Understanding Sex Education Retrospectively: A Comparative Study
Exploring the impact of different types of sex education on individuals' comfort levels and understanding of the topic, this study compares comprehensive and abstinence-based approaches in Europe and the U.S. The research delves into cultural differences, controversial aspects, and the consequences of these educational methods, aiming to understand how people retrospectively view their sex education experiences.
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SEX EDUCATION IN RETROSPECT: PERSONAL UNDERSTANDING & COMFORT LEVELS By: Jeremy Smith and Heather Dombrowsky Hanover College
LETS TALK ABOUT SEX What do you remember about your sex education? Where did your sex education come from?
TYPES OF SEX EDUCATION There are currently two main types of formal sex education taught in schools: Abstinence-Only Comprehensive Controversial because . Abstinence-only advocates argue that comprehensive sex education encourages sexual activity Comprehensive advocates argue that abstinence- only sex education is religiously motivated and proven to be ineffective
CONSEQUENCES Due to the Controversy, Emphasis Has Been Placed On . Objective Behavioral Impact Pregnancy Rates STI Rates And Not . Subjective Consequences Comfort Levels & Satisfaction Qualitative Analyses Little to No Previous Research
INTRODUCTION Perceived Cultural Differences Europe vs. U.S. Europe More Comprehensive Sex Education U.S. More Abstinence Based Sex Education Paige, 1977 Cultural Difference for Different Sex Taboos Less Developed Countries = More Taboos Manceau, 2006 Taboos on Sex and Death in Advertising French Culture More than 45% of participants were uncomfortable with using sex or death in advertising, as they are considered to be taboo
RESEARCH QUESTION How do people understand the significance of their own sex education in retrospect?
HYPOTHESES Participants who received a more comprehensive sex education will be (on average) more comfortable with the topic of sex than those who received a more abstinence-based sex education Participants from European countries will be (on average) more comfortable with the topic of sex than those from the United States Paige, 1977
METHOD Online Survey Survey BuildR Posted on European and American websites Participants n = 45 Had to omit one due to age 12 Males, 34 Females Ages 18 to 65 Participants span a wide range of countries Australia, Greece, Singapore, United Kingdom, United States
COMPONENTS OF SURVEY Demographics Survey Age, Sex, Country of Residence, Religious Affiliation Type of Sex Education Defined Abstinence and Comprehensive Sex Education
Reflections from Different Sources (Open- Ended) Peers/Siblings Home School Your Own Research
Comfort Levels (Likert Scales) Parents Siblings Significant Other Close Friend Peer Stranger Chronbach s Alpha = 0.71
Qualitative Questions Tell me what you remember learning about sex from your peers and siblings. Quantitative Questions How satisfied are you with the information you received from your peers and siblings about sex? 1-7 (Completely Unsatisfied to Completely Satisfied) Same Set of Questions for Each Source
RESULTS Source Mean Comfort Level Significant Other 6.05 Close Friend 5.78* Sibling 3.98* Parents 3.22* Peer 3.20 Stranger 2.22*
Hypotheses not supported. No relationship between the kind of sex education received and the participants comfort levels All 6 DV p>0.05 No relationship between the participants country of residence and their comfort levels All 6 DV p>0.05
Comfort Gender Mean t df p-value Sibling Male Female Male Female Male Female Male Female Male Female Male Female 3.64 2.72 3.17 1.88 4.55 5.21 4.42 4.91 3.08 1.88 1.92 0.97 1.742 (38) 0.217 Parents 1.254 (43) 0.092^ Significant Other Close Friend 1.385 (42) 0.173 1.001 (43) 0.323 Peer 2.101 (43) 0.042* Stranger 1.741 (43) 0.089^
Correlations Positive correlations between how much education an individual received from a source and how satisfied they were with the information they received from that source Home Peers School Independent Research r(45)=+.637, p<0.001 r(45)=+.363, p=0.015 r(46)=+.629, p<0.001 r(43)=+.589, p<0.001
Qualitative Data General Trends Participants Often Adopted Parents Views on Sex Negative Consequence of Unprotected Sex Seem to be the Focus for Males When Discussing Sex In General, Negative Messages Portrayed About Sex Exceptions
DISCUSSION No difference between the different types of programs through which one learns about sex Flawed Hypothesis
We assumed that individuals would either have: a comprehensive or abstinence-only sex education Most people receive some sort of Comprehensive Sex Education Internet
We had small sample sizes (especially small European sample); Too much variation between the participants; Too many confounding factors We were too broad in what our survey was asking
As adults, it seems that if you spend more time with someone interpersonally, you are more comfortable talking about sex with them Significant Other = Close Friend > Siblings > Parents = Peers > Strangers
Males are more comfortable talking to: Peers* Strangers Parents Both sexes are equally comfortable talking to: Siblings Significant Others Close Friends
Perceived Gender Differences Women Receive More Negative Messages About Sex Askew, 2007 Female Undergraduates Took a Feminist-Informed Human Sexuality Course Previous Messages to Women Negative; Abstinence Until Marriage Participants Felt More Comfortable About the Topic of Sex After the Course
The more education you receive from a source, then the more satisfied you are with the source Sex is an important subject The more you learn, the more it should make sense
LIMITATIONS & FUTURE RESEARCH Limitations Coding Glitch Small, Homogeneous Sample Size Our Expectations for Participants Future Research In-Person Interviews Analyze Personality Differences Providing Other Types of Relationships
