Question 1: As far as you know, about how many teenage girls get pregnant before they turn 20 years old -- around 20 percent, around 40, around 60, around 80, or close to 100 percent? 

Adult       Teen 
   33          25      Around 20% 
   34          35      Around 40% 
   16          21      Around 60% 
     9          11      Around 80% 
     4            6      Close to 100% 
     *            1      None of the above (volunteered) 
     4            1      Don’t know 
  100        100 

Question 2: Some people think it is basically acceptable for high school teenagers to be sexually active, as long as they take steps to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases including AIDS. Others do not think it is acceptable for high school teenagers to be sexually active whether they take precautions or not. Which comes closer to your view, the first statement or the second one? 

Adult       Teen 
  35           45     Teen sexual activity acceptable as long as teens take precautions  
  63           54     Teen sexual activity not acceptable even if they take precautions 
    2             1     Don’t know/refused 
 100        100 

Question 3: How important do you think it is for teens to be given a strong message from society that they should abstain from sex until they are at least out of high school. -- very important, somewhat important, not too important or not at all important? 

Adult Teen 
  79          68      Very important 
  16          27      Somewhat important 
    2            2      Not too important 
    2            3      Not at all important 
    1            0      Don’t know 
 100        100 

Question 4: I’m going to read you three statements about teens and sex. Please tell me which one comes closest to your view: 
a. Teens should NOT be sexually active and should not have access to birth control;  
b. Teens should NOT be sexually active, but teens who ARE should have access to birth control, OR 
c. It’s OKAY for teens to be sexually active, AS LONG AS they have access to birth control. 
d. Don’t know/refused 

Adult 
  22     Teens should NOT be sexually active and should not have access to birth control 
  59     Teens should NOT be sexually active, but teens who ARE should have access to birth control  
  14     It’s OKAY for teens to be sexually active, AS LONG AS they have access to birth control 
    5     Don’t Know/Refused 
 100 
 

Survey details for the first three questions: 
Adult Omnibus Survey: 
N=1,015 adults 18 and over 
margin of error: plus or minus 3 percentage points 
Field period: March 13-17, 1997 

ADULT DEMOGRAPHICS 
D1.  RESPONDENT’S HOME OWNERSHIP STATUS: 

  70     Owns home 
  30     Rents home 
    *     Don’t know/Refused 
 100 

D2.  RESPONDENT’S MARITAL STATUS: 

  20     Single 
  64     Married/Living with partner 
    2     Separated 
    7     Widowed 
    7     Divorced 
    *     Refused 
 100 

D3. RESPONDENT’S EMPLOYMENT STATUS 

  50     Employed full-time 
  14     Employed part-time 
  18     Retired 
    8     Housewife 
    2     Student 
    5     Temporarily unemployed 
    2     Other 
    1     Refused 
 100 

D4. CHILDREN IN RESPONDENT’S HOUSEHOLD: 

  40     Children in household 
  22     Age 12-17 (NET) 
  19     Age 6-11 (NET) 
  17     Age 5 or younger (NET) 
  59     No children in household 
    1     Refused 
 100 

D5. RESPONDENT’S AGE 

  34     18-34 
  21     35-44 
  16     45-54 
  11     55-64 
  16     65 or older 
    2     refused 
 100 

D6. RESPONDENT’S LEVEL OF EDUCATION 

  19     Less than high school graduate  
  33     High school graduate 
  22     Some college 
  19     College graduate 
    6     Post-graduate or professional school 
    1     refused 
 100 

D7. RESPONDENT’S HOUSEHOLD INCOME: 

    7     Under $10,000 
    7     $10,000 - $14,999 
    8     $15,000 - $19,999 
    9     $20,000 - $24,999 
    1     Under $25,000-- unspecified  
    2     $25,000 and over -- unspecified 
    9     $25,000 - $29,999 
  10     $30,000 - $39,999 
  11     $40,000 - $49,999 
  15     $50,000 - $74,999  
    8     $75,000 - $99,999 
    5     $100,000 or more 
    3     Don’t know 
    5     Refused 
 100 

D8.  RESPONDENT’S RACE/ETHNICITY: 

  74     White 
  11     Black 
    5     Other 
    9     Hispanic 
    1     Refused 
 100 

D9. RESPONDENT’S PARTY AFFILIATION: 

  26     Republican 
  38     Democrat 
  31     Independent 
    *     Other 
    3     Don’t know 
    2     Refused 
 100 

D10.  RESPONDENT’S GENDER: 

  48     Male 
  52     Female 
 100 
 

Teen Omnibus survey: 
N-508 teenagers 12-17 
Margin of error: plus or minus 5 percentage points 
Field period: March 12-16, 1997 

TEEN DEMOGRAPHICS: 
D1. What grade of school are you currently in? 

    *     5th grade 
    5     6th grade 
  19     7th grade 
  16     8th grade 
  21     9th grade (freshman) 
  20     10th grade (sophomore) 
  13     11th grade (junior) 
    6     12th grade (senior) 
    *     College 
    *     Not in school 
 100 

D2. TEEM RESPONDENT’S AGE: 

  12     12 years 
  17     13 years 
  20     14 years 
  18     15 years 
  19     16 years 
  14     17 years 
 100 

D3. TEEN RESPONDENT’S GENDER 

  51     Male 
  49     Female 
 100 

D4. TEEN RESPONDENT’S HOUSEHOLD INCOME: 

    5     Under $10,000 
    4     $10,000 - $14,999 
    6     $15,000 - $19,999 
    7     $20,000 - $24,999 
    1     Under $25,000 -- unspecified 
    2     $25,000 and over -- unspecified 
    8     $25,000 - $29,999 
  16     $30,000 - $39,999 
  14     $40,000 - $49,999 
  19     $50,000 - $74,999 
    5     $75,000 - $99,999 
    6     $100,000 or more 
    2     Don’t know 
    5     Refused 
 100 

D5. PARTY AFFILIATION OF RESPONDENT’S PARENT: 

  28     Republican 
  31     Democrat 
  36     Independent 
    2     Other 
    2     Don’t know 
    1     Refused 
 100 
 

Survey details for the last question: 
Adult Omnibus Survey: 
N = 1,003 adults 18+ 
Margin of error: plus or minus 3 percentage points 
Field Period: April 11-15, 1997 

DEMOGRAPHICS: 
D1. RESPONDENT’S HOME OWNERSHIP STATUS: 

  71     Owns home 
  28     Rents home 
    1     Don’t know/refused 
 100 

D2. RESPONDENT’S MARITAL STATUS: 

  20     Single 
  63     Married/Living with partner 
    3     Separated 
    7     Widowed 
    7     Divorced 
    *     Refused 
 100 

D3. RESPONDENT’S EMPLOYMENT STATUS: 

  53     Employed full-time 
  14     Employed part-time 
  17     Retired 
    7     Housewife 
    3     Student 
    4     Temporarily unemployed 
    2     Other 
    *     Refused 
 100 

D4. CHILDREN IN RESPONDENT’S HOUSEHOLD: 

  42     Children in household 
  22     Age 12-17 (NET) 
  19     Age 16-11 (NET) 
  17     Age 5 or younger (NET) 
  58     No children in household 
    *     Refused 
 100 

D5. RESPONDENT’S AGE 

  34     18 - 34 
  21     35 - 44 
  15     45 - 54 
  11     55 - 64 
  16     65 or older 
    3     Refused 
 100 

D6. RESPONDENT’S LEVEL OF EDUCATION 

  18     Less than high school graduate 
  35     High school graduate 
  20     Some college 
  18     College graduate 
    9     Post-graduate or professional school 
    *     Refused 
 100 

D7. RESPONDENT’S HOUSEHOLD INCOME: 

    8     Under $10,000 
    6     $10,000 - $14,999 
    8     $15,000 - $19,999 
    7     $20,000 - $24,999 
    1     Under $25,000 -- unspecified 
    3     $25,000 and over -- unspecified 
    9     $25,000 - $29,999 
  10     $30,000 - $39,999 
  10     $40,000 - $49,999 
  14     $50,000 - $74,999 
    5     $75,000 - $99,999 
    5     $100,000 or more 
    5     Don’t know 
    9     Refused 
 100 

D8. RESPONDENT’S RACE/ETHNICITY: 

  75     White 
  11     Black  
    3     Other 
  10     Hispanic 
    1     Refused 
 100 

D9. RESPONDENT’S PARTY AFFILIATION: 

  26     Republican 
  35     Democrat 
  29     Independent  
    3     Other 
    4     Don’t know 
    3     Refused 
 100 

D10.  RESPONDENT’S GENDER: 

  48     Male 
  52     Female 
 100

Go to:  Abstinence Education Agenda
            Sarah Brown's Presentation
            Summary of Survey about Teen Pregnancy