Pregnancy

Abstract

A developmental perspective on the impact of adolescent pregnancy in the lives of young women and young men considers both stability and change. Stability occurs as life trajectories following an adolescent pregnancy are often consistent with trajectories prior to the pregnancy. However, adolescent pregnancy also has the potential to transform the lives of young women and young men. Psychological and physical changes may be multidirectional, with the direction of change depending on individual characteristics and the context of the pregnancy. Prenatal care, reactions of others, and legislation all have the potential to impact the degree to which pregnancy‐related changes are mostly positive or mostly negative. Research goals include increased focus on the dynamic interaction between early life trajectories and transformation changes associated with adolescent pregnancy.