Virginity vows (Jesus, abstinence, contradiction, soul, America)

[Pah]

Many Youths Disregard Their Virginity Pledges, Harvard Study Says
According to interviews, more than half have sex within a year. But one pro-abstinence group disputes the findings.

By Elizabeth Mehren, Times Staff Writer
May 7, 2006

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationwo...a-story-footer

BOSTON — Virginity pledges, in which young people vow to abstain from sex until marriage, have little staying power among those who take them, a Harvard study has found.

More than half of the adolescents who make the signed public promises give up on their pledges within a year, according to the study released last week.

"The Harvard report is wrong," said Janice Crouse, a fellow at a Concerned Women for America think tank.

"This study is in direct contradiction with trends we have been seeing in recent years," Crouse said. "Those who make virginity pledges have shown greater resolve to save sex for marriage."

For the Harvard report, researcher Janet Rosenbaum analyzed data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, a survey conducted by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. It is the only government-sponsored study that asks about virginity pledges.

The 14,000 survey subjects were interviewed in 1995 and reinterviewed in 1996 and 2001. They ranged in age from 12 to 18 and came from across the country.

Rosenbaum found that 52% of those who said they had signed virginity pledges had had sex within a year. And of those who had sex after telling the first interviewers they had taken the pledge, 73% denied in the second interview having made the pledge.

Fifty-two percent (batting 500) would be great for a baseball player, but, apparently the Concerned Women for America want it to be perfect (or much closer to perfect).

Abstinence only education is a failure.

[standing_alone]

Originally Posted by Pah

Abstinence only education is a failure.

Most definately.

Another thing about these youths that make virginity pledges is that when they do break them and have sexual intercourse, they are highly unlikely to have a condom on them to use for protection.

[Sunstone]

A study I ran across a few years back suggested that there is a limited to how many people will adhere to an abstinence pledge. The study found that after about one third of a high school signs up for the pledge, adherence to the pledge drops off dramatically. That is, people begin to drop out of the progam. The authors concluded that this was so consistent it would be unrealistic to expect more than about a third of a student population to adhere to abstinence only, even in a "perfect world".

I agree Pah that abstinence only is a joke. A cruel one for the kids subjected to it. But a joke nonetheless. However, the movement for it is dug in, institutionalized, and well funded. I don't see it going away any time soon.

[DeepShadow]

While I don't agree with abstinence-only sex education, I do think abstinence can play a big role, and--when properly implemented as part of the education--can get a better track record than 50%. The National Study of Youth and Religion scored LDS teens at a 90% abstinence rate, but then we do a whole lot more than a one-time pledge.

[evearael]

Abstinence only education is a failure.

Agreed, though I have nothing but respect for someone who chooses to wait until marriage (or in cases where marriage is not yet legal, a committed long term relationship).

Another thing about these youths that make virginity pledges is that when they do break them and have sexual intercourse, they are highly unlikely to have a condom on them to use for protection.

Interesting.

I was able to find this:

Make the TLW Pledge "Believing that true love waits, I make a commitment to God, myself, my family, my friends, my future mate, and my future children to a lifetime of purity including sexual abstinence from this day until the day I enter a biblical marriage relationship."

The Five Commitments of True Love Waits

• To God: Matthew 22:37 - "Jesus replied, 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'"
• To Yourself: Matthew 22:39 - "And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"
• To Family: Philippians 4:5 - "Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near."
• To Friends: John 15:13 - "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."
• To Future Mate and Children: 2 Timothy 2:22 - "Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart."

http://www.lifeway.com/tlw/students/join.asp

[DeepShadow]

Originally Posted by standing_alone

Another thing about these youths that make virginity pledges is that when they do break them and have sexual intercourse, they are highly unlikely to have a condom on them to use for protection.

Ummm...you have any data on that? Seriously, I'm interested.

[standing_alone]

Here is another interesting article on this topic:

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medi...p?newsid=21606

[Scott1]

Originally Posted by Pah

Abstinence only education is a failure.

It was, it is, and always will be no more than wishful thinking disguised as a "policy" or "education".

Peace,
Scott

[standing_alone]

Originally Posted by DeepShadow

Ummm...you have any data on that? Seriously, I'm interested.

From the link in my previous post (also has other interesting info on STDs and virginity pledgers):

STD Findings
Bearman and Bruckner in March 2004 at the 2004 National STD Prevention Conference in Philadelphia presented their findings that teens who make abstinence pledges have similar rates of STDs as teens who have not made pledges. The study -- also based on data from the NLSAH -- found that, although teens who made the pledges had sexual intercourse an average of 18 months later than teens who did not take a pledge and averaged fewer sexual partners overall, they had similar rates of STDs. In addition, the study found that pledgers were much less likely to use contraception the first time they had sex and also were less likely than other teens to have undergone STD testing and know their STD status, which could increase their risk of STD transmission to sexual partners (Kaiser Daily Reproductive Health Report, 3/10/04). Of the 777 teens who reported being virginity pledgers throughout the course of the study, 4.6% had trichomoniasis, chlamydia or gonorrhea. Of the 1,622 who reported pledge to remain abstinent at some point during the study, 6.4% had one of the STDs. Of the 9,072 teens who did not ever make a virginity pledge, 6.9% had one of the STDs (Wetzstein, Washington Times, 3/19). The study did not reveal significant geographical differences but did show that minorities were "far more likely" to have an STD, according to the Post. About 25% of African-American girls had at least one STD in 2002, the study found (Washington Post, 3/19).

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medi...p?newsid=21606