The Effects of Selected Sexuality Education Programs: Toward a More Realistic View

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Abstract
Sexuality education has been proffered as a partial solution to a variety of adolescent sexual problems. However, few people have rigorously examined the impact of programs upon outcomes other than knowledge. This research evaluated 15 different sexuality education courses or programs sponsored by nine different organizations. They included a wide spectrum of popular sexuality education approaches. To evaluate them, we used quasi-experimental designs and collected questionnaire data from over 2,000 teenagers; we also examined pregnancy data. The results demonstrate that these educational programs increased knowledge, but had no measureable impact upon most values, most attitudes, self esteem, satisfaction with social and sexual relationships, or decision-making and communication skills. Significantly, most programs also did not measurably increase or decrease sexual behavior or use of birth control. However, the parent/child program increased parent/child communication both during and after the program, and the school health clinic increased the use of birth control and reduced unintended births. There remain good reasons to offer sexuality education, but these results suggest that sexuality educators should be more realistic about the effects of programs.