An Examination of the Relation between Adolescents' Academic Aspirations and Perceptions of Teen Parenting in a Sample of Hispanic High School Students

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the association between Hispanic adolescents' academic aspirations and thoughts on teen parenting. Hope and gender were examined as potential moderators of this association. Participants included 130 students between the ages of 14 and 19 (M = 16, SD = 1.22) who were recruited from a charter high school located in a large, Midwestern city. Adolescents provided ratings of their academic aspirations, perceptions of teen parenting, and levels of hope. Contrary to expectations, no association between academic aspirations and thoughts on teen pregnancy was evident, regardless of levels of agency and pathways thinking. Differences in this sample compared to previous studies were identified which may have contributed to this null finding, including above average academic goals and attendance at a charter high school. Directions for future research are discussed.