| Abstinence Education Initiative |
Abstinence FAQ
While the number of teens engaging in sexual
activity has been gradually decreasing during the past decade, there is
still great cause for concern. Each teen that engages in sexual activity
prior to adulthood, dramatically increases their chances for pregnancy
and sexually-transmitted diseases. In addition, youth who begin having
sex at a younger age are exposed to these risks over a longer period of
time. They are also more likely to have more sexual partners which also
heightens their risk.
As a result, IYD has played an active role in endorsing a comprehensive
risk avoidance message which includes sexual abstinence. It has developed
an Abstinence Education Initiative that will help educators, abstinence
professionals, prevention specialists and other youth development workers
manage prevention
programs more effectively by providing technical assistance and access
to information and research about sexual abstinence and health.
Many of the questions listed below are based on original research
that the Institute for Youth Development has completed. This publication
is titled America’s
Youth: Measuring the Risk and is available for purchase from IYD.
Frequently Asked Questions About Sexual Abstinence
What is the IYD definition of sexual abstinence?
IYD supports a comprehensive approach to sexual abstinence.
In fact, we believe that the abstinence approach should apply to all
risk behaviors
associated with the use of alcohol, drugs, tobacco and violence. Our
research indicates that early sexual debut is inextricably linked with
these four risk behaviors, and that teens who avoid all five risk behaviors
improve their chances of avoiding the lifelong consequences that can
result from participation.
Is an abstinence approach effective?
IYD believes that abstinence is indeed an effective approach
to addressing adolescent sexuality. This message is being embraced by
teens throughout
the nation as evidenced by the 2001 Centers for Disease Control Youth
Surveillance Survey. This survey indicated that 54% of teens have not
had sex as compared to 45% in 1990. So, the survey indicates that teens
are choosing to abstain from sexual activity. (1) This year, the CDC
reported that birth rates for unmarried teenagers continued to decline.
(2) Teens that choose abstinence are totally protected from the consequences
that can dramatically alter their lives and their futures.
What are some of the key factors behind a teenagers decision to abstain
from sexual intercourse?
Teenagers who perceive that they have a better level of communication
with their parents are less likely to engage in sexual intercourse. Teens’ increase
in age and decrease in communication with parents increase the risk
of engaging in sexual intercourse.
In addition, teen/mother relationships have a significant impact on
decision-making. Studies show that if a teen has a high level of satisfaction
with the relationship they have with their mother and knows that the
mother disapproves of premarital sex, they are less likely to participate
in sexual activity. Teens who reported a low level of satisfaction with
their mother were more than twice as likely as those highly satisfied
with their relationship to be having sexual intercourse.
It is also interesting to note that when surveyed, teens have a strong
opinion about the guidance they receive about sexual activity. Teens
who choose to abstain from sexual activity believe it is important to
be given a strong message from society that they should abstain from
sex until they are at least out of high school.
How does the age at first intercourse impact a person’s number
of partners over a lifetime?
Age at first intercourse has a strong association with the
number of sexual partners a person has over a lifetime. The earlier a
teen
participates in sexual activity, the greater number of partners they
are likely to
have over a lifetime. In addition, the greater number of partners a
person has, the greater the risk of contracting sexually-transmitted
diseases
such as HIV/AIDS.
What teen population is more heavily
impacted by STDs?
Teens are a high behavioral risk for acquiring most STD’s
when they are sexually active. Studies have shown that teens 15-19
years of age accounted for 33% of STD cases. Young women are biologically
more
susceptible
to
chlamydia, gonorrhea, and HIV. Research has also shown that an older
sex partner poses a greater risk for HIV because they are more likely
to have had multiple partners, to have had more varied sexual and
drug use experiences, and to be infected with HIV than same-age adolescent
sex partners.
What can I do to address these issues
with my teenager?
Communication is key to the parent/teen relationship. Our
research has revealed that parent/child “connectedness” protects
youth. Adolescents thrive in an environment with high expectations
where they are given firm direction and consistent messages by a
parent or an adult mentor to whom they feel a close connection. Not
surprisingly,
the Federally-sponsored National Longitudinal Study on Adolescent
Health (also known as Add Health) found that family connections protect
teenagers
from harm. When researchers surveyed more than 90,000 teenagers,
they found that when children feel loved and cared for by their parents,
they are less likely to engage in risk behaviors. So, we believe
you should talk to your teens and engage in behaviors that make them
feel loved and cared for.
Are there other actions I can take to ensure my teen continues to
abstain from sexual activity?
There are quite a few actions you can take to support your teenager.
Teens who are engaged in school and learning and who participate in
extracurricular projects and sports, volunteering or religious activities
are less likely
to engage in risky sexual behaviors.(3) Also, be cognizant of your
child’s
peers. Encourage him/her to maintain friendships with other teens who
do not engage in risk-related behaviors. Last, but not least, spend time with your teen doing things they like to do.
Use this time to
communicate about what’s important in your teen’s life
and convey clear, consistent messages about avoiding sex.
(1) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Youth Risk Behavior
Surveillance – United States, 2001,” Morbidity and Mortality
Report, June 18, 2002.
(2) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Births:
Final Data for 2000,” NVSR Volume 50, No. 5. 104 pp. (PHS) 2002-1120,
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/releases/02news/womenbirths.htm.
(3) Manlove,J., Terry-Humen, E., Papillo,A.R., Franzetta,K., Williams,
S., & Ryan, S. (200, Mary); Pareventing teenage pregnancy, childbearing,
and sexually-transmitted diseases: What the research shows. Research
Brief. Washington, DC: Child Trends.
|
Copyright
2004