A new study released by The Heritage Foundation of Washington DC, proves that teens who pledge to abstain from sexual activity until
marriage have "better life outcomes and are far less likely to engage
in risky behaviors than non-pledgers." (Heritage Web Memo, 09/21/04)
The study, based on recently released data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, revealed the following:
Teens who make a virginity pledge:
- Are less likely to experience a teen pregnancy
- Are less likely to be sexually active while in high school and as young adults
- Are less likely to give birth as teens or young adults
- Are less likely to give birth out of wedlock
- Will have fewer sexual partners
"This
study shows that abstinence education works. Teaching kids the dangers
of sex outside of marriage and empowering teens to make healthy choices
offers our children the best chance of a happy and healthy future,"
said Leslee J. Unruh, president of the Abstinence Clearinghouse. "Virginity pledges can be an effective tool in motivating teens toward truly responsible behavior."
The
Heritage study entitled "Teens Who Make Virginity Pledges Have
Substantially Improved Life Outcomes" by Robert Rector, Kirk A.
Johnson, and Jennifer A. Marshall is available for viewing.
Video Press Release info available upon request from freeteens.org or abstinence.net |
