WEDNESDAY, Nov. 5, 2003 (HealthDayNews) -- Teens who don't like school are more likely to become parents at a young age, says a British study in the new issue of the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.
Researchers surveyed more than 8,000 13- and 14-year-old students in central and southern England about their knowledge of sex, as well as their attitudes and behaviors. The students were also asked about their views on school and sex education.
The study found that both dislike of school and "socioeconomic disadvantage" were associated with risk factors for teenage pregnancy.
Teens who disliked school, despite having knowledge about sex and contraception comparable to those who liked school, were more likely to have sexual intercourse, expect sexual intercourse by age 16, and expect to be parents by age 20.
Socioeconomic disadvantage was associated with low knowledge about sex and birth control, but wasn't associated with expectations of sexual intercourse before age 16.
The authors suggest teens who dislike school may be more likely to see teenage pregnancy as inevitable, or they may view it as a positive alternative to continuing their education or starting a career.
If this can be confirmed in future studies, it may have important implications for teachers and educational and social policy makers looking to respond to "social exclusion" in young people, the authors write.
More information
Here's where you can learn more about teenage pregnancy.
