WASHINGTON, September 22, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) – A new study released by the Heritage Foundation of Washington, DC proves that teens who pledge to abstain from sexual activity until marriage have “better life outcomes and are far less likely to engage in risky behaviors than non-pledgers.”
The study, based on recently released data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, revealed the following: Teens who make a virginity pledge: Are less likely to experience a teen pregnancy Are less likely to be sexually active while in high school and as young adults Are less likely to give birth as teens or young adults Are less likely to give birth out of wedlock Will have fewer sexual partners “This study shows that abstinence education works. Teaching kids the dangers of sex outside of marriage and empowering teens to make healthy choices offers our children the best chance of a happy and healthy future,” said Leslee J. Unruh, president of the Abstinence Clearinghouse. “Virginity pledges can be an effective tool in motivating teens toward truly responsible behavior.” The Heritage study entitled “Teens Who Make Virginity Pledges Have Substantially Improved Life Outcomes” by Robert Rector, Kirk A. Johnson, and Jennifer A. Marshall is available for viewing at: https://www.heritage.org/Research/Family/cda04-07.cfm jhw