New Zogby Poll Shows Parents Prefer Abstinence 'til Marriage; Sex Ed: What Parents Really Think

2/13/2003

From: Kristin Hansen of the Family Research Council, 202-393-2100 Rebecca Riggs of Concerned Women for America, 202-488-7000 Julie Neils of Focus on the Family, 719-548-4634 http://www.whatparentsthink.com

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 -- Today, the Coalition for Adolescent Sexual Health released the results of a landmark survey assessing parental attitudes on sex education. Conducted by Zogby International, the poll reveals strong parental approval for character- based, abstinence-until-marriage programs and shows that parents soundly reject the goals and content of so-called "comprehensive" sex education. The poll was designed to minimize bias and to produce an accurate reflection of parental attitudes on an issue that has traditionally been obscured by polls using leading or deceptive questions. The results are available online at http://www.whatparentsthink.com

Major Findings:

-- 73.5 percent of parents approve or strongly approve of abstinence-centered sex education. -- 61.1 percent of parents disapprove or strongly disapprove of "comprehensive" or "safe sex" education. -- 75.3 percent of parents disapprove or strongly disapprove of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) sex education curriculum.

"When parents are told what 'comprehensive' means -- they reject the condom-based curricula," said Genevieve Wood, vice president of Communications for the Family Research Council. "This means that parents have soundly rejected the taxpayer-funded programs promoted by the CDC that clearly seek to sexualize their children."

"This poll takes the spin out of the abstinence funding debate," said Dr. Janice Crouse of Concerned Women for America. "Congress should see this poll as unqualified support from parents for the Bush administration's goal to raise funding for abstinence-until-marriage education in this year's budget."

"This survey marks the first time parents have been polled using the exact language from comprehensive sex education guidelines. The major weaknesses of previous polls are their misleading questions and fuzzy interpretations," said Dr. Bill Maier from Focus on the Family. "So we asked Zogby to use exact definitions and verbatim wording from the comprehensive sex education curricula developed and endorsed by such groups as the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS) and Planned Parenthood."

The Zogby organization also found:

-- All demographic groupings strongly disapprove of comprehensive sex education -- especially non-white minorities (Hispanics and Asians). -- Parents disapprove or strongly disapprove of teaching children that homosexual relationships are as satisfying as heterosexual relationships (by a 4.4 to 1 margin). -- Parental attitudes are mixed about whether to give children factual/biological sex information through sex education programs, but opposition increases if there is a connection perceived with their children. -- Parents (46 percent) disapprove of schools giving teens contraceptives without approval from a parent; they strongly disapprove (70 percent) of their own teens getting contraceptives without their approval.

The Coalition for Adolescent Sexual Health is an ad hoc coalition of groups committed to strong families, research-based education and healthy adolescents. Members: Christian Coalition of America, Concerned Women for America, Eagle Forum, Family Research Council, Focus on the Family, National Abstinence Clearinghouse, Traditional Values Coalition.