Religiosity and the Transition to Nonmarital Fertility

Heidi Lyons, Oakland University
Scott Smith, Oakland University

Nonmarital fertility is associated with several negative outcomes, including health problems, educational problems, and poverty. Understanding the risk and protective factors associated with nonmarital fertility can inform policy and interventions, reducing both the incidence and associated consequences. The current study focuses on how intrinsic and extrinsic religiosity are related to the timing of nonmarital fertility using discrete time hazard modeling of a nationally representative sample of adolescent females (N = 7,125) from the National Longitudinal Survey of Adolescent Health. Results indicate that intrinsic religiosity asserts protective effects for some populations while extrinsic religiosity increases risk. Recommendations for policy, intervention, and future research are offered.