A Meta-Analysis on the Relationship Between Student Abstinence-Only Programs and Sexual Behavior and Attitudes. Issue 1 (January 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jeynes, William H.
• Is Part Of: Education and urban society. Volume 52:Issue 1(2020)
• Page Start: 3
• Page End: 20
• Publication Date: 2020-01
• Subjects: urban education -- school reform -- school improvement -- educational policy -- educational reform; Education, Urban -- Periodicals; 370.11505
• DOI: 10.1177/0013124519848045
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0013-1245

Abstract

This meta-analysis of 14 studies examines the relationship between abstinence-only programs and the sexual behavior and—attitudes of urban students from middle school to early in college. The results indicate a significant relationship between abstinence-only programs and the outcomes examined. Abstinence-only programs, as a whole, were associated with reduced premarital sexual behavior by nearly .4 of a standard deviation unit. For sexual behavior and attitudes combined, abstinence-only programs were associated with improvements of nearly .3 of a standard deviation unit. When sophisticated controls were utilized in each of these analyses, the effect sizes were smaller, but were all statistically significant. The importance of these results is discussed.