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Research Conducted
for Youthfest: This Project Summary was prepared by Dr. Dave Rahn for Youthfest on September 4, 1999. It has been only slightly edited for web-site distribution. This brief summary of the findings of Link Institute's Youthfest Research Project is intended to overview the highlights of our study. Conducted in late spring of 1999 the purpose of our study was to measure the effectiveness of Youthfest's impact on those students who had signed Pure for Sure cards pledging themselves to sexual purity. Youthfest is a one day festival--featuring music, speakers, and fun activity--that has as it's purpose "promoting sexual purity and Jesus Christ." It was begun in Bloomington, Indiana in 1994 and has expanded to other Midwest cities in recent years. Our survey was designed to collect self-reported data from these students about how they remember their behavior patterns changing in each of the following three areas: religious commitment, drug use, and sexual behavior. As a result we asked students to give us responses to items referring to their patterns of activity for the years 1993, 1995, 1997, and 1999. The total number of surveys sent out was 909, and 257 were returned. This 28% return rate may be a limitation of the study. However it should be noted that this is a not uncommon difficulty with research related to sexual behavior. Further, the mailed surveys were complemented with 40 phone interviews to strengthen the research design. Our stratified random sampling procedure ensured that an appropriate number of surveys would be sent to those who signed Youthfest pledges in 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, and 1998. Since the distribution of surveys returned fairly accurately represented the distribution of surveys sent (1996 attendees had a greater return rate; 1998 attendees had a lesser response rate), the reliability of the data collected is satisfactory. And, while a greater return rate would have allowed for greater statements of confidence in the data, the collected sample of 257 represents 5.36% of the target population (Bloomington-based Pure for Sure respondents from 1994-1998) –nearly twice the acceptable sample size for a population over 5,000. (Dr. John Curry, North Texas State University, 1992 as cited in Dr. Rick Yount, 1990, Research Design and Statistical Analysis for Christian Ministry, p. 63).
Demographic Profile of the Sample •74% of those returning our surveys were female -26% were male •20% were 14 years old or less when they took the survey -60% were between the ages of 15 and 18 -20% were 19 years old or older •52% were at some stage in their high school education -26% were at middle school or less in their education -18% were either currently in college or had received a college degree -4% had received their high school diploma equivalent (GED)Huntington College Department of Educational Ministries •39% of those responding made their Pure for Sure pledges in 1997 -6% made their commitments in 1994 -12% made their commitments in 1995 -28% made their commitments in 1996 -15% made their commitments in 1998 •50% of respondents were certainly 14 years old or younger when they made their Pure for Sure pledges to sexual abstinence -27% were certainly 15 years old or older when they made their pledge -23% were either 14 or 15 years old when they made their pledge Indicators of Religious Commitment •58% of those surveyed indicated that they currently attend church more than once a week -26% said they attend once a week -6% indicated they attend once or twice a month -10% said they attend a few times a year or not at all ºthis was true for 13% in 1993 ºit was true for 10% in 1995 ºit was true for 6% in 1997 •57.8% of those surveyed indicated that they currently attend church more than once a week -this was true for 62% of those 14 years old or younger -it was true for 67% of those 15-16 years old -it was true for 57% of those 17-18 years old -it was true for only 33% of those 19-20 •58% of those surveyed indicated that they currently attend church more than once a week -this was true for 43% of the respondents in 1993 -it was true for 46% of the respondents in 1995 -it was true for 55% of the respondents in 1997 Coupling this data with an understanding of the Youthfest population allows us to conclude that youth groups provide a likely strength of involvement resulting in church attendance that is not sustained in the post-high school years, and—in fact—peaks during middle adolescence. How does this data correspond with other religious behaviors? •58% of those surveyed indicated that they currently attend church more than once a week -31% of these students report that they read their Bible “one or more times daily” º20% of all students in the survey report that this is their practice -34% of these students report that they read their Bible “once or twice a month”...or less º53% of all students surveyed report that this is their practice •58% of those surveyed indicated that they currently attend church more than once a week -75% of these students pray on their own at least one time a day º62% of all students in the survey report that this is their practice •58% of those surveyed indicated that they currently attend church more than once a week -89% of these students spend time with Christian friends outside of church or youth group activities more than once a week º73% of all students surveyed report that this is their practice •58% of those surveyed indicated that they currently attend church more than once a week -36% of these students estimate that they “verbally shared with others about (their) personal relationship with Christ” more than once a week º25% of all students surveyed report that this is their practice -24% of these students estimate that they “verbally shared with others about (their) personal relationship with Christ” a few times a year...or less º37% of all students surveyed report that this is their practice The group responding to the survey was committed to a religious lifestyle, and a significant majority demonstrated patterns reflecting a high social commitment within their Christian faith. The personal discipline of daily Bible study was uncommon among two-thirds of this religious population, giving insight into the nature of their religious commitment. How does such a commitment affect their drug use and sexual behavior? •58% of those surveyed indicated that they currently attend church more than once a week -93% of these students do not smoke at all º81% of all students surveyed report that they don't smoke •58% of those surveyed indicated that they currently attend church more than once a week -77% of these students estimated that they did not consume any alcoholic beverages in the current year º60% of all students surveyed report that this is true for them •58% of those surveyed indicated that they currently attend church more than once a week -98% of these students reported that they did not get drunk during an average week in the current year º91% of all students surveyed report that this is true for them •58% of those surveyed indicated that they currently attend church more than once a week -94% of these students reported that they did not use pot in the current year º87% of all students surveyed report that this is true for them •58% of those surveyed indicated that they currently attend church more than once a week -98% of these students reported that they did not use other illegal drugs in the current year º94% of all students surveyed report that this is true for them •58% of those surveyed indicated that they currently attend church more than once a week -91% of these students reported that they did not have sexual intercourse in the current year º80% of all students surveyed report that this is true for them •58% of those surveyed indicated that they currently attend church more than once a week -89% of these students reported that they did not engage in oral sex in the current year º76% of all students surveyed report that this is true for them •58% of those surveyed indicated that they currently attend church more than once a week -73% of these students reported that they did not engage in any sexual fondling in the current year º60% of all students surveyed report that this is true for them Given this social/programmatic dimension of one's religious commitment, there is still evidence that a high pattern of church attendance is a good predictor of a more moral lifestyle. Is it as good an indicator as is the discipline of daily Bible reading? •20% of those surveyed indicated that they currently read the Bible on their own “one or more times daily” -96% of these students reported that they did not smoke at all in the current year -92% of these students reported that they did not consume any alcoholic beverages in the current year -100% of these students reported that they did not get drunk during an average week in the current year -98% of these students reported that they did not use pot in the current year -100% of these students reported that they did not use other illegal drugs in the current year -88% of these students reported that they did not have sexual intercourse in the current year -88% of these students reported that they did not engage in oral sex in the current year -84% of these students reported that they did not engage in any sexual fondling in the current year Generally speaking, daily Bible reading—an indicator of one's religious commitment without benefit of social support—is the best of the religious behaviors in predicting a moral lifestyle. While the sexual intercourse activity is still a struggle for some, the patterns of sexual activity suggest that more students in this category apply a “zero tolerance” approach to sexual behavior. •81% of those surveyed indicated that they currently do not smoke at all -74% of these students were female (no more or less than the overall sample distribution across gender) •81% of those surveyed indicated that they currently do not smoke at all -23% of these students were 14 years old or less (3% more than the overall sample size of students 14 years old or less) -34% of these students were 15-16 years old (< 1% less than the sample) -24% of these students were 17-18 years old (1% less than the sample) •81% of those surveyed indicated that they currently do not smoke at all -98% of these students did not smoke at all in 1993 -96% of these students did not smoke at all in 1995 -94% of these students did not smoke at all in 1997 Clearly this offers evidence that some students have “kicked the habit” of smoking in 1999. Included in the data are those who showed evidence of a growing addiction to cigarettes over the years and now do not smoke at all. •81% of those surveyed indicated that they currently do not smoke at all -73% of these students reported that they did not consume any alcohol in the current year (vs. 61% of overall sample) -98% of these students reported that they did not get drunk during an average week in the current year (vs. 91% of overall sample) -98% of these students reported that they did not use pot in the current year (vs. 87% of overall sample) -99% of these students reported that they did not use any other illegal drugs in the current year (vs. 94% of overall sample) •81% of those surveyed indicated that they currently do not smoke at all -89% of these students reported that they did not have sexual intercourse in the current year (vs. 80% of overall sample) -84% of these students reported that they did not engage in oral sex in the current year (vs. 76% of overall sample) -70% of these students reported that they did not engage in any sexual fondling in the current year (vs. 60% of overall sample) As a ministry strategy there is evidence that we would do well to encourage a “zero tolerance” among teens with regard to cigarette use. As can be seen, there is greater likelihood that those who smoke will also engage in alcohol use, pot use, and sexual activity. •61% of those surveyed indicated that they did not consume any alcohol at all in the current year -76% of these students were female (slightly more than the overall sample distribution across gender) •61% of those surveyed indicated that they did not consume any alcohol at all in the current year -25% of these students were 14 years old or less (5% more than the overall sample size of students 14 years old or less) -34% of these students were 15-16 years old (< 1% less than the sample) -26% of these students were 17-18 years old (about the same as the sample) •61% of those surveyed indicated that they did not consume any alcohol at all in the current year -96% of these students did not drink at all in 1993 -95% of these students did not drink at all in 1995 -92% of these students did not drink at all in 1997 As with smoking (likely reflecting the same persons) this offers evidence that some students stopped any drinking at all in 1999. •61% of those surveyed indicated that they did not consume any alcohol at all in the current year -100% of these students reported that they also did not use pot or any illegal drugs in the current year •61% of those surveyed indicated that they did not consume any alcohol at all in the current year -93% of these students reported that they did not have sexual intercourse in the current year (vs. 80% of overall sample) -89% of these students reported that they did not engage in oral sex in the current year (vs. 76% of overall sample) -79% of these students reported that they did not engage in any sexual fondling in the current year (vs. 60% of overall sample) Alcohol abstinence is an even greater predictor of sexual purity than is abstinence from cigarette use. It also compares favorably to the religious indicators of more than weekly church attendance and daily Bible reading as a predictor. At the other end of the spectrum is the picture of students who—at least weekly on average—reported the kind of concentrated drinking behavior that would certainly result in their drunkenness. What else may be said about these young people? •9% of those surveyed indicated that they got drunk an average of once a week or more during the current year -77% of these students were female (3% more than the overall sample distribution across gender) •9% of those surveyed indicated that they got drunk an average of once a week or more during the current year -4% of these students were 14 years old or less (16% less than the overall sample size of students 14 years old or less) -32% of these students were 15-16 years old (3% less than the sample) -36% of these students were 17-18 years old (11% more than the sample) •9% of those surveyed indicated that they got drunk an average of once a week or more during the current year -95% of these students did not get drunk weekly at all in 1993 -86% of these students did not get drunk weekly at all in 1995 -59% of these students did not get drunk weekly at all in 1997 •9% of those surveyed indicated that they got drunk an average of once a week or more during the current year -77% of these students reported that they also used pot in the current year -24% of these students reported that they also used illegal drugs in the current year •9% of those surveyed indicated that they got drunk an average of once a week or more during the current year -57% of these students reported that they had sexual intercourse in the current year (vs. 20% of overall sample) -77% of these students reported that they engaged in oral sex in the current year (vs. 23% of overall sample) -91% of these students reported that they engaged in sexual fondling in the current year (vs. 40% of overall sample) The self destructive pattern of weekly binge drinking not only escalates in its hold on young persons. It is a significant predictor of sexual activity. •80% of those surveyed indicated that they did not engage in sexual intercourse in the current year -72% of these students were female (about 2% less than the overall sample) •80% of those surveyed indicated that they did not engage in sexual intercourse in the current year -24% of these students were 14 years old or younger (about 4% more than the overall sample in this youngest category) -37% of these students were 15-16 years old (about 3% more than the overall sample in this age category) -24% of these students were 17-18 years old (about 4% more than the overall sample in this age category) -15% of these students were 19 years old or older (about 5% less than the overall sample in this age category) Age of respondents is a significant predictor of sexual intercourse activity. The following alternative framing dramatically illustrates this truth. •95% of those 14 or under did not engage in sexual intercourse in the current year •86% of those 15-16 did not engage in sexual intercourse in the current year •74% of those 17-18 did not engage in sexual intercourse in the current year •61% of those 19-20 did not engage in sexual intercourse in the current year Tracking the Pure for Sure Commitment •38% of those surveyed made their Pure for Sure commitment when they were 13 years old or younger -7% of these students were sexually active before making their pledge -89% of these students currently abstain from sexual intercourse -5% of these students have not been able to maintain their pledge -One of these students who was sexually active prior to attending Youthfest has been celibate since! •55% of those surveyed made their Pure for Sure commitment when they were 14-17 years old -3% of these students were sexually active before making their pledge -76% of these students currently abstain from sexual intercourse -21% of these students have not been able to maintain their pledge -None of these students are “turnaround stories” •8% of those surveyed made their Pure for Sure commitment when they were 18 years old or older -29% of these folks were sexually active before making their pledge -65% of these persons currently abstain from sexual intercourse -23% of these students have not been able to maintain their pledge...but -18% of these folks were sexually active prior to attending Youthfest and have been celibate since! Of those who first began to be sexually active after taking the Pure for Sure pledge... ...23% began having sex when they were 14 years old or younger ...25% began having sex when they were 15-16 years old ...44% began having sex when they were 17-18 years old ...8% began having sex when they were 19-20 years old These data supply both encouragement and insight with regard to one of the main purposes of Youthfest. The encouragement must come in the face of the national picture regarding sexual activity among teenagers. “Data on high school students gathered in 1991 indicate that 76% of young men and 66% of young women in the United States had first intercourse by their senior year of high school.” Further, only 15% of men and 17% of women who came of age in the 1970s or 1980s were still virgins at the age of nineteen. (Laumann, E.O., Gagnon, J.H., Michael, R.T., and Michaels, S., 1994, The Social Organization of Sexuality, University of Chicago Press, p 324, 326.) The effectiveness of the Youthfest event is mediated by the predictive effects of age on adolescent sexual activity. From the data collected it seems clear that the most effective age range to whom a call to abstinence may take preventative root are those young and even pre-adolescents. It is also apparent that the hard experiences of life have prepared a greater number of those who are in late adolescence to reconsider the emptiness of their own sexual behavior. From this age group comes the greatest potential for significant behavior change with regard to sexual activity. Some evidence was found through phone interviews that certain persons were naïve about their commitment to sexual purity. It was as if it had never been driven home to them, or they weren't able to recall ever having made such a pledge. This may help to explain some of the failed pledges we observe from the data collection. What does this study suggest for the focus and mission of Youthfest? I want to affirm its worthy purpose in calling students to deeper religious commitments and a life of sexual purity. It is clear from understanding the profile of those who attend that the main part of this function will be to encourage those who are already inclined to follow Christ and abstain from sex to continue to do so. The attending audience is primarily religious. Insofar as Youthfest partners with other persons, churches and families in communicating this message, the result is that these students (Youthfest attendees) look tremendously different from their peers in society. There is also evidence that Youthfest has been moderately effective in calling young persons out of destructive lifestyles into a new way of living built around faith in Christ and sexual abstinence. Given the reality that only 16.5% of men and 30% of women report being virgins at the time of their wedding (Laumann, et. al., p. 502.), I'm thankful for the encouragement and rescue efforts provided by Youthfest to its participants. Special credit and thanks in this project go to Ben Hamm and Dave Ramseyer, Huntington College undergrads who worked on the foundation of this study in the spring of 1999. Additional thanks goes to John Smith, student research assistant for Link Institute, for his invaluable assistance in the design of the survey instrument. |
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