Abstinence-only programs might work, study says

[MilitarismFTL]

Source: Washington Post

By Rob Stein
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Sex education classes that focus on encouraging children to remain abstinent can persuade a significant proportion to delay sexual activity, researchers reported Monday in a landmark study that could have major implications for U.S. efforts to protect young people against unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases.

Only about a third of sixth- and seventh-graders who completed an abstinence-focused program started having sex within the next two years, researchers found. Nearly half of the students who attended other classes, including ones that combined information about abstinence and contraception, became sexually active.

The findings are the first clear evidence that an abstinence program could work.

"I think we've written off abstinence-only education without looking closely at the nature of the evidence," said John B. Jemmott III, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania who led the federally funded study. "Our study shows this could be one approach that could be used."

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/01/AR2010020102628.html?hpid=topnews

---

Gimme a break...

[Oceansaway]

1. yep, works great in the Catholic Church...n/t

[Terra Alta]

2. ask Bristol Palin how well they worked. nt

[LeftyMom]

3. The previous studies already said that they did delay sex somewhat.

What they ALSO said was that other, relatively risky activities (ahem) increased to compensate, and that use of safe sex methods was much lower when coitus did happen.

[CTyankee]

41. It works until it doesn't.

And the day it doesn't arrives at different times for different kids.

It is foolish not to give kids the accurate medical information they need to make decisions in their lives. We wouldn't dream of not giving kids accurate operating information for driving a car and pretending that just saying no to driving is "drivers ed." Yet so illogically we think we should do so with sex ed. It's crazy.

[LeftyMom]

54. Of course. I was just pointing out that this wasn't even new information,

just a new spin on previous information about failure of the approach.

[rachael7]

4. Works great, if by 'works' you mean...

makes the purveyors of the stupid programs rich. Sheesh.

[asdjrocky]

31. Ding. Ding. Ding.

Give this woman a cupie doll!

[marshall]

5. ONLY a third of 6th & 7th graders having sex ?

That is downright frightening to think that many youngsters are involved in what should be an adult (or at least young adult) activity.

[emilyg]

6. That it is.

[targetpractice]

18. Wonder what the stats are by age 17? n/t

It seems intuitively obvious that abstinence-only education would have some effect that would delay sexual activity... However, the question is... Is it ultimately effective?

[marshall]

24. I guess it depends on what your definition of "effective" is

Delaying it should count for something, but one has to decide how much of a delay makes it worthwhile, especially in comparison to any differences that occur after a delay of whatever length and after no delay.

After all, medicine only delays death, which is always the inevitable outcome of life. And one of our most potent debates about health care is the balance between delaying death and at what cost.

[DLnyc]

33. Um, wouldn't preventing unwanted pregnancies and AIDS be, um, more

important than changing what age sex begins?

I guess it depends whether your priorities are imposing an arbitrary 'moral' standard on others or whether you want to actually decrease the number of disastrous events in people's lives.

[CTyankee]

42. Comprehensive sex education, such as what Planned Parenthood offers, INCLUDES information about

abstinence. We seem to think it is an either/or situation and it need not be. Give the kids age appropriate, medically accurate information about their bodies and sexuality. This should also include masturbation. Kids do it anyway, so why not celebrate it as a perfectly acceptable alternative to intercourse? For some, including girls, that may help them enjoy their budding sexuality with no fears of STDs or pregnancy.

[shimmergal]

30. More to the point,

hoow long should we want to delay it?

IMO it's quite reasonable for 6th and 7th graders to delay, although there are probably more effective ways that don't involve such a heavy amount of misinformation. Unfortunately some of the other ways -- like single-sex schools, or systems that de-emphasize the social role of the school -- are even less likely to be adopted in American public schools.

But many students go off to college at 17, or if they don't, it's certainly coming up in their near future. Do we actually EXPECT them to abstain from sex for the next decade or so, until they find "the one" and marry them? And what if he/she turns out to be the wrong one? Are we expecting post-marital abstinence too? Too bad we can't talk more honestly about these things.

[raccoon]

49. +1000. nt

[Guilded Lilly]

7. People who support abstinence only...

exclusively and deny the actual physical protections necessary for everyone to ACTUALLY give themselves much better protection in the face of any type of sex that does happen are ignorant. Federally funded studies to find that abstinence only could be *one approach that could be used* are a TOTAL waste of money. Any simpleton can tell you abstinence works.
But ONLY abstinence? In the light of dozens of other protections???? In the face of pubescent hormones???? Absolute Ignorant Fools.

I'm am so sick of all these damned *polls*, and so-called studies. GIVE THE GIRLS (and boys) a better chance to protect themselves. PERIOD. They are going to have sex. Period.

[caraher]

8. "Landmark" because it sticks out like a sore thumb...

against the backdrop of, what, every other study done on the subject?

I think this is significant, though:

Several critics of an abstinence-only approach said that the curriculum tested did not represent most abstinence programs. It did not take a moralistic tone, as many abstinence programs do. Most notably, the sessions encouraged children to delay sex until they are ready, not necessarily until married; did not portray sex outside marriage as never appropriate; and did not disparage condoms.

Which suggests that the usual programs really don't work, but that a less preachy program might be of value for that age group. I suspect that even if you get results with this message for middle schoolers you still need to go to comprehensive programs as they get older.

[OhioBlue]

10. exactly what I was thinking - age appropriate matters

we need to look at age appropriate sex education. I'm fine with abstinence only for middle school. However, once the kids are in high school, I agree that a comprehensive education with abstinence encouragement is more appropriate.

[Enthusiast]

35. Reasonable.

Thank you.

[Oregone]

9. Hang on...what demographics received abstinence only education?

Ugly, geeky kids attending church school? Well, 1/3rd of em are lucky to get laid anyway.

Just about any sex education program teaches you that abstinence is the ultimate way to avoid risk. Unfortunately, some don't teach you other ways to avoid risk if you choose alternative behavior.

Im interested in seeing the pregnancy/std rate in both groups, among those sexually active. I wonder how those fare who weren't told of the existence of condoms

[Iris]

11. what I want to know is why is it shocking that a significant number of 9th graders

have not had sex. I suspect the number would be similar even without abstinence only education

[Dappleganger]

17. I really have a hard time believing that

because in our nice middle schools here kids are giving bj's like there's no tomorrow (and they don't consider that sex).

[OhioBlue]

13. I think the demographics that are most important here

are the ages - abstinence only might have a better result on 12 and 13 year old kids than on 15 or 16 yr old kids.

but you make a good point - what is the risk for the 1/3 vs. 1/2 in the test groups that did start having sex in the next 2 yrs.

[cstanleytech]

12. I dont think anyone ever said it had zero chance so to this so called study i say "no doh!!!"

The problem is imo when ya get idiots who think it should be the only thing done and to hell with teaching children about condoms and other means of safe sex, I mean look at Sarah Palins daughter, she is a perfect example of fail as far as abstinence only teaching goes.

[EndElectoral]

14. Did those in abstinence prog. result in more pregnancies or venereal diseases?

in other words did they use more or less protection when they did have sex?

[Xipe Totec]

15. It works in the barn,

Just look at capons, oxen, and other emasculated males.

They're tasty too!

[Dappleganger]

16. Well that's nice, but as a parent I'm not taking any chances.

Our philosophy is keep them so busy w/school and extra-curriculars they love that they'll hopefully put it off as late as possible, but when they do they have enough kudos to use a condom (and the oldest daughter is already on the pill for other reasons). We don't scare them w/religion or shame, just the reality that bringing a child into the world of a teenager will completely alter their college plans. Our world won't fall apart if it happens (and it's happened to plenty of our friends), but we would like for them to at least put it off until after they get a diploma/certificate and are on their way to earning a living. IMO shame and religion don't work anymore and we have plenty of christian friends w/teenage mothers in their families to prove it.

[CTyankee]

44. But if you give your kids accurate medical information about sex, how could you be

doing anything bad? Parents are the best sex ed teachers for their kids. Isn't it our duty as parents to arm our children with the best information out there to help them make good decisions in their lives (when we aren't there to tell them what to do)? Ignorance is not a contraceptive...

[alp227]

19. C'mon, this study is frickin flawed

Only African-American middle-school students? Of programs "not representative of most abstinence programs"? This is bleeping deceptive.

[varelse]

20. "the curriculum tested did not represent most abstinence programs"

It wasn't "abstinence only" education and the results should not be extrapolated to that form of "education". A moralistic, abstinence-only program would have left the 33% of kids who did choose to have sex without any information about how to protect themselves.

Several critics of an abstinence-only approach said that the curriculum tested did not represent most abstinence programs. It did not take a moralistic tone, as many abstinence programs do. Most notably, the sessions encouraged children to delay sex until they are ready, not necessarily until married; did not portray sex outside marriage as never appropriate; and did not disparage condoms.

I think this is a good topic for discussion here and I'm sorry to see it getting unrecc'd.

[onpatrol98]

23. Good Topic For Discussion

Abstinence is the only thing that works all the time. By the way, high school students already know about birth control. They simply don't use it. I've met (unfortunately) many a pregnant teen...they don't mind telling you that they knew about protection. This isn't the world our mothers grew up in. It's not for lack of knowledge that we're still battling the unprotected sex problem in the American teenager...and others as well.

These kids have access to all types of protection and know how to access it before hand. Palin's daughter didn't get pregnant because her mother didn't tell her about protection and forced abstinence only. We're not talking about a 12 year old. Palin's daughter got pregnant because she and whatever that kid's name is, decided not to use protection for whatever reason. They made an active decision to "abstain" from playing it safe. And, some kids will give you reasons for it...I've heard some doozies.

1) My boyfriend doesn't like the way it makes him feel.
2) I kept forgetting to take the pill.
3) I wasn't thinking at the time...(shucks, who is?)

Unless we plan on lining all the teenagers of the world up and give them all shots, me personally, I think we have to go further than arguing about abstinence versus other methods. I think our preoccupation with poo pooing one program versus the other has caused us to overlook the fact that some of our teenagers are doing this ALTHOUGH THEY KNOW BETTER. If they already know the risks AND have access to protection and are still willing to take the chance...what do you do then? I'd love to find an answer. I just don't know. It baffles me.

[Lyric]

32. On the topic of sex-ed:

I think we all agree that the best kind of program involves telling kids EVERYTHING--abstinence, birth control, peer pressure resistance, etc.

My honest opinion on sex ed is this: the programs will never be 100% effective because human nature is not perfect. However, there could be a lot of improvement in the numbers. I think we need to stop portraying sex as something dirty, weird, alien, inappropriate, and icky to talk about. All of these programs have the net effect of making kids feel like their desire for the physical pleasure of sex is something bad that they can't (and shouldn't) talk about. Has anyone ever tried sex-positive sex education? Not teaching kids that they SHOULD go out and have sex, but also not treating it like it's something grave or awful, either. Sex-positive alternatives to sex, like masturbation and mutual masturbation, could be the answer. Such a program would tell teens "Yes, orgasms feel really, really good. There's nothing at all wrong with wanting to feel that sensation. Here's how you get the sensation without so much risk."

So long as we attempt to suppress and deny the normal sexuality of our teens, we're going to continue to fail in our efforts to protect them from disease and pregnancy. I know that a lot of parents get squicked-out at the idea of their sweet baby boy or girl enjoying sexual pleasure, but why? Really--why? I can understand and agree that, ideally, teens are too young to have sexual intercourse with each other. But why are they too young to achieve physical climax by other, safer, means? We can't even talk about teen sexuality in a casual way without some prude or another (wrongly) assuming that the conversation is inherently "creepy" and that only a pervert would even think about telling a thirteen-year-old to masturbate, much less directly encouraging it. We're so terrified of being labeled perverts that we stay silent, even when we KNOW that such advice can save lives--literally.

Instead, we on the liberal side tend to stoically tell our kids "Self-exploration is okay. Private, but okay." Translation: "Do it if you MUST, do it if you're so weak that you can't control yourself, but I don't want to know about it." How do you think our kids take that? How many parents would be horrified if their 14-year-old daughter came to them and said, "Mom (or Dad), I've been trying masturbation, but I'm doing something wrong because it's not working for me. I'm so frustrated with myself. What am I doing wrong?" We'd have no qualms at all about such a conversation if our best friend came to us and said such a thing, but our child? Noooooo! Ick! Panic! And yet, if we were as open with our children as we SHOULD ideally be, then conversations exactly like that one would be no big deal at all. You talk about it, you find her a couple of websites and/or books about it, and perhaps even share your own experiences as to what helps and what doesn't--just like any other question. THAT kind of nonchalance would go a lot further toward improving the teen birth rates than anything else, but taboos are damned hard to break--even when there's no real practical purpose for them.

When I was a teen, that question could have been mine. I was in EXACTLY that situation, and I would NEVER have asked my parents such a thing, because I knew they'd be horrified to even know that I was doing such a thing, much less wanting advice! So where did I turn for advice? My fellow teens. And because teens are notoriously uneducated about such matters, the "advice" I got was to try it with a guy because it "works better" that way. So I did--and lost my virginity at age 14. It could have been a disaster, but pure dumb luck kept me from getting pregnant until I was fully adult. Not all teens have that kind of luck.

I have a boy who's almost ten, and although he hasn't asked much yet, we've already told him that we are perfectly willing to talk to him about sex when the time comes. I have a stack of educational books ready for him in the closet, and if he asks me the question I posed above (or any other question) I will gladly, without any weirdness or embarrassment, explain as much as I can and give him ideas for other resources when my own knowledge base runs thin. Of course, I do have a bit of an advantage; I'm a lesbian and my child is a boy, so the "taboo" is a lot less for me. Society already considers me a deviant, but even the most vicious critics of my sexual orientation understand that lesbians don't have sexual interest in boys. I can only imagine how hard it must be for adult fathers of daughters, fathers who WANT to reach out and help, but are terrified of being labeled a creepy pervert by a society that unfortunately assumes men to be a sexual danger to young girls, even when there's no sexual intent at all.

My partner Rhythm had a terrible experience with this as a 12-year-old. She was in the shower, there was only one bathroom, and her Dad really needed to use the bathroom. He came in to pee while she was still in the shower. The curtain was closed and he didn't see anything, but her Mom noticed it. Later, after her Dad left for work, Rhythm's southern Baptist prude of a mother completely went ballistic on her about it. She went nuts because of the sick taboo assumption that there's something horribly dirty about a father being in the same room with his daughter when she's older than five and naked. And she went off on *Rhythm*--not the Dad. She never mentioned a thing to him. As if Rhythm, who was showering and oblivious to her Dad being in there, had any control over what happened. I can't even imagine the kind of psychic damage that sort of deranged prudishness does. That's an extreme example, I know, but even the less-extreme prudish stuff can be damaging in more subtle ways. A parent who suddenly blushes and stammers and finds and excuse to leave the room whenever they are confronted with a sexual question or comment from their kid. A parent who firmly insists that his daughter's male best friend can't spend the night in her room with her, but turns red and refuses to explain why. (By the way, that last one is also subtly homophobic *and* sexist--it makes the heteronormative assumption that a female friend sleeping over is a trustworthy and asexual experience, and that a male friend sleeping over is untrustworthy and involves a serious potential for sex to occur. Oh how naive we are.)

Honestly--if we can't talk frankly to our kids, then we are part of the problem, not part of the solution. Our taboos about sexual communication between adults and teens are what keep us from being able to effectively protect them. Teachers will never, ever have these conversations with our kids--not in this prudish, litigious society. There's too much risk that someone will misinterpret advice for sexual interest, and lives could be ruined over such a mistake. We can't depend on teachers--we must do it ourselves. We MUST somehow convey to our children that we WILL answer their questions and guide them, without unnecessary judgement or repercussions, even when the topic is something we're squeamish or uncomfortable with. Until they feel that they can talk to us about literally ANYTHING, then I fear that we will continue to fail and fail again, and our kids will be the ones who pay for it.

[seabeyond]

37. mine are 12 and 15

we have talked about it ALL. and i mean all. lol. some i had no need to particpate in the conversation.

boys wont talk to hubby about sex and their body.

both boys have gone thru a program simular to this. tellign the truth about it. asking that they consider waiting until ready. giving info on disease, contraceptives and relationship, and how to treat one another. plus what is in the home. and certainly being open.

this isnt about kids not having sex.

this is about kids being informed and taught to be responsible.

[CTyankee]

57. Great post. Reminded me of when my kids were early teens. I bought a copy of "Our Bodies Ourselves"

and told them it was theirs if they ever had a question and I wasn't available, sort of like an encyclopedia or nowadays, Google. A few years later I marvelled at how worn that book was! So I think that you can have conversations with your kids but sometimes they want to look it up on their own because it is highly personal to them. And that's fine. They knew I wasn't a prude or being nosy or judgmental. They did fine and are fine today...

[varelse]

58. Indeed, knowledge does not always translate into action

By a strange coincidence, I watched a TED talk that addresses that very point - just last night. It's fairly long, but worthwhile :)

http://www.ted.com/talks/sendhil_mullainathan.html

[KILL THE WISE ONE]

21. Social Darwinism

in this study a self selected group chose to take this course. Perhaps this group was all ready predisposed to not getting layed.

i recently viewed a PBS program on how it's working in New Mexico. The conclusion of that program was:
There was significant delay in the age of first intercourse.
There was almost complete ignorance of safe sex practices.

So if you define that simply delaying the age of first intercourse is success then you have achieved it.
if you define success as promotion of personal responsibility then these programs are a complete failure.
check out HIV and Pregnancy rates for states that promote this. you have google you do not need to take it from anyone else.

[caraher]

22. Another factor is the metric

Probably the most appropriate metric for a government-funded sex ed program is the impact on rates of teen pregnancy and STDs. I'd be interested in knowing whether the 1/3 in this program who were sexually active were engaged in riskier behaviors than the 1/2 who were active but exposed to a comprehensive sex ed program.

I wouldn't declare victory simply because fewer kids were having sex, if the net result is more kids with pregnancies and diseases.

[depakid]

25. LOL- the Post is STILL pushing this!

Several years ago, in a graduate public health course, a student brought another Post article into class touting some fundy take on abstinence-only and a couple other programs.

Everyone literally laughed out loud at the Post, and good fun was had dissecting the Post's ridiculous article.

Haven't taken anything seriously that rag's had to say since.

[Warren Stupidity]

26. please take rightwing horseshit elsewhere

[jmowreader]

27. Hmm...

"It did not take a moralistic tone...encouraged children to delay sex until they're ready not necessarily until marriage, didn't portray sex outside marriage as never appropriate, and did not disparage condoms."

This is WAY different from what Bush was trying to do. THAT program might actually work, but the fundamentalists will never allow it to be used. You tell a kid rubbers don't work and you shouldn't screw until you're married, he's going to tune your ass out and accelerate his search for sex. In reality I don't think the Heritage Foundation WANTS abstinence-only to work...because if it actually did the "we HAVE to have Jesus in the schools!" people would be screwed.

[bullwinkle428]

28. Monkeys might fly out my butt, study says!

[1]

29. truth. everything else has a failure rate. in pure scientific terms this is correct...

but science does not always consider the proper "variables" as it were...

[suede1]

34. Well then, past studies and common sense be damned!

[seabeyond]

36. Abstinence ed, minus the morals, may work

if this is the same being talked about from your op, the relevant part is waiting on sex, without the moral or religious aspect. that is a whole different kettle of fish in the doing or not doing. much more honest, ergo more effective as opposed to you are "gonna go to hell" approach.





CHICAGO - An experimental abstinence-only program without a moralistic tone can delay teens from having sex, a provocative study found.

Billed as the first rigorous research to show long-term success with an abstinence-only approach, the study differed from traditional programs that have lost federal and state support in recent years. The classes didn’t preach saving sex until marriage or disparage condom use.

Instead, it involved assignments to help sixth- and seventh graders see the drawbacks to sexual activity at their age, including having them list the pros and cons themselves. Their “cons” far outnumbered the “pros.”



http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35186417/ns/health-sexual_health/

[Jennicut]

38. I was a virgin until I was 23. None of the sex ed had an effect on me at all.

It was more self esteem, encouragement from my Mother to wait for the right person and not just give your virginity away to just give it away. I am hardly conservative in my views. The sex ed in the early 90's in high school was more emphasizing safe sex. I am married to the first person I had sex with. These idiots have no idea how to go about sex ed. It is a personal choice and the way you grow up. And the fact that I really didn't give a crap what people thought of me.

[seabeyond]

39. "personal choice and the way you grow up." i find that almost always to be true. but

we as a people now want our schools to fix our kids instead of putting it on the parent.

they struggle to find the answers. when the answers are in the home, stepping them up for continual and constant failure.

[Jennicut]

48. Exactly. I am a parent now myself. I will not wait for anyone else to teach

my daughters what I want them to know.

[seabeyond]

50. and

even when they teach your daughters thing that oppose your belief, that is ok too. i have found allows for more and open discussion. and they say boys dont talk. they do if you listen.

[Jennicut]

51. Yes, I was always able to talk to my parents and they are both die hard

conservatives. The best thing they did was allow me to talk about politics with them and allow me to form my own opinions. Of course, they never dreamed I would become a total liberal. :)

[seabeyond]

55. ah ha

see. that is it in parenting. my parents allowed too. and respect went both ways.

[Zoeisright]

53. What I'd like to see stressed is how sex makes you so vulnerable.

I mean, breaking up is painful enough, whether you're a teen or an adult, but when teens add sex to that mix, it makes the break-up so much more excruciating. You've literally opened yourself up and offered your entire being to someone else. Having that rejected is terrible.

Plus total and complete sex ed starting as early as possible.

[Toots]

40. Abstinence does work, but abstinence-only does not.

There is no question that if a person is abstinent they will not get pregnant. To teach kids that that is the ONLY way to prevent pregnancy is as realistic as saying Bush* was the best person ever to hold the office of the Presidency.

[rucky]

43. Aside from the very narrow sample...

This caught my attention:

"the curriculum tested did not represent most abstinence programs. It did not take a moralistic tone, as many abstinence programs do. Most notably, the sessions encouraged children to delay sex until they are ready, not necessarily until married; did not portray sex outside marriage as never appropriate; and did not disparage condoms."

Sounds more like ABC than abstinence-only. Maybe for sixth and seventh graders this is more appropriate of an approach. Then introduce birth control methods during the two-year follow up window?

I'd like to see this curriculum studied side-by-side with the stealth X-tian curriculum.

[DCBob]

45. Wonder how the questions about sex were worded..

Many teenagers do not consider oral and anal sex as sex..

[Arkansas Granny]

46. How can this be? Just last week it was reported that teen pregnancy rates were on the rise.

“After more than a decade of progress, this reversal is deeply troubling,” says Heather Boonstra, Guttmacher Institute senior public policy associate. “It coincides with an increase in rigid abstinence-only-until-marriage programs, which received major funding boosts under the Bush administration. A strong body of research shows that these programs do not work. Fortunately, the heyday of this failed experiment has come to an end with the enactment of a new teen pregnancy prevention initiative that ensures that programs will be age-appropriate, medically accurate and, most importantly, based on research demonstrating their effectiveness.”

The teen pregnancy rate declined 41% between its peak, in 1990 (116.9 pregnancies per 1,000 women aged 15–19), and 2005 (69.5 per 1,000). Teen birth and abortion rates also declined, with births dropping 35% between 1991 and 2005 and teen abortion declining 56% between its peak, in 1988, and 2005. But all three trends reversed in 2006. In that year, there were 71.5 pregnancies per 1,000 women aged 15–19. Put another way, about 7% of teen girls became pregnant in 2006.

http://www.guttmacher.org/media/nr/2010/01/26/index.html

The programs in the study reported in WaPo might cause a few children to delay sexual activity, but apparently, abstinence only is not effective in the long.

[Javaman]

47. Yeah, and communism works on paper too! LOL

horny teens have been around since the dawn of time. When you tell them not to do something, yeah, they always listen. LOL

[Echo In Light]

52. 110% pure BULLSHIT-sicko fantasyland for cons, fundies & pinched up authoritarians

[TrogL]

56. I've got a different study in my briefcase that says the exact opposite

But I'd rather go all anecdotal.

I'm 54 years old. I lived through the "sexual revolution".

Before - No sex ed. Lots of pregnant teens.

During - Full sex ed (a bit of it incorrect). A LOT fewer pregnant teens - noteworthy because everybody was talking about it, magazines were full of it, books (eg. Everything you wanted to know about sex but were afraid to ask (a bit of it incorrect)), and it was all over the TV.

After - Scaled down, complete, accurate sex ed. Few pregnant teens.

Abstinence only - Teen pregnancy up dramatically.