2008-08-07 When It Comes To Abstinence Teens, Adults Aren't Speaking The Same Language

2008-08-07  ScienceDaily \sex education\abstinence-based education\science/papers\science/studies/results http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080806152436.htm When It Comes To Abstinence Teens and Adults Aren't Speaking The Same Language When It Comes To Abstinence Teens, Adults Aren't Speaking The Same Language  Abstinence can mean different things to adolescents than to adults. That's one reason why abstinence-only programs do not have strong effects in preventing teenage sexual activity, according to new University of Washington research.

"Interventions that have been created to encourage abstinence have treated abstinence and sexual activity as opposites. However, teenagers say they don't think of them as opposites," said Tatiana Masters, lead author of a new study and UW doctoral student in social work. "These interventions are less likely to work than more comprehensive sex-education programs because they are not meeting adolescents where they are, and they are speaking a different language."

&ldquo;Abstinence can mean different things to adolescents than to adults. That's one reason why abstinence-only programs do not have strong effects in preventing teenage sexual activity, according to new University of Washington research.&rdquo;   