Parenthood can change a young person's life in many ways. In a study of 40 young men and 40 young women in Latin American prisons, researchers found that becoming a parent can either lead to a life away from crime or pull someone deeper into it. For some, having a child made them want to slow down and find a safer job. This often meant they committed fewer crimes. Women in the study also found that parenthood could help them have healthier relationships, which kept them away from crime.

But it's not always a happy story. Many young parents felt frustrated and stressed, which led them to commit more crimes. They needed more money and didn't have legal ways to make it. Men sometimes resented having to stay home more. Women faced even more challenges, like being stuck in abusive relationships or losing support after becoming single mothers.

The study showed that these changes depended a lot on the person's gender and the situation they were in. It's clear that parenthood plays a big role in a young person's life, especially when it comes to crime. The researchers talked to the participants many times to get their side of the story. They found that in places with lots of poverty and unemployment, where illegal jobs are often the only option, having a child can make things worse, not better.

Parenthood's Impact: How It Shapes Young Criminals' Paths in Latin America

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