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The positive messages of abstinence education unfortunately often get drowned
out by the politics surrounding the issues of federal funding and abstinence vs.
comprehensive sex education. Fortunately, despite media hype and politically-charged
attacks, there is a growing body of evidence that shows:
- the majority of parents and teens believe it is important to delay sexual
activity until at least past high school
- the negative effects of teen sex,
- the positive benefits of teen abstinence, and
- the efficacy of abstinence programs.
We have provided a list of links to articles and abstracts that illuminate
some of these findings. Because many of these articles reside on other sites,
it is possible that a location has been moved. We have hopefully provided enough
identification that articles can be found on their host sites, should this occur.
NWFS does not necessarily endorse any of the views found on the following
sites, but merely offers individual articles and research for review.
Why Abstinence?
Articles and Research on underlying problems of teen and premarital sexual activity
and the benefits of abstinence:
Association
of Virginity at Age 18 with Educational, Economic, Social, and Health Outcomes
in Middle Adulthood
Reginald Finger, MD, MPH, Tonya Thelen, BS, John T.Vessey, PhD, Joanna K. Mohn,
MD, Joshua R. Mann, MD, MPH
Published in Adolescent & Family Health, a Journal of the Institute
for Youth Development, April 2005
This study found that men and women who had not had sexual intercourse by age
18 had higher salaries, more years of education, and lower rates of divorce at
age 38 than their peers who were not virgins at age 18.
(Full access to this article requires a subscription to the journal. An abstract
may be found on the Focus on the Family site here)
Teenagers who have sex and use drugs have an increased suicide risk…
according to an article in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine,
Jan. 2005.
This article shows that teens who have sex and use drugs have higher rates of
depression and suicide. Because this journal requires a paid subscription to view,
a description of the finding may be found here.
The
Case for the Cautious Generation
Putting What Works to Work, a project of the National Campaign to Prevent
Teen Pregnancy, Number 2, June 2003.
A look at teen attitudes toward sex. This contains a 2002 National Campaign survey
which found that 2/3 of adolescents aged 12-19 who have had sex wish that they
had waited longer.
The
Sexual Behavior or Young Adolescents
Putting What Works to Work, a project of the National Campaign to Prevent
Teen Pregnancy, Number 3, Sept. 2003.
This article examines the sexual behavior of students younger than 15 and addresses
specific problems and risks with that group, including the non-voluntary and unwanted
sex.
Virginity
and the First Time
A study from the Kaiser Family Foundation and Seventeen Magazine, Oct.
2003.
This study shows the attitudes of teens on matters regarding sex, virginity, and
their peers. Findings include: 92% of teens think that being a virgin in high
school is a good thing, and that half of those pooled who were sexually active
wish they had waited.
Abstinence Education.
Articles and Research specifically addressing the need for, and effectiveness
of, abstinence-only education:
The
Effectiveness of Abstinence Education Programs in Reducing Sexual Activity Among
Youth
Robert Rector
Published in The Heritage Foundation Backgrounder, No. 1533, April 5, 2002
This article gives an overview of the consequences of early sexual activity as
well as the effectiveness of various abstinence programs across the United States.
Managing
the sexually transmitted disease pandemic: A time for reevaluation
Stephen J. Genuis,
Published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology (2004)
Increasingly, some in the medical profession are becoming skeptical of the efficacy
of "safer sex" methods, and are discussing the limits of the safe sex
approach in dealing with the epidemic. This article discusses the extent of the
STD problem, and the ways in which it can, and cannot, be managed.
Title V Report
The ASPE report under contract with Mathematica Policy Research presents findings
on the short-term impacts of a select group of Title V Section 510 abstinence
programs on measures such as service receipt and intermediate attitudinal outcomes
for participants.
This report is available in full
text and as a summary.
Executive
Summary: "Can Abstinence Work? An Analysis of the Best Friends Program"
Robert Lerner, Ph.D.
Study found that girls who have attended the Best Friends abstinence program are
substantially less likely to smoke, drink, take drugs, and have sex than are YRBS
respondents.
2005
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services — Longitudinal/Behavior Outcome
Study: An independent evaluation of Choosing the Best WAY, PATH, and LIFE
Dr. Stan Weed.
Submitted for review to the Journal of School Health, March 2005
The study, funded by a Federal SPRANS grant, began in 2002 and concluded in 2004.
After one year, results among those students receiving CTB (treatment group) vs.
those receiving the health textbook (comparison group) indicated a statistically
significant decrease in the initiation of teen sex and improvements in five of
the six intervening attitudinal variables associated with delaying sexual intercourse.
Virginity
Pledgers Have Lower STD Rates and Engage in Fewer Risky Sexual Behaviors
by Robert Rector and Kirk A. Johnson, Ph.D.
Research conducted by the Heritage Foundation and presented by Rector and Johnson
at the Eighth Annual National Welfare Research and Evaluation Conference in Washington,
D.C., on June 14, 2005.
Study contradicts earlier findings that criticized abstinence pledges as ineffective.
New research into the data shows positive results for virginity pledges and abstinence
programs.
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