Q1.

All in all, do you think things in the country as a whole are headed in the right direction, or are things off on the wrong track?

Right Direction

43%

Wrong Track

45

VOL:

(Mixed)

11

VOL:

(Don't Know)

2

Q2.

And do you think things in your area are headed in the right direction, or are things off on the wrong track?

Right Direction

56%

Wrong Track

33

VOL:

(Mixed)

9

VOL:

(Don't Know)

2

Q3.

In general, would you say that young people today get information about sex, sexuality and birth control at about the right time, too soon, or too late?

About the right time

31%

Too soon

19

Too late

39

VOL:

(Mixed)

5

VOL:

(Don't Know)

6

Q4.

In general, do you support or oppose sex education or sexuality education courses being taught to . . . : [READ ITEM]?

VOLUNTEERED

DO NOT ROTATE

Support

Oppose

(DK)

(Refused)

o

High school age students, that is children age 15 to 18

93%

6%

1%

-

o

Junior high age students, that is children age 12 to 14

84

14

2

-

o

Older elementary school age students, that is children age 9 to 11

48

46

6

-

o

Younger elementary school age students, that is children age 6 to 8

17

78

5

*

Q5.

People disagree about what activities are appropriate to teach young people at various ages. For each of the following, tell me if you think it is appropriate to teach children in seventh and eighth grades, children in ninth and tenth grades, children in eleventh and twelfth grades, not appropriate until at least after high school, or never appropriate at any age. Here's the first one: [READ ITEM] Do you think that is appropriate to teach students in seventh and eighth grades, in ninth and tenth grades, in eleventh and twelfth grades, not appropriate until at least after high school, or never?

Grades

Grades

Grades

HS

Never

VOLUNTEERED

ROTATE

(Mixed)

(DK)

o

Puberty

82%

12%

2%

1%

2%

1%

*

o

Abstinence

79

12

4

1

2

1

1

o

H-I-V and AIDS

76

16

4

1

2

1

*

o

Sexually transmitted diseases

74

17

5

1

2

1

*

o

Love and dating

63

23

6

3

2

2

1

o

Contraception & birth control

59

25

7

4

3

1

*

o

Condoms

58

24

8

4

3

1

1

o

Sexual orientation

56

20

9

3

7

2

3

o

Homosexuality

42

22

10

5

14

3

3

o

Abortion

40

28

11

5

12

3

1

Q6.

Some people believe that whether or not young people are sexually active, they should be given information about sex and sexuality so they will have an accurate understanding of it. Other people believe that giving young people information about sex and sexuality encourages them to have sexual relations. Which comes closer to the way you feel?

Should be given

79%

Encourages sex

12

VOL:

(Both/Mixed)

7

VOL:

(Don't Know)

1

Q7.

Let me ask about this somewhat differently. Some people believe that whether or not young people are sexually active, they should be given information to protect themselves from unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases. Other people believe that telling young people about birth control and sexually transmitted diseases only encourages them to have sex. Which comes closer to the way you feel?

Should be given

84%

Encourages sex

10

VOL:

(Both/Mixed)

6

VOL:

(Don't Know)

1

Q8.

Now I'm going to read you a list of words and phrases. For each one, I want to ask you two things. First, tell me if you would say you are or if you are not familiar with that term. Then, whether or not you would say you are familiar with the term, tell me whether your reaction to the term or concept is very positive, somewhat positive, somewhat negative, or very negative? Here's the first one: [READ ITEM] Would say you are or if you are not familiar with that term? And is your reaction to the term is very positive, somewhat positive, somewhat negative, or very negative?

Familiar?

Positive

Negative

VOLUNTEER

Pos

Neg

ROTATE

Yes

(Other)

Very

Some

Some

Very

(Mixed)

(DK)

o

Sex education

95%

5

58%

29

5

3

3

2

87%

8

o

Abstinence education

88%

12

56%

27

8

2

2

5

83%

10

o

Responsible sexuality education

75%

25

54%

27

5

3

2

9

81%

8

o

Sexuality education

84%

16

48%

32

6

4

3

7

80%

10

o

Abstinence-based education

78%

22

46%

31

8

3

3

8

77%

11

o

Abstinence-only-until-mariage education

80%

20

39%

27

14

10

4

6

66%

24

o

Realistic sexuality education

57%

43

38%

28

7

4

4

19

66%

11

o

Comprehensive sexuality education

50%

50

29%

30

7

4

4

25

59%

11

o

Fear-based sex education

49%

51

12%

13

19

31

5

20

25%

50

Q9.

Proponents take two basic positions on the best and most appropriate approach to sex education based on different views of young people and their developing sexuality. We want to know which view is closer to the way you feel.

• Some think young people are going to explore their sexuality as a natural part of growing up and that the best approach is to provide information and services to help them act responsibly

63%

• Some think young people exploring their sexuality is wrong, and that the best approach is to set out clear limits of acceptable behavior before marriage

24

Which comes closer to the way you feel?

VOL:

(Both/Mixed/Depends)

12

VOL:

(Don't Know)

2

Q10.

For each of the following, tell me if you think it is something that school personnel such as nurses and counselors should or should not do. Here's the first one: [READ ITEM] Do you think school nurse and counselors should or should not do that?

ROTATE

Should

Not

(Mixed)

(DK)

o

Refer sexually active young people to clinics that treat and prevent sexually transmitted diseases

79%

16

4

1

o

Refer sexually active young people to family planning clinics

69%

24

5

2

o

Make condoms available for sexually active young people

53%

39

6

2

o

Refer homosexual and bi-sexual young people to gay and lesbian youth organizations

45%

43

7

5

o

Refer pregnant young women to clinics that provide abortions to women who decide they need to have one

34%

55

9

2

Q11.

The term "responsible" is often used in describing appropriate sexual behavior. For each of the following, tell me if you think it does or does not qualify as something you would regard as responsible sexual behavior for a young person today. Here's the first one: [READ ITEM] Do you think that does or does not qualify as something you regard as responsible sexual behavior for a young person today?

ROTATE

Does

Does not

(Mixed)

(DK)

o

Using protection when sexually active

93%

4

3

*

o

Abstaining from sexual intercourse until marriage

89%

7

4

1

o

Avoiding relationships in which one partner is exploited by the other

88%

8

2

2

o

Postponing sexual intercourse in the early teens

87%

8

4

1

Q12.

I am going to read you some arguments people have made IN FAVOR of abstinence-only until marriage approaches to sexuality education in the schools. For each argument, tell me if -- for you personally -- the argument is totally convincing, somewhat convincing, not very convincing, or not convincing at all. Here's the first one. [READ STATEMENT] For you personally, is that statement in favor of abstinence-only sexuality education totally convincing, somewhat convincing, not very convincing, or not convincing at all?

Convincing

Not convincing

Total

Total

ROTATE

Total

Some

N very

At all

(DK)

Pos

Neg

o

Children must be taught that the only fully effective way to prevent unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, including AIDS is to abstain from sexual intercourse until marriage

43%

33

15

9

*

76%

24

o

Abstinence-only-until-marriage sexuality education is the best approach to protect the morals of young people at this critical time of their lives

29%

33

20

15

3

62%

35

o

Teens cannot make good decisions on their own, so they need the strong, clear messages from adults in positions of authority that they receive in abstinence-only until marriage education

23%

34

25

17

1

57%

42

o

It is important that children be taught that sex outside of marriage causes grave psychological and physical harm

26%

26

23

23

2

52%

46

o

Teaching abstinence alone is the best way to protect children from peer pressure and the dangers of a society that glorifies sex

23%

27

24

23

2

51%

47

Q13.

Which of the following views is closer to the way you feel:

• Sexual intercourse should only occur in marriage, OR

33%

• Sexual intercourse should be reserved for a committed, monogamous relationship, whether or not people are married

56

Which comes closer to the way you feel?

VOL:

(Both/Mixed/Depends)

10

VOL:

(Don't Know)

1

Q14.

Recently, Congress passed a law to promote the message of abstinence until marriage in our schools. Please tell me whether you support or oppose each of the following components of the law: [READ ITEM] Do you support or oppose that?

VOLUNTEERED

DO NOT ROTATE

Support

Oppose

(DK)

(Refused)

o

Teaches that a mutually faithful, monogamous relationship in the context of marriage is the expected standard of human activity

68%

27

5%

*

o

Teaches that sexual activity outside the context of marriage is likely to have harmful psychological and physical effects.

50%

45

5%

*

o

Allocates over half a billion dollars over five years for abstinence-until-marriage education, but prohibits any of those dollars from being used to give young people information about contraception for the prevention of pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, HIV, and AIDS

24%

70

6%

1

Q15.

Now I am going to read you some statements IN FAVOR of teaching sex education in the schools. For each argument, tell me if -- for you personally -- the argument is totally convincing, somewhat convincing, not very convincing, or not convincing at all. Here's the first one. [READ STATEMENT] For you personally, is that statement IN FAVOR of teaching sex education totally convincing, somewhat convincing, not very convincing, or not convincing at all?

Convincing

Not convincing

Total

Total Not

ROTATE

Total

Some

N very

At all

(DK)

Convncg

Convcg

o

The AIDS epidemic means that young people can die from sexual intercourse. They need information to protect themselves

72%

20

4

3

1

93%

6

o

Schools need to supplement what parents teach at home so kids have full information about contraception, sexually transmitted diseases, HIV, and AIDS.

57%

34

4

4

1

91%

8

o

Young people are having sexual intercourse and they need to have information to protect themselves

63%

27

5

4

1

90%

9

o

Young people need information about sexuality so that they can have healthy and happy intimate relationships as adults

59%

28

8

4

1

86%

13

Q16.

Now I am going to read you some conditions under which people would be more or less likely to support teaching sex education in school. For each condition, tell me if -- for you personally -- the condition would make you more likely to support teaching sex education in schools, less likely to support teaching sex education in schools, or make no difference in whether or not you would support teaching sex education in schools. Here's the first one. [READ STATEMENT] For you personally, would that make you more likely to support teaching sex education in schools, less likely to support teaching sex education in schools, or does that make no difference in whether or not you would support teaching sex education in schools?

More Likely

Less Likely

Total

Total

ROTATE

More

Some

Some

More

(DK)

More Lkly

Less Lkly

o

Research shows providing young people with complete information helps them to postpone intercourse and to protect themselves when they become sexually involved.

57%

34

4

3

2

91%

6

o

Organizations like the American Medical Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Society of Adolescent Medicine support teaching sex education in schools.

48%

36

6

2

6

85%

8

o

If parents are given the ability to approve curriculum.

46%

33

10

5

5

80%

15

o

If parents are given the choice whether or not to allow their children to receive sex education in schools.

47%

31

10

7

5

78%

17

o

If you know that local religious leaders favor teaching sexuality education in schools.

40%

35

9

4

11

74%

13

Q17.

Some people believe that giving young people information about contraception in schools sends a mixed message and encourages young people to have intercourse. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? (IF AGREE/DISAGREE) Do you strongly (AGREE/DISAGREE) with that statement or only somewhat (AGREE/DISAGREE) with that statement?

GO TO Q23 ƒ

Strongly agree

11%

GO TO Q23 ƒ

Somewhat agree

16

SKIP TO Q24 ƒ

Somewhat disagree

25

SKIP TO Q24 ƒ

Strongly disagree

42

SKIP TO Q24 ƒ

(VOL: Both/Mixed)

5

SKIP TO Q24 ƒ

(VOL: Don't Know)

1

TOTAL AGREE

27%

TOTAL DISAGREE

67

Q18.

Research studies by the World Health Organization and other medical bodies show that providing young people with information about contraception and condom use for preventing STDs and AIDS does not cause young people to have sex but actually helps them to postpone sex and to protect themselves when they do have sex. Does hearing this change your view about giving young people information about contraception in schools, or does it not change your view?

Change view

5%

Does not change view

19

(VOL: Both/Mixed)

3

(VOL: Don't Know)

1

ALREADY DISAGREE

73%

Q19.

In Europe, most countries are more open about sexuality and accept that older teens are going to have sexual relationships. The emphasis is on using contraception and condoms to protect themselves. They have fewer than half the teenage pregnancies and STDs that we have in the United States, and young people have sex at a later age with fewer partners. Which of the following reflects your views: [READ CHOICES]

• We should learn from Europe and adopt a more open approach

23%

• We should recognize Europe is different and keep to our own ways

20

• We should adopt some of Europe's approach but not all

47

VOLUNTEERED RESPONSE - (Depends)

6

VOLUNTEERED RESPONSE - (Don't Know)

3

Q20.

Now I am going to read you two final statements. For each one, tell me if you agree or disagree with the statement. Here's the first one: [READ STATEMENT] Do you agree or disagree with that? [IF AGREE or DISAGREE] Do you strongly or only somewhat (agree/disagree) with the statement?

Agree

Disagree

Mixed)

(DK)

Agree

Disagree

ROTATE

Strong

Some

Some

Strong

a.

Preventing HIV/ADS and sexually transmitted diseases are public health issues and should be left to scientists and experts, not to politicians.

43%

30

14

10

3

-

72%

24

b.

Preventing HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases is a moral issue. Politicians are right to tell people they should abstain from sex if they're not married, and then we wouldn't have all these problems.

12%

21

24

40

4

-

33%

63