Abstinence Education Works
As youth navigate through the difficult waters of adolescence, the choices they make regarding their sexual health can have long-term effects on their lives. Abstinence education offers the one message that eliminates all possible risks associated with sexual activity. Abstinence education, as currently funded by Congress, is favored by parents by a 2:1 margin. A Zogby poll, commissioned by the National Abstinence Education Association (NAEA), found the overwhelming majority of parents want their teens to be abstinent until they are married.
- Nationwide there has been a 13% decrease in the percentage of teens who have ever had sex between 1991 and 2005(1).
- Seven peer-reviewed, published studies show that abstinence education decreases sexual initiation, increases abstinent behavior among sexually experienced teens, and/or decreases the number of partners among sexually active teens(2).
- The majority of the nationwide decline in teen pregnancies is attributed to increased abstinence(3).
ReL8 Program Results
We are currently collecting research throughout the state and look forward to being able to share it with our schools and communities in the future!
For more information on ReL8’s evaluation program, please contact us at info@myrel8.com or 618-692-9888.
(1) CDC, YRBSS, Trends in the Prevalence of Sexual Behavior, 2005.
(2) Reasons of the Hart, American Journal of Health Behavior (in press); Best Friends, Adolescent and Family Health; Not Me, Not Now, Journal of Healthy Communications, 2001; Sex Respect/Teen Aid, Journal of Research and Development in Education, 1992; Postponing Sexual Involvement (Abstinence Version), Family Planning Perspectives, 1990; For Keeps, American Journal of Health Behavior, 2005; Heritage Keepers, Office of Population Affairs, HHS, 2005.
(3) Santelli, Journal of Adolescent Health, 2004.