Predicting the Risk of Pregnancy Among African American Youth: Testing a Social Contextual Model

Research has documented social and developmental consequences for youth who experience an early pregnancy. Few studies, however, have examined predictors of teenage pregnancy other than participation in risky sexual behavior. The present study tests a social-contextual model predicting pregnancy among youth. Quality of parenting, affiliation with peers who engage in risky sexual behavior, and school engagement in early adolescence are examined as antecedents of pregnancy among youth. The model is tested using a using a prospective longitudinal design with a sample of 305 high-risk African American females. Results from structural equation modeling generally provide support for the model. Findings suggest that the association between quality of parenting and pregnancy among youth is mediated by affiliation with peers who engage in risky sex and risky sexual behaviors. Implications for education and intervention are discussed.