The Weakening Link: The Sequencing and Timing of First Sex, First Marriage, and First Births among Women in the United States

Gladys M. Martinez, National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), CDC
Casey E. Copen, National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), CDC

Data from the 1988, 1995, 2002 and 2006-2010 National Survey of Family Growth are used to examine the timing and sequencing of first vaginal intercourse, first marriage and first birth and how these patterns have changed over time, focusing on race differentials. For black women in 1988, the most common sequencing used to be premarital sex followed by marriage (28%) but in 2006-2010, the most common pathway was premarital sex followed by a premarital birth (34%). Logistic regression models using a pooled sample from 2002 and 2006-2010 examine the characteristics of women who married in response to a non-marital pregnancy and those that did not marry. Hispanic and black women were less likely to marry in response to a non-marital pregnancy than white women. Pregnancy intendedness and cohabitation at the time of pregnancy influence the odds of marrying in response to a non-marital pregnancy.