The Determinants of Young Women's Pregnancy-Resolution Choices

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Abstract
In this article, we investigate the determinants of pregnant young women's decisions to parent or to place their child for adoption. Several conceptual approaches to pregnancy decisions are considered: opportunity structures, social networks, socialization, and expectancy value theory. The data come from a longitudinal study of young women who were interviewed during their last trimester of pregnancy, and again 6 months after the birth of their child. Results indicate that significant others play an important role in young women's pregnancy-resolution decision making and that prior adoption socialization experiences are positively related to choosing adoption. An expectancy value model of decision making is also useful in predicting parenting versus placing. Variables related to an opportunity structures approach have only indirect effects on pregnancy-resolution decisions, offering only modest support for this particular model.