Residence : 1980, 1990, and 2000 Source: Snyder & McLaughlin, 2004

Poverty and Child and Youth Outcomes: 

Poverty and Child and Youth Outcomes Child poverty, especially if it is persistent, is linked with a host of child and youth outcomes Worse physical health Delayed cognitive development and worse school performance Lower social skills Lower educational attainment Lower self-esteem Risky sexual behavior and teen pregnancy Partially operates through poor parenting practices that result from economic stress Source: Duncan & Brooks-Gunn, 1997; Conger, Conger & Elder, 1997

Family Formation in Nonmetro America: 

Family Formation in Nonmetro America Numerous recent studies find that nonmetro areas have more ‘traditional’ family patterns: Younger age at first sex Earlier childbearing More common to marry after a nonmarital pregnancy, closer link between marriage and childbearing Earlier marriage Many patterns are similar to those in suburban areas Few have examined adolescent sexual behavior and rural/urban comparisons in teen pregnancy Source: A;brecht & Albrecht, 2004; Heaton, Lichter & Amonteng, 1989; Snyder, Brown & Condo, 2004; Snyder, 2005

Poverty, Nonmetro Status and Risky Sexual Behavior and Teen Pregnancy: 

Poverty, Nonmetro Status and Risky Sexual Behavior and Teen Pregnancy Use data from the 2002 National Survey of Family Growth to examine risky sexual behavior and teen pregnancy. 7,643 women aged 15-44 in 2002 1,150 teens aged 15-19 in 2002 2002 NSFG collected by the National Center for Health Statistics and the CDC Restricted file contains detailed information on risky sexual behaviors by nonmetro and family poverty status Data only available for teens aged 15-19

Risky Sexual Behavior Among 15-19 Year Old Girls by Metro Status: 

Risky Sexual Behavior Among 15-19 Year Old Girls by Metro Status

Sex and Pregnancy Among 15-19 Year Old Girls by Metro Status: 

Sex and Pregnancy Among 15-19 Year Old Girls by Metro Status

Risky Sexual Behavior Among 15-19 Year Old Girls by Poverty Status: 

Risky Sexual Behavior Among 15-19 Year Old Girls by Poverty Status

Sex and Pregnancy Among 15-19 Year Old Girls by Metro and Poverty Status: 

Sex and Pregnancy Among 15-19 Year Old Girls by Metro and Poverty Status

Risky Sexual Behavior Among 15-19 Year Old Girls by Metro and Poverty Status: 

Risky Sexual Behavior Among 15-19 Year Old Girls by Metro and Poverty Status

Sex and Pregnancy Among 15-19 Year Old Girls by Metro and Poverty Status: 

Sex and Pregnancy Among 15-19 Year Old Girls by Metro and Poverty Status

Pregnancy Among 15-19 Year Old Girls: 

Pregnancy Among 15-19 Year Old Girls *72% increase *48% increase *100% increase

Coclusions: 

Coclusions Nonmetro teens are engaging in risky sexual behavior about as often as other teens. More combine sex with drugs More have ever had sex and oral sex The percent ever pregnant falls between that of central city and suburban girls More poor youth have ever had sex and have ever been pregnant A higher percent of poor nonmetro girls engage in risky sexual behavior, have ever had sex and oral sex, and the percent ever pregnant is equivalent to that of central city poor girls.