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New Study Links Teen Sex and Depression, Suicide Attempts

WASHINGTON, June 5, 2003 (LifeSiteNews.com) - A new study shows that sexual activity among high school age boys and girls often has harmful emotional and psychological consequences. Sexually active teens are less likely to be happy, more likely to be depressed and more likely to attempt suicide. The majority of sexually active teens state that they regret their initial sexual activity and wish they had waited until they were older before becoming sexually active.

Family Research Council's Bridget Maher, policy analyst on marriage and family issues, said, "This study is one more reason why abstinence education is a more compassionate policy approach than pushing 'safe sex.'"

The study, conducted by the Heritage Foundation, is based on data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Adolescent Health, a nationwide survey which examined behaviors of adolescents in junior high and high school. Among the findings were:

· Teenage girls who are sexually active are three times more likely to be depressed than are girls who are not active. Those girls who are sexually active are almost three times more likely to attempt suicide than are girls who are not active.
· Teenage boys who are sexually active are more than twice as likely to be depressed than are boys who are not active. Those boys who are sexually active are almost ten times more likely to attempt suicide than are boys who are not active.
· Almost two-thirds of sexually active teenage boys and girls state that they wish they had waited longer before beginning sexual activity. Almost three quarters of sexually active teenage girls state they wish they had waited longer before beginning sexual activity.

To access the study see the Heritage Foundation at:
http://www.heritage.org/Research/Family/cda0304.cfm

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