Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Psychology

Faculty/School

Faculty of Science

First Advisor

Eileen Wood

Advisor Role

Thesis Supervisor

Second Advisor

B.J. Rye

Advisor Role

Thesis Supervisor

Abstract

Satisfaction with sexual health education can be seen as student evaluation of how effectively the sexual health education curriculum meets its goals. First-year university students completed one questionnaire containing measures concerning satisfaction with high school sexual health education, sexuality-related individual difference variables, and intentions to pursue further sexual health education at the university level. Question 1 was whether students were satisfied with their high school sexual health education. Results were examined for differences by gender and type of school attended (i.e., public or Catholic). Participants rated sexual health topics as very important; believed that most sexual health education should occur between Grade 6 and 8, but that many relevant topics were not covered until Grade 9 to 12; and were generally satisfied with their sexual health education teachers and the sexual health education program in, general. With few exceptions, participant ratings did not differ by gender or type of school attended. In Question 2, comfort with sexuality, past sexual behaviour, and sexual self-concept were examined as potential correlates of satisfaction with sexual health education. Results differed by gender of participants: For males, sexual self-concept (but not comfort with sexuality or past sexual behaviour) correlated significantly and positively with satisfaction with sexual health education; for females, comfort with sexuality and past sexual behaviour (but not sexual self-concept) were significantly and negatively correlated with satisfaction with sexual health education. Question 3 examined whether satisfaction with sexual health education predicted intentions to pursue further sexual health education. It was found that students who were less satisfied with sexual health education were more likely to pursue further sexual health education at the university level. Results suggest that student’s perceive the current sexual health education curriculum in Ontario as satisfactory in delivering sexual health education; however, the results also suggest several potential changes to the sexual health education curriculum: Some topics may need inclusion earlier in the curriculum, different approaches for sexual health education may be appropriate for males and females, and more emphasis may be necessary on the importance of continuing sexual health education.

Convocation Year

2009

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Psychology Commons

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