Tuesday, June 24, 2003
Study Findings Show Sexual Behavior Rates High Among Religious Teens
The most in-depth analysis to look exclusively at the sexual values and behaviors of teenagers active in congregational life reveals that, despite lower rates of sexual intercourse than in secular studies, religious teens are engaging in other sexual activities, including oral sex, at high rates. In addition, teens are virtually unanimous in wanting their faith-based institutions to do more to help them relate their faith to dating, sexual decision-making, marriage and parenting.
Only 31 percent of the 12th graders surveyed said they have had sexual intercourse, compared to 60.5 percent of 12th graders in data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
While many religious teens are not having sexual intercourse, those involved in faith-based institutions are involved in other sexual behaviors. Twenty-nine percent of the 11th and 12th grade males and 26 percent of the 11th and 12th grade females say they have had oral sex. In addition, 70 percent of the 11th and 12th graders have fondled a partner's breasts and/or genitals, and half had been nude with a member of the opposite sex. Eighty-nine percent of the 11th and 12th grade males and 71 percent of the 11th and 12th grade females masturbate.
Other key findings:
-- Youth from congregations that provided young people with information about contraception and STDs (about 8 percent of responding congregations) reported no instances of pregnancy or STDs. Youth from those congregations were not any more likely or less likely than other youth in the study to have had sexual intercourse. Youth from congregations that did not furnish this information were not so fortunate. Eleven percent of the females who have had intercourse experienced a pregnancy, and 9 percent percent of the youth who have had intercourse or oral sex reported having had a STD.
-- Half of the female teens who became pregnant chose to end that pregnancy with abortion. This included teens from denominational traditions that are strongly pro-life. In many instances, teens said that the potential disapproval of their families and congregations if they became unwed mothers played a role in the decision to have an abortion.
"Clergy consistently think the young people in their congregations are less sexually involved than they really are," says Rev. Steve Clapp, president of Christian Community, Inc. "It is imperative that faith communities of all denominations begin to more realistically address the sexual health needs of the youth they serve. Teens need and want help relating their faith to their sexual decisions."
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