Why Adolescents Say "NO" to Sex


In a survey done by the Kaiser Family Foundation and SEVENTEEN magazine, more than 9 in 10 teens agree that being a virgin is a “good thing.” So why are teens waiting to have sex? When asked “What age is appropriate to lose your virginity?”, teens most frequently said 18 or when you are married. Teens report that worries about pregnancy, HIV/AIDS, and other STIs stop them from sexual activity. What teens have been taught at home and at school, as well as their own personal values (religious or moral), also influences their decision to wait.1 Virginity pledges also help or encourage adolescents to stay abstinent. In one study, adolescents who signed virginity pledges are less likely to have intercourse than adolescents who do not pledge.