Teens, Adults Prefer Abstinence Over Contraception, Contraception Over Teen Pregnancy, Survey Says
[Dec 18, 2002]
Almost two-thirds of teenagers who have had sex wish they had abstained longer, according to a survey released Monday by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy. The campaign administered the annual survey, titled "With One Voice 2002: America's Adults and Teens Sound Off About Teen Pregnancy," to 1,001 teens ages 12 to 19 and 1,017 adults ages 20 and older by telephone in July and August. The survey, which indicated that teens are "taking a cautious attitude" toward early and casual sexual activity, found the following:
- Approximately 66% of adults and 56% of teens believe that teenagers should not be sexually active but that teens who are sexually active should have access to contraception.
- Approximately 66% of adults and 72% of teens do not believe that encouraging abstinence and contraceptive use "sends a confusing and mixed message," and 66% of adults and 68% of teens report that they would tell lawmakers to "place greater emphasis" on encouraging sex education that includes information about abstinence and contraception.
- Sixty-nine percent of teens report that it would be "much easier" to postpone sexual activity and avoid pregnancy if they could have "more open, honest conversations" about sex with their parents.
- Ninety-four percent of adults and 93% of teens believe it is "important" to receive a "strong message from society" that teens should not have sex until they are "at least" out of high school, and 86% of adults and 84% of teens believe that teen pregnancy prevention programs should teach teens to marry before they become pregnant.
- Seventy-nine percent of teens do not find it embarrassing to say they have not had sex. In addition, teens reported that morals, values and religious beliefs influence their decisions about sex more than any other factor.
- Fifty-seven percent of adults and 72% of teens report that the media has given "more attention" to teen pregnancy prevention in recent years; 80% of adults and teens want the media to focus more on teen sex and pregnancy.
"This survey makes clear that Americans—adults and teens—steer clear of the unproductive debate that pits abstinence versus contraception," NCPTP Director Sarah Brown said, adding, "They subscribe to the simple, common sense view that, for teens, abstinence is better than contraception, but contraception is better than pregnancy" (NCPTP release, 12/16).
Reprinted with permission from kaisernetwork.org. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Reproductive Health Report, search the archives, and sign up for E-mail delivery at www.kaisernetwork.org/dailyreports/repro. The Kaiser Daily Reproductive Health Report is published for kaisernetwork.org, a free service of the Kaiser Family Foundation, by The Advisory Board Company. © 2003 by The Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.
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