Reducing Adolescent Sexual Risk: A Theoretical - ETR Associates

Activity 5-1Reasons to Not Have SexDescription of ActivityObjectives: Students will be able to:State and evaluate reasons why young people have sex and do not have sexRisk and Protective Factors Addressed:Values and attitudes about having sexActivity:The educator writes on the board “Reasons to have sex” and “Reasons to wait” and asks studentsto suggest reasons young people their age do have sex and reasons they decide not to have sex. Theeducator writes their reasons in the appropriate column on the wall.The educator makes sure that all the important reasons not to have sex are included in the list (e.g.,might get pregnant, might contract an STD or might upset my parents).Then the educator asks the students to rate each reason in each column according to whether it isan important and healthy reason or a relatively unimportant and unhealthy reason. When thereis general class consensus that a reason is an important and healthy reason, the educator puts a“1” beside it; when there is general class consensus that a reason is not an important and healthyreason, the educator puts a “0” beside it.As appropriate, the educator points out that many reasons to have sex are not good reasons (e.g.,to feel like an adult or to give in to peer pressure) or are short term (e.g., feels good). If needed,the educator points out that the reasons not to have sex can negatively affect their lives for a longtime (e.g., becoming parents before they are ready or contracting an STD). At the end, the educatorcounts the number of “1s” on each list to assess the overall pros and cons of having sex at that timein their lives and emphasizes that there are more important and healthy reasons not to have sexthan to have sex at this time.Important Considerations in Using ItBe sure that as many reasons as possible come from students so that they perceive the lists andconclusions as their ideas rather than as the educator lecturing to them.References for Lessons That Describe a Similar Activity More Fully1. Draw the Line, Grade 7, Lesson 2, Activity 2.3: Tina and Marco2. It’s Your Game, Grade 7, Lesson 9, Activity III: Tina and Marco3. It’s Your Game, Grade 7, Lesson 10, Computer-Based Activity: Choosing to Wait4. Making Proud Choices, Module 1, Activity E: Brainstorming About Teens and Sex5. Reducing the Risk, Class 2: Reasons That Many Teens Have Sex6. Safer Choices, Level 1, Class 1, Activity 1: Why Young People Choose to Have or Not Have Sex70 Reducing Adolescent Sexual Risk: A Theoretical Guide for Developing and Adapting Curriculum-Based Programs