Study Indicates that Teaching Abstinence Only in Schools Doesn't Equal Less Sex for Students

Congress has released results of a new study showing that students who attend "abstinence" classes were just as likely as other teenagers to have sexual relationships as teenagers.

Our government spends $176 million dollars a year on these abstinence only programs for students where waiting until marriage to have sex is expressed as the only way to go about sexual education. Critics have said for years that it's not worth the money and the program was not likely to make much of a difference and the recent study has shown that to be true. There is also the issue that teaching abstinence as the only option will have a back-firing result as teens are not given any alternative or taught about birth control, safe sex and risk of pregnancy and disease, not to mention any emotional outcomes.

Four groups of teens attended the abstinence program and yet they still reported to having sex around the same time as those who didn't go through a similar class. The average age of first sexual experience remained at 14 years of age and participants also had comparable numbers of sexual partners as those who were taught sex education by other means.

Bush's administration has concluded that the study results are not the end all of the abstinence program and that what is important is follow-up throughout the rest of the teen years, continuing to encourage students to abstain from sex until marriage.

The study was conducted using middle school students from four abstinence classes which they attended over three years. Their results were compared to others of the same age who also attended their school but did not participate in the program. The findings of all groups were similar, the abstinence program has not seemed to make much of a notable difference regarding sexual relationships during the teenage years.

The study began in 1999 when the students were between 11-12 years of age. The hope was to reach most before they began having sex and then the results of the program would be more effective. The same group of pre-teens were followed until early 2006 when their average age was 16.5 years. Basically, half of all students abstained from sex per their survey reports. It was the same outcome for those who were part of the abstinence program as well as those who were not.

Results did indicate that the program seemed to have little effect either direction. While students reported to having the same sexual activities as those who did not attend the class that can be seen as somewhat positive; they weren't having more sex as a result. Some critics have worried that not giving them both sides of the spectrum would equate to less condom/safe sex practices but per this study, that didn't seem to be true. Many lawmakers would like to see abstinence as an option integrated into more comprehensive sex education programs so that students can get more information while "waiting until marriage" could still be a big part of what they take from the course.

Sources:

Kevin Freking. "Study: Abstinence classes don't stop sex" Newsday

http://www.newsday.com/news/health/ats-ap_health10apr14,0,1270563.story?coll=ny-leadhealthnews-headlines