Many pregnant teens have high career aspirations, survey says

By Staff Writer

Some people have misconceptions that teenage mothers do not have college or career aspirations. However, a new study reveals that a majority of pregnancies are unintended and that almost 60 percent of adolescent mothers have lifetime goals that include getting a college degree.

The study, which was conducted by researchers at Women and Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, was based on surveys of 257 pregnant teenage girls. The average age of girls taking part in the study was 16.8 years old, and about 46 percent of the participants were Hispanic.

Not all of the girls who had aspirations to attend college were surprised by their pregnancies. Approximately 14 percent of those surveyed who wanted to go to college reported that they had been trying to get pregnant, which was a higher percentage than girls who had career goals that did not require a college degree.

The study's authors suggested that schools and communities should develop more programs that warn girls about how teen pregnancies can inhibit one's chances of fulfilling their career goals. Furthermore, they said that more resources should be provided to these teens that help them graduate from high school and attend college.

Adolescents who engage in risky sexual behavior may benefit from boarding schools, which aim to help problem teens become more disciplined and make better decisions.