Abstinence-based interventions often include virginity pledges as a component.  Program evaluation typically uses surveys to measure the effectiveness of such pledges in preventing or delaying sexual activity.  However, studies of other risky behaviors, e.g., substance use, have found that adolescents are likely to underestimate past illegal or intimate behaviors.

Independent of any intervention, researchers compared reports of virginity pledges and sexual history in a nationally representative sample (n=13,070) of students in grades 7 through 12 across two years (1995 and 1996) of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health).  The study used individual interviews, except sensitive questions were delivered through a computer-assisted self-interview. All responses were entered directly into a laptop computer.

Overall, 13% of the participants reported having taken a written or public virginity pledge in the first year’s interview.  Among those who indicated they had taken a  pledge at year 1, over half denied having ever made such a pledge in the second interview.  Those who reported having ever had sexual intercourse in the second year were three times as likely to deny having ever made a virginity pledge as those who did not report ever having had intercourse in the second year. 

Among those who first reported having ever had sexual intercourse (29%) but who reported a virginity pledge in the second interview, over one-fourth (28%) denied having ever had sexual intercourse in the second interview.  Youth who were more likely to recant sexual activity were male, under age 15, and indicated that they did not answer honestly in year one, reported only one sexual partner in the first year’s survey, and recently identified themselves as born-again Christian.  Those who reported making a virginity pledge in the second survey were nearly four times as likely to retract a previous report of sexual experience as those who did not report taking a pledge either year.

Teens who take virginity pledges subsequent to having had sexual intercourse may be underestimating their risks for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) as they are trying to change their lifestyle.  Evaluation of abstinence programs need measures other than or in addition to self-reported behaviors.  Healthcare providers should assess the risks for STDs with questions that determine if there was sexual experience before a virginity pledge or religious change.

(Rosenbaum JE. Am J Public Health 2006; 96(6):1098-1103)   --J.O.