Teen Parents Aren't Likely to Get Married: Majority of Teen Moms are Single Moms, Raise Baby without Teen Dads

Teen moms have received extra media attention lately due to the pregnancies of Jamie Lynn Spears and Bristol Palin. The publicity seems to center around the pregnant portion of the teen parents. But what are the facts and statistics about fathers of the babies born to teen moms? How many teen parents decide to get married and stay together? What are the chances that teen dads will stick around to help teen moms raise the baby?

Bristol Palin’s Break Up is Common Among Teen Moms

In September of 2008, Sarah Palin announced that her eighteen year-old daughter, Bristol Palin was pregnant. Sarah Palin also announced that the teen mom to be, Bristol and the baby’s father, Levi Johnston were planning to get married. In December 2008, Bristol gave birth to a healthy baby boy. But three months later, the Palin family confirmed media reports that Bristol Palin and Levi Johnston had decided to break their engagement plans to get married.

Bristol Palin’s breakup from the father of her baby is a typical scene in the life of a teen mom. According to the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, only twenty percent of teen fathers marry their child’s teen mom.

The Majority of Teen Moms Raise the Baby as a Single Mom

Eighty percent of teen moms are also single moms. Single mom, Bristol Palin has the emotional and financial support of her family, but all teen moms are not as fortunate.

Along with the stress of single parenting, the average teen mom also struggles to find adequate income required to buy food, diapers and other basic baby needs. Produced by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, the documentary video, Too Young shows teen moms speaking out about the overwhelming challenge to financially support a child.

“I was 17 when I had my daughter and 19 when I had my son” voices a teen mom on the Too Young video. “He’s not involved in her life at all,” reports another teen mom referring to her baby and the baby’s dad. “I was 15 years old with this new baby and I’m all by myself,” tells yet another teen mom.

How Getting Married Affects Teen Moms

The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy reports that a teen dad pays an average of only $800 a year in child support to help single teen moms. Child support amounts vary depending on whether or not the dad stays in school or has earned a high school diploma which affects the earning potential of the teen dad.

Getting married can provide financial income for a teen mom and baby, as well as offer a more stable home environment. Although marriage may offer more financial stability to teen moms, getting married as a teen does has its share of negative risks. Divorce rates are higher for women who marry before the age of 20.

“Young mothers who marry are likely to have a second rapid birth,” reports Naomi Seiler in Is Teen Marriage a Solution? A second baby has significant impact on whether a teen mom returns to school or completes a GED program. The video Too Young reports that two out of three teen moms never finish high school.

Only twenty percent of teen moms marry which leaves the other eighty percent to raise their babies on their own. Teen dads may make a verbal commitment to marry the mother of their baby and financially support the baby, but many teen dads don't follow through.

Naomi Seiler, Is Teen Marriage a Solution? Center for Law and Social Policy, 2002

Apr 5, 2009 6:10 PM

Guest :

i am a 17-year-old soon-to-be teen mom.
me and the baby's father are still together, in fact we decided to go ahead and get married.
we live in the basement apartment at my parents house and we couldnt be happier.
we have plans for the next several years, including both of us going to college and him joining the air force. i am also going on birth control once the baby is born to prevent a "second rapid pregnancy" or whatever.
i have searched and searched the internet for encouraging words and stories from others who are in our situation, but all i find is negativity and articles saying how it never works out.
its frustrating and its bringing me down.
teen-health, how bout some uplifiting stories from teens who made it? how bout you let me write an article about how great our life is going and how it CAN WORK? or i can talk about my teacher, who had twins in her junior year, got married to the father her senior year, and 23 years later theyre still together and very successful?
i think alot of the problems that arise in teen relationships once a baby is brought into the picture stem from the negative feedback such couples recieve.
please consider some positive articles to let teen couples know that it WILL BE OKAY, and that the best way to bring a baby into the world is to do it TOGETHER. its tough sometimes, but you are each others support system, and the baby will be much happier with a mommy and a daddy who love each other.
-maeghan

May 7, 2009 8:21 AM

Guest :

I am 32 years old. When I was 17 I became pregnant with our son. His father and I have been together for over 15 years and are now married. I have an undergrad degree in Liberal Studies and work as an autism therapist. I will begin grad school this fall. I won't lie and say that it has been easy but it is possible. Deciding to be a parent means giving your best to your child and nothing less. Good luck to everyone! If I can do it then you all can too.

Jul 13, 2009 11:26 AM

Guest :

I was 15 and my boyfriend was 17 when I became pregnant with our first child. We waited until after finishing school to get married and have been happily married for 29 years. It is not easy to raise a child when you are so young but don't let anybody tell you that you are doomed to fail. You have the ability to be the best parent for your child. Stay positive and seek out all the supports that are available to you. Good luck!!

Sep 30, 2009 3:00 PM

Guest :

well i am 15 and i might be experinceing my 1st pregnacey an yes i am scared but most of all worried if the dad will stick around and if not how am i ganna have help with the baby and questions are running through my head at like a milloin times per min like what is ganna happen to my childhood is it ganna be hard? will i ever fall in love again if the babys dady leaves me? will i still be accepted by most ppl?