The Abstinence Education E-Update is a free information service of the Division of Abstinence Education of the HHS/ACF Family and Youth Services Bureau, provided by the National Clearinghouse on Families & Youth. Contact NCFY at (301) 608-8098 or ncfy@acf.hhs.gov. If you're having trouble viewing this e-mail, please click here to view a version of it on the Web.
April 9, 2008 Students of Virginity Teen Mom Has To Grow Up Fast 'National Silence' on Sexual Behavior, Race, Poverty Contributes to High Rates of HIV, Other STIs, Opinion Piece Says Opinion: The Case for Abstinence Young Voices: Television’s Messages Damage American Youth Teens & STDs: A New Approach to Sexual Education Opinion: STDs: An Epidemic No One Wants To Talk About Opinion: … And Baby Makes Two Opinion: Abstinence Education Has Been Effective The National Clearinghouse on Families & Youth maintains a listing of organizations identified as potential funding sources for abstinence education programs. The listing includes grant descriptions and contact information. Marriage and Health in the African-American Community YouthActionNet Global Fellows Program Adolescent Family Life Demonstration Program Music Videos, Pro Wrestling, and Acceptance of Date Rape among Middle School Males and Females: An Exploratory Analysis (2007) -- The authors of this study, published in the Journal of Adolescent Health [Volume 40 (2): 185–187], found that exposure to commonly viewed television content combining sex and violence may influence the development of sexual norms that reject rape. Watching music videos and pro wrestling was associated with increased acceptance of date rape among males in seventh and eighth grade, but not among females. Television Viewing and Risk of Sexual Initiation by Young Adolescents (2006) -- This study, published in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine [Volume 160 (1): 375-380], polled 4,808 high school students younger than 16 from across the country who had never had sexual intercourse. The authors found that adolescents who watched television 2 or more hours per day were more likely to initiate sex within a year. Although the majority of participants reported strong parental disapproval of sex, those who lacked parental regulation of television programming were associated with an increase risk of initiating sexual intercourse within a year. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children and adolescents limit their television viewing and parents take an active role in guiding television usage. Exposure to Degrading Versus Nondegrading Music Lyrics and Sexual Behavior among Youth (2006) -- The authors of this study, published in Pediatrics [Volume 118 (2): 430-431], conducted a longitudinal telephone survey of 1,461 adolescents ages 12 to 17. The authors found that youth who listened to music with degrading sexual lyrics were more likely to engage in sexual intercourse and to progress to more advanced levels of noncoital sexual activity. The authors suggest that cultural messages about expected sexual behavior among males and females may underlie the effect. The authors concluded that reducing the amount of degrading sexual content in popular music may help delay the onset of sexual behavior among adolescents. Mass Media as a Sexual Super Peer for Early Maturing Girls (2005) -- The purpose of the study, published in the Journal of Adolescent Health [Volume 36 (55): 420-427], was to investigate the possibility that the mass media (television, movies, music, and magazines) served as a super peer for early maturing girls. The researchers found that early maturing girls reported more interest in viewing, reading, or listening to information about dating, sex, and relationships in the media. These adolescent girls were also more likely than girls maturing later to interpret media messages as approving of teens having sexual intercourse. The study suggested that the media serves as a kind of super peer for early maturing girls. Linking Exposure to Outcomes: Early Adolescents’ Consumption of Sexual Content in Six Media (2005) -- The authors of this study, published in Mass Communication & Society [Volume 8(2): 75–91], looked at the sexual content in six forms of media (television, movies, music, magazines, newspapers, and the Internet) used by adolescents and its association with their sexual activity and future intentions to be sexually active. Results showed that exposure to sexual content in the media is strongly associated with sexual activity and intentions among adolescents. The authors also found that the amount of sexual content is more important than the specific type of content. Watching Sex on Television Predicts Adolescent Initiation of Sexual Behavior (2004) -- The authors of this article, published in Pediatrics [Volume 114 (3): 280-289], found that watching sex on television predicts and may accelerate teen sexual activity. Reducing the exposure of sexual content or addressing the negative consequences of sexual activity can delay the initiation of coital and noncoital activities. The researchers suggest that parents may be able to reduce the effects of sexual content by watching television with their children and discussing their own beliefs about sex and the portrayed behaviors. Teen Media Study (2006) -- Teen Media Study is a 5-year project, conducted by researchers from the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, to examine the effects of television, music, movies, magazines, newspapers, and the Internet on the sexual health of adolescents. Report of the APA Task Force on the Sexualization of Girls (2007) -- This report examines the prevalence of sexualization in society, evaluates its impact, and describes positive alternatives that may help counteract its influence. Abstinence Education Grantees Regional Training Abstinence Education Grantees Regional Training The Abstinence Education E-Update Spotlight has highlighted various topics, from new Federal staff to effective State programs. Now, NCFY will highlight two States a month, looking at each State’s legislation, policy, and specific State features related to abstinence education. KENTUCKY What’s Interesting in the State of Kentucky State Law in Kentucky What’s Unique in the State of Kentucky MAINE What’s Interesting in the State of Maine Healthy Maine 2010, the State’s decennial health goals, includes several indicators related to sexual health and abstinence. The State has already reached its goal for teen pregnancies among 15- to 17-year-olds. It is also nearing the goal for high school students who never had sexual intercourse (60 percent) and high school students who are not currently sexually active (33 percent). State Law in Maine What’s Unique in the State of Maine Quote of the Day “Why bond yourself so intensely when you’re not sure you’re going to spend the rest of your life with this person?” (Janie Fredell, Harvard student and campus abstinence advocate, The New York Times, March 30, 2008) |
The Abstinence Education E-Update comprises links to Web sites with information on current events, research, funding opportunities, and other items related to abstinence-until-marriage education. Inclusion of this information does not imply endorsement by the Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), or the National Clearinghouse on Families & Youth (NCFY). Moreover, the points of view or opinions expressed on these Web sites do not necessarily represent the official position, policies, or views of FYSB, HHS, or NCFY.
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