Sexual Health Education Topics in Schools: Inclusion and Timing Preferences of a Sample of Southern U.S. College Students

Previous literature indicates that the American public is comfortable including multiple topics in sexual health education curriculum in public schools, yet comprehensive sex education is often portrayed as controversial, especially in the southern USA. Southern university students ( N  = 560) compl...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Sexuality research & social policy 2017-06, Vol.14 (2), p.143-156
Main Authors: Canan, Sasha N., Jozkowski, Kristen N.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Behavioral Science and Psychology
College students
Curricula
Health education
Inclusive education
Internet
Membership
Pleasure
Political identity
Predictions
Preferences
Psychology
Public health
Public schools
Religion
Religious commitment
Sex education
Sexual Behavior
Sexual health
Social Sciences
Timing
Topics
Undergraduate students
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Summary:Previous literature indicates that the American public is comfortable including multiple topics in sexual health education curriculum in public schools, yet comprehensive sex education is often portrayed as controversial, especially in the southern USA. Southern university students ( N  = 560) completed an online survey containing 18 potential sexual health education topics that could be taught in schools. Favorability and timing of all topics as well as demographics variables’ relationships with a total topic endorsement score were assessed. All topics were endorsed by a majority of participants. The least endorsed topic (sexual pleasure) was still selected to be taught at some time by a majority (70 %) of participants. Political affiliation had the strongest relationship with overall endorsement of topics followed by religious commitment. Political affiliation mediated the predictive path of religious commitment to the total topic endorsement score. Findings indicated that, similar to previous literature, individuals would like a wide variety of topics to be included in sexual health education. Therefore, ideas of heightened dispute surrounding comprehensive sex education in the southern USA may be unfounded. Additionally, caution should be exercised when assessing religious individual’s support or opposition of sexual health topics without also analyzing their political affiliation.
ISSN:1868-9884
1553-6610
DOI:10.1007/s13178-016-0251-z