Examining the Prospective Effects of Making a Virginity Pledge Among Males Across Their 4 Years of College

Abstract

Objectives: The authors examined prospective associations of making a virginity pledge on sexual behaviors among male college students. Participants: A sample of 795 males was followed for 4 years (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011), with response rates ranging from 72% to 82% across the follow-up years. Methods: Males were surveyed at the end of each of their 4 years in college about sexual behavior activities and other risky behaviors. Results: Multivariate regression analyses indicated that males who made private virginity pledges were significantly more likely to remain abstinent across all 4 years of college and have fewer sexual partners at the end of their third and fourth years of college, even after controlling for age, race, high-risk drinking, impulsivity, and religiosity. Making a pledge was not related to condom use. Conclusion: Findings suggest that abstinence-based messages alone are not sufficient yet should be included as part of comprehensive sex education programs.

Keywords:

• college students
• prospective design
• sexual behaviors
• virginity pledges

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This research was supported by 2 grants to the second author from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development at the National Institutes of Health (award numbers R03HD053444-01A1 and R15HD065568). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development or the National Institutes of Health.

Notes

*Multivariate models include covariates for age, race, high-risk drinking, impulsivity, and religiosity.

^**99.64% CI does not include 1; significant at p < .0036 level.