Adoption Myths Debunked

Are Teen Mothers Unfit Delinquents?

Most mothers whose children are adopted-out are not young teenagers - they are between 17 and 24. Most are from a higher socioeconomic background from intact families, according to information provided by the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse.

There is no reason to assume that a mother or father will be unfit simply because they are young. Many teenagers are already caring for younger children. An adopter will get training to assist them raising an unrelated child -- a mother and father can obtain training as well. A 16-year-old mother will be 30 when her child is 14, a 45-year-old would be 59 -- perhaps even deceased.

Motherhood Lessens Teen Delinquency

About 97% of single mothers keep their babies. A recent study on unplanned pregnancy outcomes performed by Esther I. Wilder, Ph.D., of Lehman College and the Graduate Center of the City University of New York and her colleagues Trina Hope, Ph.D., of the University of Oklahoma and Toni Terling Watt, Ph.D., of Texas State University provides interesting insights.

The study drew information from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, a nationwide survey of 19,000 teenagers in grades seven through 12. According to a Health Behavior News Service report by Aaron Levin, the findings were that of the 6,877 girls who got pregnant, the highest rates of juvenile delinquency were found among girls who had abortions or gave babies up for adoption. Girls who kept their babies were no more likely to be delinquent that those who had never gotten pregnant. Although before pregnancy, they smoked or used marijuana more than the girls who never got pregnant, girls who kept their babies were especially likely to quit smoking and to stop using marijuana.

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• Using Labels to Bastardize Natural Family