PRETEEN ENRICHMENT - EVALUATION OF A PROGRAM TO DELAY SEXUAL-ACTIVITYAMONG FEMALE ADOLESCENTS IN RURAL APPALACHIA

The purpose of this study was to evaluate a project to delay sexual ac tivity among early adolescents in rural Appalachia. One-hundred and tw enty-six 11- and 12-year-old White girls were involved in a year-long school-based program designed to improve self-concept, expectations fo r the future, educational plans, perceptions of maternal acceptance, a nd knowledge of human reproduction. The intervention participants, as compared to the comparison participants, revealed somewhat less tradit ional sex role orientations, significantly improved self-concept, and lessened anxiety. Implications are presented for the replication of th is project model in other rural schools.