Family Facts: Social Science Research on Family, Society & Religion

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This finding looks at the relationship between father presence and teen sexuality.

Among a sample of adolescent females from the United States and New Zealand, the presence of a father in the home was associated with the likelihood of adolescent sexual activity. Girls who had a father present in the home from birth to age 13 were the least likely to be sexually active, followed by girls whose father was present from birth to age five, but later absent. Girls whose father was absent before age five were the most likely to be sexually active.

Sample or Data Description
The Final sample consists of 242 adolescent females from the United States and 520 adolescent females from New Zealand.

Source
"Does father absence place daughters at special risk for early sexual activity and teenage pregnancy?"
Ellis, B. J.,
Bates, J. E., Dodge, K. A., Fergusson, D. M., Horwood, L. J., Pettit, G. S., et al. (2003).
Child Development Vol. 74, Number 3. , 2003. Page(s) 801-821.

FindingID: 8008