Undesired childbearing is associated with a wide range of negative health statuses for children and their mothers. Although the rate of undesired pregnancy in the U.S. recently declined, it remains persistently high, and understanding its precursors is vitally important for its reduction. We are using RDSL data to investigate attitudes, intimate relationships, and contraceptive use, as well as activities that compete with these childbearing-oriented factors, that are associated with undesired childbearing during the transition to adulthood.
Undesired Childbearing
Funding Support
Who Gets What They Want and Why? Undesired Pregnancies during the Transition to Adulthood (R03 HD110806). NICHD. 6/2023-5/2025. $100,000. Jennifer Barber, PI.
Distal Determinants of Race-Ethnic Variation in Unintended Fertility
R01HD078412. NICHD. 2014-2018. $425,000. Karen Guzzo, PI.
Dynamic Measures of Pregnancy Intentions and Subsequent Pregnancy
R03HD077051. NICHD. 2014-2016. $100,000. Jennifer Barber, PI.
A Comparison of Attitudes, Intentions, and Behaviors of Pregnant and Non-Pregnant Young Women: Evidence from the Relationship Dynamics and Social Life (RDSL) Study
Population Studies Center, University of Michigan, Freedman Fund. 2012-2013. $9,000. Yasamin Kusunoki, PI.
The Role of Research in Enhancing Family Planning and Pregnancy Prevention
Distinguished Fellows Program, William T. Grant Foundation. 2011-2013. $199,784. Jennifer Barber, PI.
Young Women's Relationships, Contraception, and Unintended Pregnancy
R01HD050329. NICHD. 2007-2012. ~$2 million. Jennifer Barber, PI.
Related Publications
Barber, Jennifer S., Yasamin Kusunoki, Heather H. Gatny, and Jamie Budnick. 2018. "The Dynamics of Intimate Partner Violence and the Risk of Pregnancy during the Transition to Adulthood." American Sociological Review 83(5):1020-1047.
Miller, Warren, Jennifer S. Barber, and Heather H. Gatny. 2018. "Mediation Models of Pregnancy Desires and Unplanned Pregnancy in Young, Unmarried Women." Journal of Biosocial Science 50(3): 291-311.
Moseson, Heidi, Christine Dehlendorf, Caitlin Gerdts, Eric Vittinghoff, Robert A. Hiatt, Jennifer S. Barber. 2018. "No one to turn to: low social support and the incidence of undesired pregnancy in the United States." Contraception 98:275-280.
Barber, Jennifer S., Yasamin Kusunoki, Heather Gatny, and Robert Melendez. 2017. "The Relationship Context of Young Pregnancies." Law & Inequality: A Journal of Theory and Practice 35(2):175-197.
Miller, Warren, Jennifer S. Barber, and Paul Schulz. 2017. "Do Perceptions of Their Partners Affect Young Women’s Pregnancy Risk? Further Study of Ambivalence." Population Studies 71:101-116.
Hayford, Sarah R., Jennifer Barber, Yasamin Kusunoki, and Karen B. Guzzo. 2016. "Perceived Costs and Benefits of Early Childbearing: New Dimensions and Predictive Power." Perspectives in Sexual and Reproductive Health 48(2):83-91.
Hall, Kelli Stidham, Yasamin Kusunoki, Heather Gatny, and Jennifer Barber. 2015. "Social Discrimination, Stress, and Risk of Unintended Pregnancy among Young Women." Journal of Adolescent Health 56(3):330-7.
Hall, Kelli Stidham, Yasamin Kusunoki, Heather Gatny, and Jennifer Barber. 2014. "The Risk of Unintended Pregnancy Among Young Women with Mental Health Symptoms." Social Science and Medicine 100:62-71.
Gatny, Heather, Yasamin Kusunoki, and Jennifer Barber. 2014. "Pregnancy Scares and Subsequent Unintended Pregnancy." Demographic Research 31(40):1229-1242.
Miller, Warren, Jennifer S. Barber, and Heather Gatny. 2013. "Ambivalent Fertility Desires: Effects on Pregnancy Risk in Young Women." Population Studies 67:25-38.