Which factors influence sexual abstinence among young people?

A recent systematic review has found varying prevalence of sexually abstinent adolescents and young adults across studies, as well as a range of factors and motivations or barriers shaping sexual abstinence.

The investigators searched the databases of Google Scholar, ResearchGate, PubMed, and Journal of Storage for population-based studies on either sexual abstinence (primary and/or secondary abstinence) or intention to abstain in adolescents or young adults.

A total of 1,989 studies were retrieved, of which 55 met the eligibility criteria. Overall, the prevalence ranged from 1.6 percent to 100 percent. The prevalence of primary sexual abstinence ranged from 22.1 percent to 100 percent, secondary sexual abstinence from 1.6 percent to 68.1 percent, and sexual abstinence intention from 50 percent to 73.8 percent.

Factors significantly associated with abstinence were age, gender, educational level, socioeconomic status, religion, relationship status, sex education, HIV knowledge, not using alcohol, positive attitudes towards sexual abstinence, perceived risk of sexual intercourse, positive peer influence, social norms related to sexual abstinence, aspirations for the future, higher self-efficacy in sexual abstinence, and sexual communication.

The review also noted several motives, such as religious beliefs, perceived physical and psychological consequences of sexual activities, perceived social benefits of sexual abstinence, and aspirations for a better life, which correlated with an abstinent behaviour among young people.

“Although factors and motivations/barriers were identified, further investigation is needed on the secondary sexual abstinence and the multidimensionality of sexual abstinence rather than simple abstinence from penile-vaginal intercourse,” the investigators said.