Northampton Electronic Collection of Theses and Research

Teenage pregnancy and motherhood: how might evolutionary theory inform policy

Johns, S. E., Dickins, T. E. and Clegg, H. (2011) Teenage pregnancy and motherhood: how might evolutionary theory inform policy. Journal of Evolutionary Psychology. 9(1), pp. 3-19. 1789-2082.

Item Type: Article
Abstract: Teenage pregnancy and motherhood are considered to be pressing social concerns and, in the majority of developed countries, are often viewed as problems in need of solutions. While a number of factors are associated with teenage motherhood, the underlying causes remain elusive. Despite a lack of consensus, policy aimed at ‘solving’ teenage motherhood is typically based on these proposed proximate correlates; addressing these, rather than the cause. Recent appraisals of this approach suggest that it may not be working effectively, if at all, and policy makers might be in need of some novel approaches. This paper discusses how policy decisions concerning reproductive timing may benefit from the perspective provided by evolutionary life-history theory, and why policy ought to take into account the hypothesis that teenage motherhood is the outcome of an adaptive response of an evolved reproductive strategy to conditions of risk and uncertainty; that having children at an earlier age may promote lineage survival when personal future is uncertain
Uncontrolled Keywords: Teenage pregnancy, reproduction, life-history theory, evolutionary biology
Subjects: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology > BF698 Personality > BF698.95 Evolutionary psychology
H Social Sciences > HQ The family. Marriage. Women > HQ755.7 Parents. Parenthood > HQ759.4 Teenage pregnancy
Creators: Johns, Sarah E, Dickins, Thomas E and Clegg, Helen
Publisher: Akadémiai Kiadó
Faculties, Divisions and Institutes: University Faculties, Divisions and Research Centres - OLD > Research Group > Social and Cultural Research in Psychology Group
University Faculties, Divisions and Research Centres - OLD > School of Social Sciences (to 2016)
University Faculties, Divisions and Research Centres - OLD > Faculty of Health & Society > Psychology
Faculties > Faculty of Health & Society > Psychology
Research Centres > Centre for Psychology and Social Sciences
Date: 2011
Date Type: Publication
Page Range: pp. 3-19
Journal or Publication Title: Journal of Evolutionary Psychology
Volume: 9
Number: 1
Language: English
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1556/JEP.9.2011.37.1
ISSN: 1789-2082
Status: Published / Disseminated
Refereed: Yes
Related URLs:
URI: http://nectar.northampton.ac.uk/id/eprint/5504

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