Media

For Immediate Release:
September 1, 2005

Contact: Adrienne Verrilli
at: 212-819-9770 x325

New Study Confirms that Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Programs are Potentially Harmful to Youth, Decrease Likelihood of Condom Use

Washington, DC - A study published today in the American Journal of Health Behavior found that an abstinence-only-until-marriage program in Ohio had little beneficial outcomes for students. Researchers from Case Western University found that while the Operation Keepsake curricula led to increased knowledge about HIV and STDs and to an increase in the middle-school students' intentions to remain abstinent in the near future, participants showed no change in sexual initiation, and a reduced intent to use condoms during sexual intercourse. In addition, the program did not have an effect on student's confidence in their ability to avoid a risky sexual situation.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of a school-based, Title-V compliant abstinence-only-until-marriage curriculum taught to middle school students. Title V is one of three federal funding streams dedicated to abstinence-only-until-marriage programs. To be compliant programs must adhere to a strict 8-point definition that among other things teaches students that "a mutually faithful, monogamous relationship in the context of marriage is the expected standard of sexual activity," and that "sexual activity outside the context of marriage is likely to have harmful psychological and physical effects."

According to the study's authors, "the program did not significantly reduce the likelihood of sexual initiation among the sexually inexperienced, nor did it reduce the likelihood of sexual intercourse among the sexual experienced."

The findings echo existing research on abstinence-only-until-marriage programs. These programs have been around for over 20 years and no study in a professional peer-reviewed journal has found them to be effective. While many of these programs have never been evaluated, 11 states have evaluated their Title V programs and the results range from finding the programs ineffective to finding them to be harmful.

"The federal government currently spends close to $170 million annually on abstinence-only-until-marriage programs. Clearly taxpayers are not getting a return on their investment and yet these programs continue with little or no government oversight," said William Smith , vice president for public policy at SIECUS.

"Our young people deserve better. They deserve comprehensive programs that include messages about both condoms and abstinence. Such programs medically accurate information, help young people build decision making skills, and have repeatedly been proven effective," Smith continued.

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