Adolescent Childbearing, Poverty, and Siblings: Taking New Direction From the New Literature*

In: Family relations, Band 49, Heft 3, S. 287-292

Abstract

This article critically appraises the sibling‐comparison method by pointing to the following limitations: (1) it assumes within‐family homogeneity; (2) it neglects naturally occurring heterogeneity across siblings; (3) it overlooks the unique effects of a teen's childbearing for her family and siblings; (4) it underappreciates the selectivity of sisters of teenage mothers who delay childbearing; and, (5) it ignores differences in outcomes by sisters' birth order and age spacing. Directions for future research stemming from this new literature are discussed.