Why abstinent adolescents report they have not had sex: Understanding sexually resilient youth

The sample in this study consisted of 697 students from 20 schools ii? Miss ouri who indicated on a survey of sexual attitudes and behaviors that they had not had sex. The subjects completed the 18-item Reasons for Abstinence Scale and identified those items that were reasons why they had not had sex . The most frequent reasons for not having sex were related to fears of pre gnancy and disease (including HIV/AIDS). The least frequent reasons were re lated to problems concerning the cost and availability of birth control and protection. Principal components factor analysis revealed three factors th at were labeled "fear-based postponement," "emotionality and confusion," an d "conservative values." Factor scores differed by gender grades, alcohol c onsumption, family structure, father's education, and urbanicity. The discu ssion centers on the need to design different prevention strategies to buil d protective factors that result in "sexual resilience " in target groups o f adolescents.