New Study Proves Virginity Pledges Work
[This article is reprinted courtesy of the Abstinence Clearinghouse]

WASHINGTON - 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 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 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 www.heritage.org. The Abstinence Clearinghouse is the largest nonprofit organization dealing with abstinence education and advocacy.

The Abstinence Clearinghouse assists educators, medical professionals, parents and youth serving organizations to effectively educate adolescents and unmarried adults on the communication skills, relationship information and factual knowledge necessary to make a commitment to abstain from sexual activity outside of marriage. More information is available at www.abstinence.net

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