Effectiveness of Abstinence-only Intervention in Middle School Teens

• Published in: American journal of health behavior Vol. 29; no. 5; pp. 423 - 434
• Main Authors: Borawski, Elaine A., Trapl, Erika S., Lovegreen, Loren D., Colabianchi, Natalie, Block, Tonya
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States PNG Publications 01.09.2005
• Subjects: Abstinence; Adolescent; Adolescents; Beliefs; Condoms; Contraception; Control Groups; Curriculum; Female; Health education; Health Promotion - organization & administration; Humans; Incidence; Intention; Intervention; Interventions; Junior High School Students; Junior High Schools; Male; Marriage; Middle School Students; Multivariate Analysis; Program Evaluation; School Health Services - organization & administration; Sex Education; Sexual Abstinence - statistics & numerical data; Sexual attitudes; Sexual Behavior; Sexual behaviour; Sexuality; Sexually Transmitted Diseases
• ISSN: 1087-3244; 1945-7359
• DOI: 10.5993/AJHB.29.5.5

Objectives: To examine effectiveness of abstinence-until-marriage curriculum on knowledge, beliefs, efficacy, intentions, and behavior. Methods: Nonrandomized control trial involving 2069 middle school students with a 5-month follow-up. Results: Intervention students reported increases in knowledge and abstinence beliefs, but decreases in intentions to have sex and to use condoms. Intervention did not influence sexual initiation or condom use; however, intervention students who had sex during the evaluation period reported fewer sexual episodes and fewer partners than did controls. Conclusions: Abstinence-until-marriage interventions can influence knowledge, beliefs, and intentions, and among sexually experienced students, may reduce the prevalence of casual sex. Reduction in condom use intentions merits further study to determine long-term implications.