Why do children who are abused...?

Question

... have children when they are still children (teenagers)?

Sometimes have children when they are still children (teens).

Oh gosh... I am new to this. I apologize. I did not intend to sound like I am stereotyping. I am writing a paper about the relationship of sexual abuse and teen pregnancy. I asked a question earlier, with little response. This is my poor attempt at getting a more responses. I appreciate those who were willing to share personal experiences. Thank you.

Answer 1

Most of the things other people already have said sound like possible reasons... it varies from one person to another, of course. I liked the comment about having a childhood through their kids... I think that one partially holds true for me, although I'm not a teenager (I'm 22 and pregnant with my first child).

I think it also might have something to do with control... abused children tend to feel helpless, and by having kids themselves they might think they will be grown up and not helpless anymore. I always thought my life would magically get better once I'd turn 18 and move out. When I was 14-17 I'd sometimes fantasize of not waiting till that date but running off with a guy and starting a new life somewhere else... in some fantasies with kids.

And then, some might do it as a cry for help... a counselor at school that could help them might not notice them until they're pregnant, and they might not know a better way to ask for help. Kids sometimes see negative attention as better than no attention.

Yet others might be too depressed to care whether they get pregnant or not. I got married at age 20 to a guy I met online while I was depressed, and could've gotten pregnant at around the same time too, but obviously didn't. I think on some level I also thought that if I got pregnant my bf (now husband) would be more likely to stay with me and take care of me. Stupid, of course, but I couldn't care less at the time... I kinda felt like nothing could make my life worse (I was suicidal at the time), so things could only improve or stay the same. So, aside from the above, I figured that trying something different (marriage, pregnancy) would be worth a try. I got lucky... didn't get pregnant at the time, and my husband turns out to be a nice guy.

Answer 2

Its sad to say but abused children yearn for love and acceptance. To many of them sex is a form of this. They go from partner to partner looking for someone to make them happy, they don't realize that sex is not the answer. Everything tells them it is. Movies, books, all of the people in these are unhappy or scared. They find someone-do a little flirting-have sex and live happily ever after. Abused children do not have any one to tell them life is not like that. They know pregnancy is a consequence, but most feel like it won't happen to them because too many bad things already have. Some feel that if they do get pregnant, they will have someone to love and someone who will love them. Most swear they will be a better parent than theirs and will never punish or harm the child at all. Some stick to it, sadly some start the cycle all over again.

Answer 3

Well, all of them don't. That is a stereotype.

The ones that do, however, do it for a number of reasons. It varies greatly from child to child. It could be simple ignorance on sex and protection. It could be because their abusive parents did not teach them about sex. It may be desperation, as they are trying hard to be accepted, and they may be more inclined to give in to pressure to have unprotected sex. It could be a part of the cycle of violence. Sometimes a child is abused and has a child, and then that child grows up and mimicks their own mother, getting pregnant like she did.

That's just a few samples off the top of my head. The possibilities are quite numerous.

Answer 4

In my opinion, from personal experience, children who are abused, (not necessarily sexually), they feel as though their childhood was taken from them. The idea of becoming a parent to an abused person seems like a second opportunity in childhood, although you are not the child. In addition, having a child can make these individuals feel as though they have a family of their own for once, and also someone to take care of and make sure they (the child) never experience abuse as the parent did.

Answer 5

Probably trying to feel an emptiness or some hole in their life. Girls that have been abused by their fathers tend to look for a man to take the place of someone that didn't love them.

Answer 6

Looking for love and acceptence and some one to love who will love them back no matter what and to escape from the abuse to help them forget the abuse and to get beyond the abuse!

Answer 7

It think of the two certainly one of them choose greater interest, animal abuse, and baby abuse. in my opinion they are the two as undesirable a one yet another. No dwelling creature could bypass contained in the direction of the abuse some bypass via.

Answer 8

Ummm...I got pregnant at 17 and I was never abused. In fact, I thinkI had gotten 2 spankings form my father growing up. You shouldn't stereotype.

Answer 9

Iam 17 years old and almost 7 months pregnant. I hate it when kids are being abused. i hate the name abortion teenagers just wanna have sex and when a baby comes not ready for it. why would u wanna have sex without a condom in da first place if u not ready for it.

Answer 10

Ok, I was abused as a child...still am actually. I am 17, a virgin, and plan to be till marriage. (It is NOT sexual abuse)