Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The authors examined prospective associations of making a virginity pledge on sexual behaviors among male college students. PARTICIPANTS: A sample of 795 males was followed for 4 years (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011), with response rates ranging from 72% to 82% across the follow-up years. METHODS: Males were surveyed at the end of each of their 4 years in college about sexual behavior activities and other risky behaviors. RESULTS: Multivariate regression analyses indicated that males who made private virginity pledges were significantly more likely to remain abstinent across all 4 years of college and have fewer sexual partners at the end of their third and fourth years of college, even after controlling for age, race, high-risk drinking, impulsivity, and religiosity. Making a pledge was not related to condom use. CONCLUSION: Findings suggest that abstinence-based messages alone are not sufficient yet should be included as part of comprehensive sex education programs.