Those Who Remain Abstinent As Teens Make More Money, Have Lower Divorce Rate in Late-30s, Study Says

Correlation is not Causality

As with most studies conducted by Christian groups, the analysts are irresponsibly spinning correlative results as causal. The fact that losing virginity under the age of 18 predates the achievements in middle adulthood does not indicate temporal causality of early sexual activity and life-path. High achievement in early adulthood could also be correlated with many other factors such as the level and quality of parental supervision, which would explain the correlation with retaining virginity while under the care of a parent considering society’s current sexual mores.

Needless to say, if the data were analyzed with a breakpoint age of 19 years, I’d be willing to bet the farm that there would be a vastly smaller correlation, or perhaps even a small negative one, since almost everyone who has the ability to do so gets laid the minute they move out, and the beautiful people are more likely to be successful in the job market. Does the publisher of the results actually expect us to believe that waiting a few months to screw someone will really make a difference in the grand scheme?

The results of this study could possibly have been used to devise ways of improving American parenting or some other aspect of childhood development. Instead, it became a mouthpiece for a conservative sexual agenda – citing a lifestyle choice as a magic causal prescription for failure in life.

What a waste of money. It would have been much cheaper, and only slightly less effective, to buy a bible and preach abstinence on the street for 20 years. The publication of such biased conclusions shames the statistical analytical profession and sullies the reputation of any professor attached to the results. I guess one can’t expect too much logic or parenting advice from people who pledge their lives to a book that clearly states that it’s OK breed children into slavery (Exodus 21:1-4).

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