Teens today may be more cautious toward sex than generally believed and may be paying more attention to their parents’ warnings, according to survey results released Dec. 16 by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy.
The study found that 67 percent of sexually experienced teens say they wish they had waited longer before having sexual intercourse.
The breakdown by gender indicates 77 percent of girls and 60 percent of boys regret becoming sexually active too early.
Eighty-five percent of teens agreed sex should occur only in a long-term, committed relationship, and only 26 percent said it is embarrassing for teens to admit they are virgins.
Teens credit their own morals, values, religious beliefs and concerns about the future for influencing their attitudes about sex more than concerns about pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases.
The opportunity to test those attitudes is significant, considering 42 percent of teens in high school said they had been at a party in the past six months with boys and girls where no adults were present.
Regarding teen pregnancy, 84 percent of teens surveyed said they believe teen pregnancy prevention programs should teach young people to be married before they have a child.
Parental influence is more important in a teen’s life than generally believed. Forty-five percent of teens said their parents had the most influence on their decisions about sex compared to 31 percent who said their friends are most influential. Religious leaders were the most influential among only 7 percent, while teachers and sex educators stood at 6 percent and the media at 4 percent.
Eighty-eight percent of teens said it would be easier to postpone sexual activity and avoid teen pregnancy if they were able to have more open, honest conversations about such topics with their parents, and 59 percent said when it comes to healthy, responsible relationships, their parents are their role models.
Meanwhile, only 32 percent of adults surveyed believe parents are most influential in their teens’ decisions about sex.
The majority of adults and teens — 87 percent and 88 percent — said they would prefer for the media to show more about the consequences of sex, including teen pregnancy.
At the same time, 45 percent of teens say that in the past year or so, something in the media sparked a conversation with their friends or parents about the consequences of sex. Regarding abstinence and contraception, 94 percent of adults and 92 percent of teens believe that it is important for teens to be given a strong message from society that they should not have sex until they are at least out of high school. (BP)
For more information on True Love Waits, an international campaign that supports abstinence until marriage, visit www.truelovewaits.com.
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