Does Sexuality Education Last? Self-Reported Benefits of a High School Comprehensive Sexuality Education Course

Abstract

Studies of the benefits of high school sexuality education often focus on risk reduction and behavior changes in terms of unplanned pregnancy and STDs directly following or a few months after a sexuality education course. The purpose of this study was to explore the perceived long-term effect, if any, of a high school comprehensive sexuality education course. Participants were former students who graduated from high school between 1980 and 1995 and took a comprehensive sexuality education course during their senior year. Three sets of data collected through a Likert scale, short-answer questionnaire, and personal interviews were triangulated to look at participants' descriptions of the impact of the sexuality education course. Findings suggest that participants believe their high school sexuality course had a long-term impact on their lives. Themes observed through each level of data collection included self-exploration, increased self-efficacy relating to skills of sexual health, increased knowledge, and perceived increased comfort dealing with issues of sexuality. Participants reported that candid discussions within an interactive setting where students' beliefs and opinions were valued, teachers demonstrating nonjudgmental attitudes that respect all students, and the inclusion of strategies such as the use of guest speakers, journal writing, group discussions, videos, and role plays enhanced their learning. Sexuality education within the school has the potential to encourage lifelong application to sexual health, not just limited focus on eliminating negative outcomes for teenagers. Results of this study, if replicated on a larger scale, can influence teacher preparation in health and human sexuality education.