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.