Previous research has shown that when young women have diminished
prospects of paternal investment in their children, they are
more likely to reproduce as teens. This study investigated whether
high rates of nonmarital births for 85 countries would be predicted
by diminished prospects of paternal investment as measured by
high male unemployment, low wealth (gross national product
[GNP]), low sex ratios, and high teen birth rates. It was predicted
that single parenthood would increase with female literacy, used as
an index of career orientation. In correlational and regression analyses,
single parenthood rates generally declined as paternal investment
increased. Single parenthood increased with female literacy
in the regression analysis, possibly because the greater economic
power of women in developed countries makes them less reliant on
economic support from husbands. Single childbearing can thus be
seen either as a response to diminished prospects of or diminished
reliance on paternal investment. |