The Effects of an Interactive, Computer-Based, Abstinence Education Curriculum on Selected Student Outcomes

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of The Choice Game TM , an abstinence-untilmarriage education program, on the knowledge, attitudes, and behavioral intent on sexual behavior. The sample for this study consisted of 959 students (537 treatment, 422 control) from 17 public and parochial schools located in urban areas of Northern New Jersey. The curriculum was implemented in regularly scheduled health education classes by trained instructors. Students in both the treatment and control groups voluntarily completed a questionnaire before and after curriculum implementation in their regular classroom setting. To assess the impact of the program, pre- post-gain scores for each scale were computed, and then compared by group (treatment or control) using an independent samples t test. All five student outcomes (Knowledge, Family Communication, Attitude Toward Abstinence, Behavioral Intent, and Abstinence Until Marriage) showed significantly (p<.01) greater gains for the treatment group than for the control group.