LATEST NEWS : RESPONSES TO MATHEMATICA ANTI-ABSTINENCE STUDY

POSTED: APR 18, 2007

Responses to Mathematica Anti-Abstinence Study

Abstinence Education Programs Proven Effective
Mathematica Study Doesn't Add Up to the End of Abstinence
Mathematica Abstinence Study Uses Fuzzy Math: Studying 3rd Graders on Abstinence?
CWA Says Study Debunking Abstinence is Flawed
I Beg to Differ: Abstinence Education Works
Colorado School District Wants to Stick With Local Values

Abstinence Education Programs Proven Effective

     Recent media have reported that abstinence education is ineffective. While these reports cite one study, there are many more substantive reports that show otherwise. In addition to studies proving the benefits of sexual abstinence for teenagers, there are multiple studies available on specific programs, which show that abstinence education positively affects student attitudes and behaviors. Following is a non-exhaustive list of programs which, through formal study, have been shown effective in their purposes…

     A compendium of abstracts from each of these studies and many more is available here.

(Source: 04-13-07) 

Mathematica Study Doesn't Add Up to the End of Abstinence

     The four programs that Mathematica evaluated (beginning in 1999) have already been revised and improved, and they are by no means representative of abstinence education as a whole. They also included no high school component--so one logical conclusion is that to achieve the greatest effectiveness, programs must be intensive and long-term, so that the knowledge, attitudes, and skills needed to reject sex before marriage are constantly reinforced--particularly in the pivotal high school years. Abstinence programs have faced the challenge of improving the services they deliver, and fortunately most have done so. A recent HHS-sponsored conference in Baltimore unveiled evidence from more than two dozen other studies that abstinence programs are producing positive outcomes for youth. For every study that disparages the abstinence approach, there are many others that point to its success and suggest that effective, long-term programs should be given more funding--not less.

(Source: 04-16-07)

Mathematica Abstinence Study Uses Fuzzy Math: Studying 3rd graders on abstinence?

     A much touted report released today by Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. costing taxpayers more than six million dollars reported little to no significant results on students participating in four small programs is being used to discredit abstinence education programs across the country…

     “With more than 30 significant evaluations of abstinence programs indicating positive trends in the reduction of teen sexual behaviors and positive attitudinal shifts, this study seems like a six million dollar Trojan horse,” stated Libby Macke, Director of Project Reality…

     More than 900 federally funded abstinence education programs regularly evaluate their programs and find them to be successful. Project Reality’s Game Plan and Navigator programs have been evaluated by the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University and have been found to be extremely effective in positively changing teen’s attitudes and behavioral intentions surrounding sexual activity.

(Source: Project Reality News Release)
 

CWA Says Study Debunking Abstinence is Flawed

     First, the findings about abstinence programs are based on a flawed design. The Mathematica study targeted children who were in abstinence programs from ages 9-11. Those children were not evaluated until five years later. The targeted children were too young to absorb the abstinence message, and there was no follow-up to the original abstinence message. This basic flaw in the study design invalidates any findings in the report.

(Source: 04-13-07)

I Beg to Differ: Abstinence Education Works

--A.C. Green, response to Arthur Caplan, Ph.D.
I read your recent commentary on abstinence education (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18136717), and I must admit, I was very disappointed.

"So what," you may say, wondering why you should listen to a retired NBA player with no Ph.D. I suppose that’s a fair question. But as the founder of a national abstinence organization, and as a husband who married his wife as a virgin (at the age of 38), I ask that you thoughtfully consider my response.

The opinions you put forth may be popular in academia; however, history has certainly taught us that popular ideas are often wrong. Therefore, I think we can agree that the evidence – and the truth – should dictate our conclusion.

(Source: 04-17-07)
 
(Source: “Some in no sex-ed mood: Schools must update or drop classes,” Denver Post, 04-14-07)

 “Abstinence” or “Comprehensive”

Sex Education?
The Institute for Research and Evaluationa
Salt Lake City, Utah
June 8, 2007