Achieving sex education program outcomes: points of view from students and alumni
Klein, D.; Belcastro, P.; Gold, R.
Adolescence 19(76): 805-815
1984
ISSN/ISBN: 0001-8449 PMID: 6516930 Document Number: 232043
Inherent limitations to secondary school sex education program evaluations include limited generalizability, lack of longitudinal research, and no consensus of program outcomes. With a Bureau of Health Education, Center for Disease Control (CDC) study as the criterion for program outcomes, a study was undertaken to examine the immediate and long term impact of sex education upon program participants. Access was provided to students and alumni of 2 of 20 schools identified in the CDC study as having exemplary sex education programs. Inventories which measured perceived achievement of 33 sex education outcomes were piloted for reliability and validity. Each inventory examined participant changes in knowledge, understanding of self, values, interaction skills, self-esteem and fear of sex-related activities. Students were surveyed in school; alumni were contacted by mail. Response rate ranged from 30 to 100%, because administrative policies in each school required varied sampling procedures. Overall, participants experienced knowledge, attitude and interpersonal skill gains as a result of their schools' sex education programs. There was no significant difference between alumni and students regarding their perceptions of achievement of investigated outcomes. Although alumni responses at one school did indicate evidence of program weakness with respect to values and interpersonal skills, as well as evidence that program impact may decrease with time, the study supports the idea that positive gains are achieved as a result of each school's sex education program and that these gains remain over time.