Study reveals that pregnant teens may be more impulsive than their peers

By Staff Writer

According to new research, teenage girls who get pregnant may demonstrate impulsivity in other areas of their lives. The Globe and Mail reports that an associate professor of psychology at the University of Windsor in Canada is conducting the study. Participants were asked to fill out personality tests and complete quizzes involving pictures, memory and reactions.

Carlin Miller, the lead researcher, told the news source that she believes teenagers have a hard time understanding long-term consequences. She added that the impulsivity is not limited to inaccurately using birth control.

According to a study from the U.S. Department of Labor, girls who become pregnant as teens or in very early adulthood are far more impulsive, not only in their behaviors but also in their parenting styles.

Miller told the media outlet that impulsion can reveal itself in many ways, such as not taking birth control, using contracptives incorrectly, engaging in unplanned sexual activity and choosing anti-social or manipulative partners.

The Guttmacher Institute reports that the U.S. has the highest levels of teen pregnancy among developed nations.