Long-Term Consequences of Abstinence Education

Abstract

Non-predictive but significant associations between the strength of the abstinence message and marital status, poverty, fertility, and educational attainment were indicated. Students receiving a strong abstinence message are slightly more likely to divorce, less like to be married or never married, have reduced educational attainment and lower incomes. They are, also less likely to participate in government aid programs and work more weeks. Although findings were significant, the model explained only a small portion of variance, indicating 1) the need for more robust models of abstinence education and 2) the ineffectual nature of both abstinence and comprehensive sexuality education in light of other social influences. The need for research incorporating a wider array of social forces is discussed as is the social adoption of a vocabulary of rationalization in which educational programs that serve to perpetuate value sets are framed as means to address social problems.