Better sex education in schools is often cited as a solution to the high levels of pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases of British teenagers. However research presented at the European Health Psychology Society and The British Psychology Society 's Division of Health Psychology Conference 2008 on the 9 September 2008, casts this into doubt.
Health psychologists from the Applied Research Centre Health and Lifestyles Interventions at Coventry University asked 1,270 teenagers aged 13-16 years from schools across Liverpool, the Midlands and parts of London; 'Where do you find out about sex?'
Lead researcher Kubra Choudhry said: "We wanted to find out what sex and relationship advice teenagers used, and wanted to use. These young people told us that friends and family were their main source of information - above teachers, sexual health services or the school nurse. In fact, more children would rather get no advice at all than seek advice from teachers and other sexual health services.
"We also discovered that privacy and not being judged were the most important features that teenagers look for when seeking sexual health information, and that concerns over confidentiality were likely to put young people off when seeking advice. When you imagine a classroom personal, social and health education (PSHE) lesson, you quickly realise it can't meet these requirements."
The study also compared the responses for virgins and non-virgins, and found big differences in their needs. While virgins were more likely to seek advice on general sexual issues, and relationships, those with some sexual experience needed advice on unwanted pregnancy and contraception. Virgins consulted teachers and friends whilst those with experience were more likely to seek advice from specialist sources such as doctors and sexual health services.
Kubra Choudhry said: "Our results highlight how varied the sexual information needs of young teenagers are, and how unlikely it is that the 'one-size-fits-all' approach that classroom PSHE lessons provide can fulfil all of these individual needs.
"Providing sex and relationship information and advice for young people is vital, but doing so in a tailored, confidential and accessible way is the best solution. It could help with the current problems of teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease."
Notes:
More than 700 psychologists from the UK, Europe and further are gathering at the University of Bath from 9 to 12 September 2008 for the joint European Health Psychology Society and British Psychological Society's Division of Health Psychology Conference 2008.
The conference, themed 'Behaviour, Health and Healthcare: From Physiology to Policy', will look at how psychology can be applied at individual and group level to promote health, and even prevent illness, at a national level.