Study: Abstinence Education Works
We linked to a story recently reporting that teen pregnancies in the U.S. had reached their highest point since the 80s—the highest rate of all developed countries. Some experts are suggesting that abstinence-only education is part of the problem.
However, the Washington Post reports the results of a major, long-term study that challenges the common notion that abstinence education is a failed experiment.
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.
If you’re a parent, though, you’re likely to be troubled by even the good news in that study. A third of students having sex within two years of completing an abstinence program in sixth and seventh grade? That’s hard to reconcile as a big win.
More than anything, it’s clear that parents are needed to provide wisdom to their children about sex, love, dating, and God’s standards in those areas.
Another story reporting on the study included this quote from a group called Abstinence America: “The majority of young people (88%) say it would be much easier for teens to postpone sexual activity and avoid teen pregnancy if they were able to have more open, honest conversations about these topics with parents.”
You already knew that, but it helps to keep hearing it. At least, it helps us.
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