Tímarit hjúkrunarfræðinga - 2024, Qupperneq 68
Quality assessment of sexuality education by upper secondary school students in Iceland: Cross-sectional study
ENGLISH SUMMARY
Quality assessment of sexuality education by upper
secondary school students in Iceland:
Cross-sectional study
Sigfusdottir, H., Bender, S. S. and Tryggvadottir, G. B.
ABSRTAKT
Aim
In Iceland, there are few studies about how sexuality education is
taught in schools and what adolescents‘ opinions are about the
education they have received. The purpose of the study was to
examine the views of students in upper secondary schools on the
quality of the sexuality education they have received with regard
to teaching methods, educational needs and sexual self-esteem.
Method
This study was a cross-sectional study. A purposive sample was
used to select eleven upper secondary schools around the country.
The sample consisted of 2,488 participants, 18 years and older. The
survey was administered in January 2022. Data analysis was based
on descriptive statistics and hypothesis testing using Pearson
chi-square test. Level of significance was set at p<0,05.
Results
Total of 648 students (26%) participated in the study, with more
females than males. Two of three hypotheses about participants‘
attitude toward the teaching methods and educational needs
were supported and the third one in a limited way. Significant
differences were found between the attitudes of the participants
who thought they had received good sexuality education
compared to those who didn‘t, on the variety of teaching methods
(p<0,001), teaching quality (p<0,001), fulfillment of educational
needs (p<0,001), provision of good answers (p<0,001), information
about contraception (p<0,001) and sexually transmitted diseases
(p<0,001). Significant difference in quality assessment of sexuality
education regarding sexual self-esteem was only found in two out
of five items, they were: „I can easily stand up for myself when it is
necessary to set boundaries in sex“ (p<0,05) and „I am not afraid to
be steadfast if a sexual partner is pressuring me“ (p<0,05).
Conclusions
About third of the participants express their satisfaction with
sexuality education. According to their assessment, good sexuality
education consists of teaching procedures and how well it meets
their educational needs. More emphasis needs to be on the positive
aspects of sexuality in teaching such as sexual self-esteem.
Keywords
Sexuality education, adolescent, quality, teaching methods,
educational needs, sexual self-esteem.
Correspondent
hes81@hi.is