Adolescence Topic:Abstinence

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Adolescence TopicAbstinence
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Adolescence Abstinence

1. Decision-Making
2. Abstinence
3. Refusal Skills
4. Consequences of Sexual Activity

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Part IDecision-Making
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Influences

• Religious organizations
• Cultural traditions
• Associations
• School organizations (sports, clubs)

• Media
• Television
• Music
• Friends
• Parents
• Siblings
• Extended family

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Making Responsible Decisions

• Adolescence is a time for personal development
• Adolescents will be exposed to new things and
  will face greater challenges in everyday life
• Important to keep influences in mind when making
  a decision

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Six Steps of Decision-Making Process

1. State the situation
2. List the options
3. Weigh the possible outcomes

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Six Steps of Decision-Making Process

• Consider your values
• Make a decision and act
• Evaluate the decision

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Making Sexual Decisions

• Physical and emotional changes during adolescence
  can lead to confusion and concern
• Important to know the difference between feelings
  of sexual attraction and love
• Remember You DO NOT have to act on sexual
  impulses!

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Making Sexual Decisions

• Many teens act on sexual impulses out of
  curiosity, pressure from others, or a desire to
  be an adult
• Decision to engage in sexual activity is the
  biggest and most important decision a teen can
  make due to life-long implications

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Making Sexual Decisions

• It is easier to make good judgments when you have
  a clear mind and are not feeling pressured
• Remember It is much easier to make decisions
  about your limits BEFORE you get involved in
  sexual activity
• You have to stand for what you believe in. And
  sometimes you have to stand alone. Queen
  Latifah

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Part IIAbstinence
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Abstinence

• Definition of abstinence
• Five steps to help you stay abstinent

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Definition of Abstinence

• The conscious decision to avoid harmful
  behaviors, including sexual activity before
  marriage and the use of tobacco, alcohol, and
  other drugs.

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• Abstinence is a conscious DECISION to avoid
  certain activities or behaviors.
• ONLY YOU can make the choice to stay abstinent!!

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Which activities do people abstain?

• SWEETS SEX
• ALCOHOL DRUGS
• MEAT VOTING
  CURSING

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Why do people abstain?

• 1. make a point
• 2. Protect their health
• 3. Avoid negative consequences
• 4. religious values
• 5. not interested

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Many people have DIFFERENT DEFINITIONS of
sexual abstinence. To some it may mean

• 1.     No SEXUAL contact
• 2.     No penetration
• 3.     Only lower risk behaviors
• 4.     Abstinence not having any type of
  intercourse
• vaginal, anal, and/or oral

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All contraceptive methods have failure rates,
usually due to HUMAN error.

• Abstinence is 100 effective if used correctly
  every time.
• Abstinence does not have to mean lack of love,
  intimacy, romance, sensuality, or eroticism.
• Vows of abstinence can also break if not used
  consistently.

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Factors that may cause abstinence to fail

• ALCOHOL or drug use
• Peer PRESSURE
• Threats
• Force

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Deciding to use abstinence is similar to deciding
to use any other contraceptive or safe sex method.

• How COMFORTABLE would you feel using it?
• What are possible side EFFECTS?
• How would your PARTNER (or future partner) feel
  about using it?
• Will you use it every time you need it

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Decide when and under what CIRCUMSTANCESwill
you cease to abstain.

• When you are married?
•     When you are engaged?
•      When you are in long-term relationship?
•    When you decide abstinence is no longer the
  right choice for you, you need to choose another
  method to PROTECT yourself.

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How can I stay abstinent?

• 1. Establish your own priorities.
• Priorities are those things that are first in
  importance.

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How can I stay abstinent?

• 2. Set limits on how you are willing to express
  affection.

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How can I stay abstinent?

• 3. Share your feelings with your boyfriend or
  girlfriend.

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How can I stay abstinent?

• 4. Discuss your feelings with a trusted adult.

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How can I stay abstinent?

• 5. Steer clear of high pressure situations.

6. If you are currently sexually active,
re-evaluate your decision.
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Part IIIRefusal Skills
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Refusal Skills

• Clear communication with partner
• Verbal and non-verbal actions send the same
  message
• Clear body language

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Refusal Skills

• Self-control
• A persons ability to use responsibility to
  override emotions
• No conflicting actions
• Assertiveness

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Part IV Consequences of Sexual Activity
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Negative Consequences of Sexual Activity

• Unplanned pregnancy
• Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)
• Loss of self-respect
• Negative Effects on social relationships

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Unplanned Pregnancy

• Complicates adolescent life
• 86 of teen pregnancies are unplanned
• Giving birth at a young age increases health
  risks for both the mother and child
• Limits the teens future

Teens are not ready for Parenthood!
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Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)

• Spread from person to person through sexual
  contact
• STDs require medical treatment
• Examples
• A.I.D.S.
• Herpes
• Syphilis

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Mental and Social Affects

• Loss of self-respect
• Diminished self-image
• Tension between boyfriend/girlfriend
  relationships
• Sexual activities may lead to unshared feelings,
  emotional attachment and other dilemmas

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When in doubt
Wait until marriage to experiment with
sex! Practice abstinence!