TY - JOUR
T1 - Predictors and correlates of abortion in the fragile families and well-being study
T2 - Paternal behavior, substance use, and partner violence
AU - Coleman, Priscilla K.
AU - Maxey, Charles David
AU - Spence, Maria
AU - Nixon, Charisse L.
N1 - Funding Information:
The Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study served as the data source for this archival study. The study is a collaborative effort by principal investigators associated with Princeton University and Columbia University and the study is funded by the National Institute of Child Health and Development, the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the Office of Population Research at Princeton University. The study was designed to address non-marital childbearing, welfare reform, and paternal behavior. More specifically, As stated on the website (http://www. fragilefamilies.princeton.edu/about.asp), the study was developed to address four questions of potential interest to researchers and policymakers: “(1) What are the conditions and capabilities of unmarried parents, especially fathers?; (2) What is the nature of the relationships between unmarried parents?; (3) How do children born into these families fare?; and (4) How do policies and environmental conditions affect families and children?” The public use data are available free for download from the Princeton University Office of Population Research data archive. Users must register before downloading data. Among the topics of recently conducted studies as cited on the Fragile Families website are the following: fatherhood and incarceration, child care and parental employment, fathers’ ties to unmarried mothers and their children, couple dynamics and father investments.
PY - 2009/7
Y1 - 2009/7
N2 - This study was designed to identify predictors of the choice to abort or deliver a child within 18 months of a previous birth and to compare mothers who chose to abort or deliver relative to substance use and adverse partner behavior. Using a systems perspective, data from the Fragile Families and Well-Being Study were examined. The sample included participants from 16 cities, and within the selected cities, hospitals with high rates of unmarried births were chosen for inclusion in the survey. The data analysis process entailed two steps: 1) predictors of the choice to abort were identified statistically; 2) mothers who chose to abort and deliver were compared relative to heavy drinking, cigarette smoking, and adverse partner behavior after controlling for potentially confounding factors identified in step one. The results indicated that several variables pertaining to the father's commitment to raising a previously born child and to his relationship with the mother predicted the choice to abort. Further, a recent abortion was related to substance use and partner perpetrated physical aggression after the effects of confounding variables were removed.Professionals who work with women from impoverished environments facing an unplanned pregnancy should be encouraged to sensitively explore the woman's support system. If the father is unavailable, counselors can assist women in identifying other sources of support within and outside the family.
AB - This study was designed to identify predictors of the choice to abort or deliver a child within 18 months of a previous birth and to compare mothers who chose to abort or deliver relative to substance use and adverse partner behavior. Using a systems perspective, data from the Fragile Families and Well-Being Study were examined. The sample included participants from 16 cities, and within the selected cities, hospitals with high rates of unmarried births were chosen for inclusion in the survey. The data analysis process entailed two steps: 1) predictors of the choice to abort were identified statistically; 2) mothers who chose to abort and deliver were compared relative to heavy drinking, cigarette smoking, and adverse partner behavior after controlling for potentially confounding factors identified in step one. The results indicated that several variables pertaining to the father's commitment to raising a previously born child and to his relationship with the mother predicted the choice to abort. Further, a recent abortion was related to substance use and partner perpetrated physical aggression after the effects of confounding variables were removed.Professionals who work with women from impoverished environments facing an unplanned pregnancy should be encouraged to sensitively explore the woman's support system. If the father is unavailable, counselors can assist women in identifying other sources of support within and outside the family.
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U2 - 10.1007/s11469-008-9188-7
DO - 10.1007/s11469-008-9188-7
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:67650889547
SN - 1557-1874
VL - 7
SP - 405
EP - 422
JO - International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction
JF - International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction
IS - 3
ER -
