Zogby International Poll:
Parents Prefer Abstinence Education 2 to 1
A poll was commissioned by NAEF in 2007. It was conducted through a nationwide telephone survey of 1,002 parents of children age 10-16 by Zogby International. The purpose of the poll was to determine the level of support for abstinence-centered education among parents. The results confirm that parents overwhelmingly support abstinence education as historically funded by Congress.
Most parents want their teens to be abstinent until they are married.
9 out of 10 parents agree that being sexually abstinent is best for their child's health and future. 8 in 10 "strongly agree."
Parents prefer abstinence-centered education over comprehensive sex education by a 2 to 1 margin.
Upon learning what abstinence-centered education actually teaches, 6 out of 10 parents prefer it to comprehensive sex education. Only 3 out of 10 prefer comprehensive.
At least 8 in 10 parents support the overall approach of abstinence-centered education.
They think public schools should emphasize promoting abstinence vs. encouraging contraceptive use.
At least 8 in 10 parents support the core tenets of abstinence-centered education:
- Developing healthy relationships improve their chances for a healthy future marriage.
- The benefits of renewed abstinence to sexually experienced students.
- Improving self-worth and self-control as means of reducing premarital sexual activity.
- How an unplanned pregnancy and/or STD can negatively affect a teen's future.
Most parents reject "comprehensive" sex education.
2 out of 3 parents think that the importance of the "wait to have sex" message ends up being lost when programs demonstrate and encourage the use of contraception.
9 out of 10 parents want teens to be taught about contraception in a manner that is consistent with the approach of abstinence-centered education.
9 out of 10 parents think teens should be taught how often condoms fail to prevent pregnancy based upon typical use. Over 9 out of 10 parents think that teens should be taught the limitations of condoms in preventing specific STDs.
Parents want more funding given to abstinence-centered education than to comprehensive sex education by a 3 to 1 margin.
6 out of 10 parents think more government funding should be given to abstinence education vs. comprehensive sex education. Only 2 out of 10 want more funding for comprehensive sex education.
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