Implications of Virginity Pledge 4 or more sex partnersNon-pledgers are more than twice as likely to have had 4 or more sex partners become a teen parentNon-pledgers are 52% more likely to become a teen parent than pledgers ~157 acts of unprotected sexNon-pledgers are likely to have ~157 acts of unprotected sex during teen years (22 acts/year for 7 years; 1.8 acts/month) [“Promising the Future: Virginity Pledges as they affect the Transition to First Intercourse”, Bearman & Bruckner, American Journal of Sociology, January 2001]

“Promising the Future: Virginity Pledges as they affect the Transition to First Intercourse” “ Adolescents who pledge (controlling for all of the usual characteristics of adolescents and their social contexts that are associated with the transition to sex) are much less likely than adolescents who do not pledge to have intercourse.” “ The delay effect is substantial and almost impossible to erase. Taking a pledge delays intercourse for a long time … Pledging decreases the risk of intercourse substantially and independently.” “The pledge effect is not a selection effect. It is real and it is substantial.”

The Pledge Effect “The pledge identity is relatively fragile and meaningful only in contexts where it is at least partially non-normative.” “The pledge effect is strongly conditioned by age. Pledging…works the most for younger adolescents.” “The pledge identity is induced and sustained through interacting with other pledgers in the community who distinguish themselves…by their public pledge and commitment to the group.” “The pledge movement…is an identity movement.”

The Pledge Critics Say: “At first intercourse, pledgers are about one-third less likely to use contraceptives than non-pledgers” Actually, pledgers are at far less risk than non-pledgers: 1. Authors “washed out” overall characteristics of the pledgers to isolate the effect of the pledge itself. When these characteristics are not “washed out”, “it cannot be said that pledgers are one-third less likely to use contraception”.

The Pledge Critics Corrected… 2.The DELAY of first intercourse among pledgers has IMPORTANT HEALTH IMPLICATIONS: a. older age --> Less sexual partners --> Less STDs Less unprotected sex acts Less disease Abstinence does provide protection vs. ALL STDs! Less STDs b. condom use generally declines over time c. older age --> Less unprotected sex acts d. teen anatomy more susceptible to many STDs; thus older age  Less disease e. contraceptives do not provide protection vs. certain widespread STDs; Abstinence does provide protection vs. ALL STDs!

Delay in Sexual Debut Among Pledgers Median age of transition for non-black female pledgers is 19.9 years (16.7 years for non-pledge counterparts). At age 19.6, only 25% of non-black male pledgers had experienced first intercourse. About 25% of male non-black non-pledgers had sex by the age of “For both black females and males, the difference in median age between pledgers and others is slightly above 2 years (27 months).”

Median Age of Sexual Debut, Race & Gender Pledgers (age) Non-pledgers (age)

Probability of Multiple Partners, by age of sexual debut, females 15-44

STDs... Condom use declines over time - Child Trends study: 63% females reported condom use at first sex but only 28% sexually active females reported condom use at most recent sex. Average teen female has about 218 acts of sex during teen years. Based on a rate of 28% condom use at most recent sex, the average non-pledging female is likely to have about 157 acts of “unprotected” sex. For chlamydia, herpes, and HPV, condom use provides less than acceptable protection.

marijuana suicide...and Teen Pregnancy To have a teen pregnancy, she must have sexual debut prior to age years. Only 50% of female pledgers have transitioned to first intercourse by this age. In contrast, an NCPTP study showed 77% of all 19-yr-old females were sexually experienced. Thus, not controlling for other factors, non-pledgers could be 52% MORE LIKELY to experience non-marital teen pregnancy. …and Other Risky Behaviors Age of sexual debut is strongly associated with a variety of psychosocial risks, such as alcohol or tobacco use, and, for ex. Non-virginal girls were 10.4 times MORE LIKELY than virginal girls to have used marijuana & 6.3 times MORE LIKELY to have attempted suicide.

…and the Cost $29 BILLION PER YEAR – the direct and indirect cost to society of children bearing children $16.6 BILLION PER YEAR -- the direct and indirect cost to society of STDs

Teen sexual activity... Teen pregnancyTeen pregnancy Dangerous STDsDangerous STDs Alcohol, drug, tobacco useAlcohol, drug, tobacco use High costsHigh costs Emotional damage --> suicideEmotional damage --> suicide The real problem...

teensex The real problem is teen sex, not the non-use of contraception.

Cumulative Evidence As a class, pledgers have a significantly lower risk for STDs and teen childbearing than do non-pledgers (because as a group non- pledgers begin sex at a far earlier age)

The Role of the Virginity Pledge is controllableThe pledge acknowledges that sexual activity is controllable upon the individualThe pledge places the locus of control upon the individual requires a conscious, purposeful decisionThe pledge requires a conscious, purposeful decision, in contrast to the “if it happens, it happens” outlook of many teens

In other words… “ I am responsible for my actions!”

Pledge Effectiveness Most effective if not all students sign supportive social structureMost effective when there is a supportive social structure instill the vision for abstinence until marriageMost effective when all components of society -- parents, educators, youth workers, media, gov’t, etc.-- instill the vision for abstinence until marriage --> successful marriage & family life