Sex Education and Abstinence

Family and Religion Policy in 2012 Elections

Issues 2012 provides candidates for elected office the ability to quickly identify the key issues of the day and present clear policy recommendations, supported by facts, for addressing them. Read More.

The Effectiveness of Abstinence Education

Teen sexual activity is costly for both teens and society. Teens who engage in sexual activity risk a host of negative outcomes including STD infection, emotional and psychological harm, and out-of-wedlock childbearing. Read More.

What Do Parents Want Taught in Sex Education Programs?

Sex education debates focus on two different approaches: "safe sex" courses and abstinence education, which encourages teens to delay sexual activity. Read More.

Sex Education vs. Authentic Abstinence

Sexual activity in the teen years is linked to a number of important social concerns, including sexually-transmitted diseases, teenage pregnancy, out-of-wedlock childbirth, and depression. Read More.

Teens who abstain from sex have improved life outcomes. But today’s culture promotes casual sex, including through federally funded comprehensive sex education. Early sexual activity is associated with outcomes that make young people more likely to depend on government. Abstinence education offers a rare alternative voice, and research has shown its effectiveness.

Introduction to the Research

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Experts on Sex Education and Abstinence

Christine Kim
Policy Analyst
Robert Rector
Senior Research Fellow

Our Work

Special Report posted May 6, 2013 by Robert Rector, Jason Richwine, Ph.D. The Fiscal Cost of Unlawful Immigrants and Amnesty to the U.S. Taxpayer
Backgrounder posted June 26, 1985 by Juliana Geran Why Romania No Longer Deserves to Be a Most Favored Nation
Backgrounder posted March 11, 2013 by Ryan T. Anderson Marriage: What It Is, Why It Matters, and the Consequences of Redefining It
Backgrounder posted May 14, 2013 by Daren Bakst, Diane Katz A Farm Bill Primer: 10 Things You Should Know About the Farm Bill
Backgrounder on Thursday, May 16, 2013 President Obama’s 2014 Budget: A Second-Term Vision for Economic Decline
Backgrounder posted March 1, 2006 by Tim Kane, Ph.D., Kirk A. Johnson, Ph.D. The Real Problem with Immigration... and the Real Solution
Backgrounder posted March 15, 2005 by Daniel J. Mitchell, Ph.D. The Impact of Government Spending on Economic Growth
Special Report posted October 16, 2012 by Alison Acosta Fraser Federal Spending by the Numbers - 2012
Issue Brief posted May 15, 2013 by Romina Boccia, Curtis S. Dubay Obama’s IRA Cap: A Cap on Defined-Contribution Retirement Savings Plans
Asian Backgrounder posted September 16, 1985 by Daryl Plunk South Korea's Kwangju Incident Revisited

Blog Post on Saturday, May 18, 2013 Top 5 Reports of the Week
Blog Post on Saturday, May 18, 2013 This Week’s Reasons to Repeal Obamacare
Blog Post on Saturday, May 18, 2013 If Obama Were a CEO, Government Would Hold Him Responsible for Scandals
Blog Post on Friday, May 17, 2013 Obama’s “Lead from Behind” Efforts in Syria are Failing
Blog Post on Friday, May 17, 2013 Obama Budget: CBO Shows $1 Trillion Tax Hike, Fake Spending Cuts
Blog Post on Friday, May 17, 2013 House Republicans Are Right to Focus on Spending Cuts as Part of Debt Ceiling Increase
Blog Post on Friday, May 17, 2013 Honey, I Shrunk the Benghazi Talking Points
Blog Post on Friday, May 17, 2013 Voter Fraud in Missouri: Wrong Candidate Was Elected
Blog Post on Friday, May 17, 2013 A Spend-More, Tax-More, and Borrow-More Budget Would Hurt, Not Help
Blog Post on Friday, May 17, 2013 Governor Pence Pauses Indiana Common Core Standards

May 21

Event on Tuesday, May 21, 2013 How Property Rights Can Solve the ''Oil Curse''
There is a long, paradoxical, and tragic tradition of resource-rich developing countries suffering from prolonged economic stagnation. This “resource curse” is costly both in — Read more

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May 23

Event on Thursday, May 23, 2013 Strength and Focus: The Future of U.S. National Security
~ A Protect America Month Program ~It is difficult to point to any part of the world where the United States is better prepared to — Read more

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May 23

Event on Thursday, May 23, 2013 Rumsfeld’s Rules: Leadership Lessons in Business, Politics, War and Life
A book eventThroughout his long and distinguished career – as a naval aviator, a U.S. Congressman, a top aide to four American presidents, a high-level — Read more

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May 29

Event on Wednesday, May 29, 2013 Masters of Nothing: How the Crash Will Happen Again Unless We Understand Human Nature
If we are to avoid a second crash, then we must achieve a better comprehension of human behavior and apply this understanding to how the — Read more

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May 30

Event on Thursday, May 30, 2013 How the West Really Lost God: A New Theory of Secularization
A book eventIn How the West Really Lost God, leading cultural critic Mary Eberstadt delivers a powerful new theory about the decline of religion in — Read more

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Jun 06

Event on Thursday, June 06, 2013 The Lack of Science in the Scientific Consensus: The Case of the National Climate Assessment
Global-warming alarmists continually refer to a “scientific consensus” to support drastic policy proposals. They insist on peer-reviewed publications as the standard for debate, while ignoring — Read more

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Jun 06

Event on Thursday, June 06, 2013 After the 2014 Withdrawal: How to Sustain the Decade of Gains for Women in Afghanistan
Co-hosted by the United States Institute of PeaceThe Heritage Foundation and the United States Institute of Peace will co-host Congresswomen Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and — Read more

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Jun 21

Event on Friday, June 21, 2013 Lincoln Unbound: How an Ambitious Young Railsplitter Saved the American Dream – and How We Can Do It Again
In a mix of history and politics, author Rich Lowry traces Abraham Lincoln's ambitious climb from provincial upstart to political powerhouse and calls for a — Read more

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Blog Post on 5/18/2013 2:00:24 PM Top 5 Reports of the Week
Blog Post on 5/18/2013 12:00:28 PM This Week’s Reasons to Repeal Obamacare
Blog Post on 5/18/2013 8:00:06 AM If Obama Were a CEO, Government Would Hold Him Responsible for Scandals
Blog Post on 5/17/2013 6:30:58 PM Obama’s “Lead from Behind” Efforts in Syria are Failing
Blog Post on 5/17/2013 5:35:55 PM Obama Budget: CBO Shows $1 Trillion Tax Hike, Fake Spending Cuts
Blog Post on 5/17/2013 4:15:17 PM House Republicans Are Right to Focus on Spending Cuts as Part of Debt Ceiling Increase
Blog Post on 5/17/2013 3:26:45 PM Honey, I Shrunk the Benghazi Talking Points
Blog Post on 5/17/2013 2:58:06 PM Voter Fraud in Missouri: Wrong Candidate Was Elected
Blog Post on 5/17/2013 1:21:14 PM A Spend-More, Tax-More, and Borrow-More Budget Would Hurt, Not Help
Blog Post on 5/17/2013 12:30:35 PM Governor Pence Pauses Indiana Common Core Standards

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