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Researchers warn of negative effects of teen fatherhood

By Staff Writer

Popular television programs and media coverage have shed light on the hardships of teen pregnancy. However, a recent article published in the journal Economic Inquiry examined the negative effects of early fatherhood on young boys' academic performance.

Researchers compared the lives of teen fathers to other young men who had impregnated a female partner who subsequently miscarried.

According to the results, young dads were 15 percent less likely to graduate high school than their non-parent peers. Moreover, fatherhood increased the likelihood of the teens earning a GED by 11 percentage points.

Other aspects of life associated with early male parenting include increased chances of full time employment, military enrollment and marriage by the age of 19.

The researchers suggested that schools should implement interventions to help students who are at risk for becoming teen parents avoid the negative effects that this situation may have on their educations or careers.

According to the Guttmacher Institute, a total of 7 percent of females between the ages of 15 and 19 become pregnant each year.

Parents of adolescents who engage in risky sexual behavior may consider sending their children to boarding schools.

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