Abstinence-Only Works; Who'da Thunk...

[Fantasy Chaser]

Tuesday, February 02, 2010 Associated Press

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

Billed as the first rigorous research to show long-term success with an abstinence-only approach, the study released Monday differed from traditional programs that have lost U.S. federal and state support in recent years.

(snip)

The students were assigned to one of four options: eight hour-long abstinence-only classes; safe-sex classes; classes incorporating both approaches; or classes in general healthy behavior. Results for the first three classes were compared with the group that had only the general health classes. That was the "control group" the study used for comparison.

Two years later, about one-third of abstinence-only students said they'd had sex since the classes ended, versus nearly half — about 49 percent — of the control group. Sexual activity rates in the other two groups didn't differ from the control group.
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Like I said in the thread title; who'da thunk...

Full article at: Study Finds New Abstinence-Only Program Works - Sex | Erectile Dysfunction | Sexual Health - FOXNews.com

[Conservative Libertarian]

The Liberals are going to hate this.

[Blackwell]

The Liberals are going to hate this.

They'll hate it and try to discredit it somehow.

[Brett]

I think if I were a kid, knowing I was being tested, and I had sat through 8 hours of abstinence courses, I'd most likely lie if I had had sex.

[Fantasy Chaser]

I think if I were a kid, knowing I was being tested, and I had sat through 8 hours of abstinence courses, I'd most likely lie if I had had sex.

Why? I saw nothing in the article about how they were polled, but I imagine it was anonymously.

[SuddenImpact]

Why? I saw nothing in the article about how they were polled, but I imagine it was anonymously.

So? Would you have answered yes if you had, even if it was anonymously? At the age of thirteen?

I don't see any value in this study unless they found that the abstinence-only kids who did have sex had it in a safer way than the safe-sex kids who did. Otherwise, it doesn't fix the problem.

[Brett]

So? Would you have answered yes if you had, even if it was anonymously? At the age of thirteen?

I don't see any value in this study unless they found that the abstinence-only kids who did have sex had it in a safer way than the safe-sex kids who did. Otherwise, it doesn't fix the problem.

Even that doesn't fix the problem.

It should come from a church or your parents, not from a school or a session of classes specifically designed for the purpose.

[Cactus Jack]

Abstinence only sex education is irresponsible and this study flies in the face of mountains of evidence to the contrary from every single study that has been conducted before.

There are dozens of studies that show the complete opposite and a simple Google search will find details of them. Here are a few links I found in about two minutes:

Comprehensive sex ed may cut teen pregnancies | Reuters
Health | UW researchers say comprehensive sex ed cuts teen pregnancies | Seattle Times Newspaper
Experts say sex abstinence program doesn't work | Reuters

I also find it interesting what clammy didn't quote from the article:

The classes didn't preach saving sex until marriage or disparage condom use. Instead, they involved assignments to help students around the age of 12 see the drawbacks to sexual activity at their age. It included having them list the pros and cons themselves, and it found their "cons" far outnumbered the "pros."

I see no reason why this approach cannot be used as part of more comprehensive sex education program that involves learning about different contraceptive methods.

To suggest that teenagers shouldn't learn about different contraceptive methods is simply negligent IMO. Teens deserve all the information so they can make educated choices.

[SuddenImpact]

Even that doesn't fix the problem.

It should come from a church or your parents, not from a school or a session of classes specifically designed for the purpose.

Well, yeah, but that's not the problem; the problems are STDs, teen pregnancy, and emotional issues like infidelity and hedonism. Parents and churches/temples/synagogues are ways to solve those problems. But of course, different parents may have different views as to what the problems are, as well - some parents don't care if their kid has sex as long as they don't get an STD, others ban it completely, etc.

[SuddenImpact]

I also find it interesting what clammy didn't quote from the article:

HEY! That's my special name for him!