Sexual Health Education Experiences and Recommendations from the Perspective of LGBTQ+ Youth

Dados Bibliográficos

ID6457534
AutoresSteven Hobaica (0000-0001-7760-277X, Independent researcher, autor correspondente), Erica Szkody (0000-0003-4959-1895, Northwestern University), Ian Sotomayor (0000-0002-7438-1462, Stony Brook University), Jessica Liao (0009-0006-3415-363X, Northwestern University), Jessica L Schleider (0000-0003-2426-1953, Northwestern University)
Ano2024
Volume62
Fascículo4
Páginas632-640
Data de publicação2024-06-16
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessNão
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoThe Journal of Sex Research (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0022-4499 • E-ISSN: 1559-8519
EditoraTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/00224499.2024.2355564
PMID38880957
OpenAlexW4399755857
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas6
Referências citadas15

Despite the well-known benefits of comprehensive sexual health education, the majority of school sexual health education curricula in the United States (U.S.) is non-comprehensive and excludes LGBTQ+ students. This exclusion may contribute to poor health outcomes in LGBTQ+ youth, with some research beginning to document these experiences and provide recommendations for curricula changes. Using a sample of LGBTQ+ youth across the U.S. (ages 13-17; N = 809), this study characterizes youths' sexual health education experiences and provides curricula recommendations using a mixed methods approach. Quantitative analyses revealed that LGBTQ+ content is often excluded from sexual health education, particularly topics surrounding sexual orientation and gender identity, which youth wanted to learn more about. Furthermore, participants identified several extracurricular sources of sexual health education, including online spaces, friends, and personal experiences, which were often preferred. Qualitative analyses suggested that LGBTQ+ youth described their sexual health education as exclusive of LGBTQ+ content, often being based in abstinence, religious principles, or described as oppressive (e.g. hearing LGBTQ+ negative remarks) or suppressive (e.g. skipping required LGBTQ+ content). LGBTQ+ youth also provided recommendations for future curricula. Findings can inform curricula development and implementation, as well as policy change, to ascertain that all youth have access to inclusive and comprehensive sexual health education

Art · Developmental psychology · Lesbian · Perspective (graphical · Reproductive health · Sociology · Demography · Gender Studies · LGBTQ Health, Identity, and Policy · Psychology