Abstinence – JSS2 Basic Science Lesson Note (Third Term)

Abstinence is the self-chosen decision to avoid an activity that gives bodily pleasure, such as sex, alcohol, smoking, drugs or certain foods.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. define abstinence;
2. list the types of abstinence;
3. state skills and behaviours that promote abstinence;
4. give reasons why young people should abstain from pre-marital sex;
5. state factors that lead young people to engage in pre-marital sex;
6. separate facts from myths about sexual abstinence.

What is abstinence?

Abstinence is self-enforced restraint from bodily activities that are widely experienced as giving pleasure.

• Most common meaning: sexual abstinence, abstinence from alcohol, or abstinence from food.
• Other uses: staying away from drugs, for example a person who abstains from smoking.
• Food: it often means temporary or partial abstinence from food, as in fasting.
• Voluntary abstinence: a person chooses not to take part for moral, religious or philosophical reasons.
• Other reasons: religious rules and practical, health or financial considerations.

What are the types of abstinence?

There are six types of abstinence: fasting, vegetarianism, smoking cessation, teetotalism, sexual abstinence and lifelong abstinence in religious orders.

The six types

• Fasting: willingly going without some or all food, drink, or both, for a period of time. Examples are fasting in Ramadan and Lent.
• Vegetarianism: a diet that excludes meat, poultry, fish, shellfish and other sea creatures.
• Smoking cessation: stopping the use of a smoked substance, mainly tobacco, but also cannabis and others.
• Teetotalism: the practice and promotion of complete abstinence from alcoholic drinks.
• Sexual abstinence: refraining from some or all sexual activity, also called sexual restraint.
• Religious orders: lifelong or long-term abstinence linked to religious or philosophical self-denial. It differs from chastity before marriage.

Why do people practise sexual abstinence?

• Medical: to avoid infections and pregnancy.
• Psychological: to avoid emotional hurt and stress.
• Legal: the law forbids sex with persons under the age of consent.
• Social and financial: to avoid the cost and burden of early parenthood.
• Philosophical, moral or religious: belief that sex belongs in marriage.

What skills and behaviours promote abstinence?

Skills and behaviours that promote abstinence are habits that help a person keep to a decision and resist pressure.

Personal skills

• Decision-making: think about the results of an action before acting.
• Refusal skills: say “No” firmly and give a clear reason.
• Assertiveness: stand by your values even when friends disagree.
• Goal setting: keep your future education and career in mind.
• Self-control: manage urges and avoid risky places and situations.

Helpful behaviours

• Good friends: choose friends who respect your decision.
• Guidance: talk to parents, teachers, religious leaders or counsellors.
• Productive activities: use free time for sports, studies, clubs and hobbies.
• Avoiding alcohol and drugs: they weaken judgement and self-control.

What does research on rewards and incentives show?

• Tangible rewards: students keep up good behaviour better when rewarded daily or weekly than when told only to aim for a long-term goal.
• Extended abstinence: incentives help abstinence during addiction treatment. The effect weakens when incentives stop, but some studies found benefits lasting 1 to 2 years.
• Other healthy behaviours: incentives have helped patients take medicines regularly, exercise and look for jobs.
• Time: the longer a person stays continuously abstinent, the greater the chance of staying abstinent.

Why must young people abstain from pre-marital sex?

Young people should abstain from pre-marital sex because it harms health, education, emotions, future plans and moral and religious values.

Health reasons

• Infections: sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV, spread through sex.
• Unwanted pregnancy: a young girl’s body may not be ready for pregnancy and childbirth.
• Unsafe abortion: attempts to end pregnancy secretly can cause serious injury or death.
• No fully safe sex outside abstinence: condoms lower the risk but do not remove it completely.

Emotional and social reasons

• Guilt and regret: many young people feel shame, worry and a sense of being used.
• Broken trust: sex without commitment breeds resentment, bitterness and heartbreak.
• Empty relationships: sex does not create a loving, committed relationship. It is the fruit of one.
• Children without strong homes: a child needs a family built on commitment and care.
• Stigma: the young person and the family may face shame in the community.

Educational and future reasons

• School dropout: pregnancy and parenthood often end a young person’s schooling.
• Lost goals: early sex can change or end plans for a career.
• Weak self-control: desires grow stronger when they are always fed, and they begin to control the person.
• Future marriage: staying pure before marriage helps build trust and commitment with a spouse.

Moral and religious reasons

• Religious teaching: Christianity and Islam teach that sex belongs within marriage, and sex outside marriage is called fornication.
• Second chance: a person who has failed can still decide to abstain from today onwards.

Why do young people engage in pre-marital sex?

Young people engage in pre-marital sex because of family, peer, personal, economic and social influences.

• Family characteristics: the parents’ level of education and position, and how closely they supervise their children.
• Peer influence: friends who already have sexual experience pressure others to join them.
• Smoking and alcohol consumption: they lower self-control and lead to risky decisions.
• Individual characteristics: curiosity, low self-esteem and weak decision-making skills.
• Socioeconomic status of parents: poverty can push young people to accept money or gifts for sex.
• Attitude towards virginity: society often judges males and females differently on virginity.

What are the facts and myths about sexual abstinence?

A myth is a wrong belief that many people accept, while a fact is a statement supported by evidence.

• CSE: it stands for Comprehensive Sexuality Education, which is age-appropriate teaching about sex, health, values and relationships.
• Abstinence: it is the only method that completely prevents pregnancy and STIs from sex.

Evaluation

1. Define abstinence.
2. Name four types of abstinence and explain any one of them.
3. State five reasons why young people should abstain from pre-marital sex.
4. List three reasons why young people engage in pre-marital sex.
5. Is the statement “Condoms are not effective” a fact or a myth? Give a reason for your answer.

Assignment

Explain three skills or behaviours that promote abstinence, and give one example of how a student can use each.