February 3, 2010

Study: “Abstinence-Only” Delays Sexual Activity in Pre-Teens

Abstinence-only sex education delayed sexual activity among pre-teens, and it reduced the amount of recent sexual activity among those who were already sexually active, according to a study published in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine and reported in ScienceDaily.

For the study, researchers from the University of Pennsylvania followed 662 African Americans in grades six and seven who were randomly assigned to an abstinence-only class, a safer sex–only class or a combined abstinence and safer-sex class. As a control group, some students attended a class that promoted general health and did not discuss sexual matters.

Two years after the intervention, 33 percent of students in the abstinence-only group reported having sex, compared with half of the control group. In addition, students who were sexually active during the study reported fewer incidents of recent sexual activity.

Researchers found none of the classes significantly affected consistent condom use or unprotected sex. There was also no difference in condom use among participants who lost their virginity during the study.

The abstinence-only classes did not use moralistic terms or portray sex in a negative light, according to the article.

“Abstinence-only interventions may have an important role in delaying sexual activity until a time later in life when the adolescent is more prepared to handle to consequences of sex,” said lead author John B. Jemmott III, PhD, from the University of Pennsylvania. “This can reduce undesirable consequences of sex, including pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections like HIV/AIDS.”

Search: abstinence-only, pre-teens, sex education

Scroll down to comment on this story.

Previous Comments:

grace, United States, 2010-02-10 20:00:12
A study that relies on teenagers reporting honestly about their sex lives is downright naive. If the message they received was abstinence, they will report they've been abstinent, to be a 'good' participant. I tested poz in Utah, where abstinence only ed is the only ed. Teen pregnancy is very high, and hiv is spreading. We need to stop trying to talk about the choice, and just provide the info about how to protect oneself, and what the risk is. Period. All else is a moral imperative.

DrTeddy, San Francisco, 2010-02-05 17:41:48
Contd..But again as opposed to this one ( probably politically motivated) research of unknown validity, hundreds of researches and program evidences and data from public health on teen pregnancy and STD suggests ABSTINENCE ONLY DIDN'T WORK UNFORTUNATELY AND IMPLEMENTING IT WHILE IGNORING THE RISKS IT HAS IS EQUIVALENT TO USING DRUGS WHICH DON'T WORK IN A FATALLY SICK PATIENT.

DrTeddy, San Francisco, 2010-02-05 17:39:24
People should distinguish between a research saying something might work and concluding it may be useful as a program. It may work for the strictly religious, determined and with a lot of self control who do not live in the environment/in this case schools/ where they get tempted daily by talks, songs, movies, text messages about sex . So I don'toppose to individuals teaching about abstinence in their areas where all the above doesn't at least dominate. ..contd...

Okie, Oklahoma City, 2010-02-05 16:28:10
Although this may be a new addition to our arsenal against HIV, it is critical that people (including the media!!!) read the actual study and understand its inherent limitations. Also, the program tested was not the typical "abstinence-only until marriage" program that has been heavily funded in the past. I think the primary messages and good news are that moralistic (e.g., religious) messages don't work; messages that aren't moralistic can work; and no one approach is universally effective.

James Montgomery, , 2010-02-04 17:42:22
your subposed to hold them back I wish I never new what I got talked into when I was 5 years old pre teen is subposed to be held back I cant describe the hurt the pain confusion the hate, I had the desire to prove to my father in my mind that I was worthy but he was a ass hole with his head in the sand & the bar was his home away from home the need to deture the attetion to simple thing's & the sexual world is taking a big crap on kids these days and it's out of control needs to be closeted

polypagan, Berea, KY, 2010-02-04 15:10:24
I too am skeptical of this study (and I admit to being biased). As is typical, there isn't enough information here to make a determination. For example -- who paid for this study?

stephen, longmont, 2010-02-04 14:04:44
Dwayne, self reporting has been an accepted form of data gathering for quite sometime. But in this case i too wonder if the abstinence class may have unintentionally shamed kids who did have sex causing them to lie. mikiki if you click on the Archive of ped... link it will take you to the article, Not much detail though.

Mark, Vancouver, Canada, 2010-02-04 13:11:27
And another thing. The abstinence only class had absolutely no effect on the incidence of safe-sex activity. YES, less sex is somewhat better for the individual than more sex when it comes to reducing HIV and pregnancy, but we all know it only takes one incident of unprotected sex to make someone positive or pregnant.

Greg H, Davenport, FL, 2010-02-04 11:53:41
Funny, in The Netherlands, where sex is the most open and not “forbidden fruit,” teen pregnancy rate is lowest, and people are oldest at loosing virginity. Knowledge is power. Comprehensive sex education is the best.

RZ, Washington, DC, 2010-02-04 10:20:38
A very important thing to note is that this study was not the typical abstinence only study promoted by conservatives. It did not portray sex in a negative light, did not say condoms don't work and did not use moralistic terms. Also, they don't have any data on who chose not to participate in the study. Families with strong beliefs in abstinence may have self-selected to participate in the study.

Dwayne, Washington, DC, 2010-02-04 08:14:14
I can't believe that this study is being touted as a success. Do people REALLY believe self reporting from teenagers?

Mikiki, Toronto, 2010-02-03 23:51:48
could we get a link to the study? there's a LOT of information that's not in this article that would be very useful in interpreting this data!