Journal of Adolescent Health
Volume 45, Issue 4 , Pages 409-416 , October 2009

Efficacy of Abstinence Promotion Media Messages: Findings from an Online Randomized Trial

  • W. Douglas Evans, Ph.D.

      Affiliations

    • The George Washington University, School of Public Health and Health Services, Washington, DC
    • Corresponding Author InformationAddress correspondence to: W. Douglas Evans, Ph.D., The George Washington University, School of Public Health and Health Services, Department of Prevention and Community Health, 2175 K Street, NW, Suite 700, Washington, DC 20037.
  • ,
  • Kevin C. Davis, M.A.

      Affiliations

    • RTI International, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
  • ,
  • Olivia Silber Ashley, Ph.D.

      Affiliations

    • RTI International, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
  • ,
  • Jonathan Blitstein, Ph.D.

      Affiliations

    • RTI International, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
  • ,
  • Helen Koo, Ph.D.

      Affiliations

    • RTI International, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
  • ,
  • Yun Zhang, M.A.

      Affiliations

    • RTI International, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina

Received 29 August 2008 ,Accepted 5 February 2009.

References 

  1. Weed SE, Eriksen IH, Lewis A, et al. An abstinence program's impact on cognitive mediators and sexual initiation. Am J Health Behav. 2008;32(1):60–73
  2. Kim C, Rector RE. Abstinence Education: Assessing the Evidence. Heritage Foundation Report #2126. Available at: http://www.heritage.org/Research/Welfare/bg2126.cfm. Accessed August 6, 2008.
  3. Trenholm C, Devaney B, Fortson K, et al. Impacts of Four Title V, Section 510 Abstinence Education Programs. Final Report submitted to USDHHS, Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation. Available at: http://aspe.hhs.gov/hsp/abstinence07/. Accessed July 31, 2008.
  4. Sandfort T, Orr M, Hirsch J, Santelli J. Long-term health correlates of timing of sexual debut: results from a National US Study. Am J Public Health. 2008;98(1):155–161
  5. Forehand R, Armistead L, Long N, et al. Efficacy of a parent-based sexual-risk prevention program for African American preadolescents: a randomized controlled trial. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2007;161(12):1123–1129
  6. Hindelang RL, Dwyer WO, Leeming FC. Adolescent risk-taking behavior: a review of the role of parental involvement. Curr Probl Pediatr. 2001;31(3):63–83
  7. DuRant RH, Wolfson M, LaFrance B, et al. An evaluation of a mass media campaign to encourage parents of adolescents to talk to their children about sex. J Adolesc Health. 2008;38(3):298e.1–.9
  8. Population Services International. Kenya: evaluation of the Nimechill campaign to promote abstinence among urban youth 10–14. Report submitted to USAID. Available at: http://www.psi.org/resources/pubs/Kenya-Nimechill.pdf/. Accessed April 24, 2008.
  9. Agha S. The impact of a mass media campaign on personal risk perception, perceived self-efficacy and on other behavioral predictors. Aids Care. 2003;15(6):749–762
  10. Eloundou-Enyegue PM, Meekers D, Calves AE. From awareness to adoption: the effect of AIDS education and condom social marketing on condom use in Tanzania (1993–1996). J Biosoc Sci. 2005;37:257–268
  11. United States Department of Health and Human Services. 4parents.gov. Available at: http://4parents.gov/. Accessed July 17, 2008.
  12. Evans WD, Hastings G. Public health branding: recognition, promise, and delivery of healthy lifestyles. In:  Evans WD,  Hastings G editor. Public Health Branding: Applying Marketing for Social Change. London: Oxford University Press; 2008;
  13. Hastings G. Social Marketing: Or, Why Should the Devil Have All the Best Tunes. London: Butterworth-Heineman; 2007;
  14. Bandura A. Health promotion by social cognitive means. Health Educ Behav. 2004;31(2):143–164
  15. Petty RE, Cacioppo JT. Communication and Persuasion: Central and Peripheral Routes to Attitude Change. New York: Springer-Verlag; 1986;
  16. Aloise-Young PA, Hennigan KM, Graham JW. Role of the self-image and smoker stereotype in smoking onset during early adolescence: a longitudinal study. Health Psychol. 1996;15:494–497
  17. Slovic P, Finucane M, Peters E, MacGregor D. Risk as analysis and risk as feelings: some thoughts about affect, reason, risk, and rationality. Risk Anal. 2004;24(2):311–322
  18. Witte K. Putting the fear back into fear appeals: the extended parallel process model. Commun Monogr. 1992;59:329–349
  19. Evans WD, Davis KC, Zhang Y. Social marketing research with new media: case study of the parents speak up national campaign evaluation. Cases Public Health Commun Market. 2008;2:1–18
  20. Anderson NL, Koniak-Griffin D, Keenan CK, et al. Evaluating the outcomes of parent–child family life education. Sch Inq Nurs Pract. 1999;13(3):211–234discussion 235–8
  21. Dilorio C, Kelley M, Hockenberry-Eaton M. Communication about sexual issues: mothers, fathers, and friends. J Adolesc Health. 1999;24(3):181–189
  22. Scher LS, Maynard RA, Stagner M. Interventions intended to reduce pregnancy-related outcomes among teenagers. Available at: http://www.campbellcollaboration.org/doc-pdf/teenpregreview__dec2006.pdf. Accessed July 31, 2008.
  23. National Commission on Children. Survey of Parents and Children, 1990. Ann Arbor, MI: Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research; 1999;
  24. Jaccard J, Dittus PJ, Litardo HA. Parent–adolescent communication about sex and birth control: implications for parent based interventions to reduce unintended adolescent pregnancy. In:  Miller W,  Severy L editor. Advances in Population: Psychological Perspectives. Vol. 3:London: Kingsley Publishers; 1999;p. 189–226
  25. Jaccard J, Dodge T, Dittus P. Parent–adolescent communication about sex and birth control: a conceptual framework. New Direct Child Adolesc Dev. 2002;97:9–41
  26. Lefkowitz ES, Boone TL, Au TK, Sigman M. No sex or safe sex? Mothers' and adolescents' discussions about sexuality and AIDS/HIV. Health Educ Res. 2003;18:341–351
  27. Lehr ST, Demi AS, DiIorio C, Facteau J. Predictors of father-son communication about sexuality. J Sex Res. 2005;42:119–129
  28. Tybout A, Sternthal B. Brand positioning. In:  Tybout A,  Calkins T editor. Kellogg on Branding. New York: John Wiley and Sons, Inc.; 2005;
  29. Santelli J, Ott MA, Lyon M, et al. Abstinence and abstinence-only education: a review of U.S. policies and programs. J Adolesc Health. 2006;38:72–81
  30. Kirby D. Do Abstinence-Only Education Programs Delay the Initiation of Sex among Young People and Reduce Teen Pregnancy?. Washington, DC: National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy; 2002;
  31. Kirby D, Lepore G, Ryan J. Sexual Risk and Protective Factors: Factors Affecting Teen Sexual Behavior, Pregnancy, Childbearing, and Sexually Transmitted Disease. Washington, DC: The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy; 2005;
  32. Miller KS, Kotchick BA, Dorsey S, et al. Family communication about sex: what are parents saying and are their adolescents listening?. Fam Plann Perspect. 1998;30:218–222235
  33. Glasgow RE, Lichtenstein E, Marcus AC. Why don't we see more translation of health promotion research to practice? Rethinking the efficacy-to-effectiveness transition. Am J Public Health. 2003;93:1261–1267

PII: S1054-139X(09)00110-4

doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2009.02.014

Journal of Adolescent Health
Volume 45, Issue 4 , Pages 409-416 , October 2009