Youth Want Abstinence Education

A new poll shows young people think abstinence programs are effective in reducing sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancies, The Washington Times reported.

A Harris poll found that 56 percent of people age 18 to 24 said teaching abstinence is an effective way to prevent HIV/AIDS. Forty-nine percent of the same group said abstinence programs are effective in reducing the number of unwanted pregnancies.

Of those 25 to 29, 60 percent agreed that teaching abstinence is an effective way to both prevent HIV/AIDS and unwanted pregnancies.

The poll also found that older adults viewed abstinence education less favorably.

Linda Klepacki, analyst for sexual health at Focus on the Family Action, said young people see the realities of sexual activity outside of marriage.

"Teens and young adults know the suffering their generation has had to endure being sexually active outside of marriage," she said. "When they hear the truth about the consequences of sex outside of marriage and the benefits of waiting, they want to change their behavior. And abstinence education teaches them the skills to wait until marriage for sex."

New Poll: Teens, Young Adults Support Abstinence, Say It's Effective

by Steven Ertelt LifeNews.com Editor
January 23, 2006
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- A new poll about abstinence finds the practice has strong support from the people who matter most -- teenagers and young adults. They support abstinence and say that it's effective in reducing unplanned pregnancies and lowers AIDS rates. A new Harris Poll reveals 56 percent of those 18 to 24 and 60 percent of people 25 to 29 think abstinence programs reduce the rates of HIV and AIDS.

Meanwhile, 49 percent of 18 to 24 year-olds and 60 percent of 25 to 29 year-olds say abstinence education programs are effective in reducing the number of unwanted pregnancies.

According to a Washington Times story, younger age categories were the most likely of six age groups to find abstinence education effective, and they should know.

"The most striking, and surely the most important differences among various demographic groups are the differences between younger and older adults," the poll indicated. "Adults under the age of 30 are more likely to believe that abstinence programs are effective, and it is of course these adults who are the main targets for the programs."

In fact the percentage support for abstinence education lowered with every increase in age category, with just 37 percent of those 65 or older supporting such programs.

The Harris Poll also found sharp partisan divisions on abstinence with Republicans more supportive and Democrats more likely to oppose such programs.

Some 50 percent of Republicans found abstinence education programs to be effective against AIDS and 46 percent said they were successful in reducing unplanned pregnancies. Among Democrats the numbers were 39 and 28 percent.

Other polls have found much stronger support for abstinence education.

An August 2005 survey conducted by the Pew Research Center for The People & The Press found 76 percent of those polled favored teaching abstinence education in schools while just 20 percent opposed.

A January 2004 Zogby International poll shows parents overwhelmingly support abstinence education for teenagers.

Out of the 1,004 parents surveyed across the nation, 96 percent said abstinence is best for teens. Only 39.9 percent thought that abstinence and contraception should be combined in a single class.

The Harris Poll was conducted from December 8 to 14 and surveyed 1,961 adults.