An Abstinence Program's Impact on Cognitive Mediators and Sexual Initiation

Abstract

Objectives:To evaluate the impact of an abstinence education program on sexual intercourse initiation and on possible cognitive mediators of sexual initiation for virgin seventh graders in suburban Virginia. Methods: Measures of sexual behavior and 6 mediating variables were compared at 3 time periods for program participants and a matched comparison group (n=550), controlling for pretest differences. Results: At posttest, program stu-dents scored significantly better on 4 of the 6 mediators. After one year, program students had a substantially lower risk of sexual initiation than did comparison students (RR=.457, P=.008). Conclusion: The program achieved a significant reduction in teen sexual initiation, and the role of the cognitive mediators was supported.

Sexual Risk Avoidance and Sexual Risk Reduction Interventions for Middle School Youth: A Randomized Controlled Trial

“…RA students were also less likely to engage in unprotected sex at last vaginal intercourse, either by using a condom or by abstaining from sex. These findings support evidence from previous studies that middle school programs emphasizing abstinence, [10,12,13] and more specifically abstinence-until-marriage, [9] can effectively delay sexual initiation among subsets of youth and may positively impact sexually experienced youth. [11] However, adverse effects among males and sexually experienced students are worrying and warrant further investigation to understand how males and sexually experienced youth process risk avoidance messages to better tailor activities to their needs.…”

Efficacy of Abstinence Promotion Media Messages: Findings from an Online Randomized Trial

“…Abstinence education has been questioned as a public health strategy in recent years on the basis of inadequate evidence of effectiveness [29,30]. Recent studies showing positive effects of abstinence education programs have sought to fill this evidence gap [1,2]. However, the issue remains highly contentious and public policy makers have debated the future of U.S. government funding for Title V programs [3].…”

“…Since enactment of Title V, Section 510 of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, U.S. Government policy and the primary focus of related funding has been sexual abstinence education. Since 1998, the Title V, Section 510 program has received approximately $50 million annually to teach abstinence from sexual activity as the expected standard for children under age 18. There is ongoing debate about the effectiveness of abstinence education programs funded under Title V [1][2][3][4]. Some recent studies have found that students who received abstinence education had lower rates of sexual activity compared to youth who did not receive abstinence training [1,2].…”

“…Since 1998, the Title V, Section 510 program has received approximately $50 million annually to teach abstinence from sexual activity as the expected standard for children under age 18. There is ongoing debate about the effectiveness of abstinence education programs funded under Title V [1][2][3][4]. Some recent studies have found that students who received abstinence education had lower rates of sexual activity compared to youth who did not receive abstinence training [1,2]. Other studies have suggested that such programs are ineffective, and may promote lack of knowledge and negative attitudes toward risk prevention behaviors such as condom use [3,4].…”

ESTEEM and FACTS: Creative Ways to Teach Healthy Lifestyles to Youth from Diverse Backgrounds

“…A study with a one year follow up of an abstinence program's impact on sexual behavior found a reduction in sexual initiation. Virgin students in the experimental group were less likelyabout half as likely-to initiate sexual intercourse as the virgins in the comparison groups during the year following the intervention (Weed, Ericksen, Lewis, Grant, & Wibberly, 2008).…”