A new study published in Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health examines a possible connection between race and pregnancy avoidance. According to researchers from Arizona State University, avoiding pregnancy is extremely important among young men and women of all ethnic backgrounds, but some races are more emotionally affected by the idea of unplanned pregnancy.
About 1,500 young men and women were interviewed for the study. While no clear racial divide was represented when it came to pregnancy avoidance (77% of the study group claimed avoiding pregnancy was important) a clear divide was recognized when it came to emotional impact of unplanned pregnancy.
According to the study, whites would be more upset about unplanned pregnancy than Hispanics born outside the United States. Whites, however, would be less upset than blacks.
There is a clear motivational cause for increased emotional upset (in regards to unplanned pregnancy) that could be associated with ethnic or racial factors. Further research is needed to reveal why certain ethnicities are more motivated to prevent pregnancy and what part race plays in that motivation.
Source: Hayford SR, Guzzo KB. Racial and ethnic variation in unmarried young adults' motivation to avoid pregnancy. Perspect Sex Reprod Health. 2013 Mar;45(1):41-51. doi: 10.1363/4504113. Epub 2013 Feb 11.