Abstract

A post-hoc study was conducted to ascertain the effect of comprehensive sex education on of 7th graders’ knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes regarding sexual health and sexual identities in a small city school district in the Midwest USA. All five middle schools in the district participated, three of which used a comprehensive curriculum and two taught their existing curriculum. A total of 260 online surveys were completed by the 7th graders through Qualtrics. Chi-square tests were conducted, and the outcome showed a statistically significant difference in student perception and attitudes regarding sexual identity and orientation between the two curriculum groups. The comprehensive curriculum group scored higher than the existing curriculum group on items that indicate openness and respect regarding diversity in sexual identities and orientation. Given that LGBTQ+ students are at a greater risk to engage in self-harm and suicidal attempts, the outcome potentially suggests that a more open and accepting school atmosphere can be created by the implementation of a comprehensive sexual health curriculum. It implies that a purposive, systematic, and longitudinal effort to provide comprehensive sexual health education could also help reduce the challenges LGBTQ+ youth face outside of school.

摘要

在美国中西部的一个小城市学区进行了一项事后研究，以确定全面的性教育对七年级学生关于性健康和性身份的知识，看法和态度的影响。该地区的所有五所中学都参加了其中的三所，其中三所使用了综合课程，两所教授了他们现有的课程。七年级学生通过Qualtrics完成了260项在线调查。进行卡方检验，结果显示两个课程组在学生对性认同和性取向的看法和态度上存在统计学差异。综合课程组在表明开放性和尊重性认同和性取向多样性的项目上得分高于现有课程组。鉴于LGBTQ +学生面临更大的自我伤害和自杀企图的风险，其结果可能表明，通过实施全面的性健康课程，可以营造一种更加开放和接受的学校氛围。这意味着有目的，系统和纵向的努力以提供全面的性健康教育也可以帮助减轻LGBTQ +青年在校外面临的挑战。