The Effect of a Peer's Teen Pregnancy on Sexual Behavior
In this paper, we examine whether a friend or older sibling's teen pregnancy impacts one's own sexual behavior. Employing an event study design, we find that those who observe a peer's teen pregnancy change their sexual behavior after the pregnancy ends to put themselves at lower risk of their own teen pregnancy; specifically, they are less likely to have unprotected sex and have fewer sexual partners in the months following the end of the teen pregnancy. We find that females are more likely to change their sexual behavior after the end of a peer's teen pregnancy compared to males, and the effects are primarily after observing a peer's teen pregnancy that results in a live birth. Our work suggests that education campaigns that provide a realistic portrayal of teen parenthood may be an effective tool for reducing behaviors that may result in teen pregnancy.
Published Versions
Priyanka Anand & Lisa B. Kahn, 2024. "The effect of a peer’s teen pregnancy on sexual behavior," Journal of Health Economics, .
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