In two communities parents and adolescents (ages 12-14) were surveyed regarding their views on sex education. Both groups expressed strong support for parents as the primary sex educators of their children, with schools as an important assistant in this area, particularly on topics with medical or technical aspects. Parents and adolescents disagreed on whether they had discussed several topics and expressed different levels of comfort regarding such discussions. Implications for parents, researchers, and educators are given, along with directions for future research.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Bloch, D.Attitudes of mothers toward sex education
. American Journal of Public Health, 1979, 69, 911-917.
2.
Dickinson, G.Adolescent sex information sources: 1964-1974
. Adolescence, 1978, 13, 653-658.
3.
Fox, G. L.
& Inazu, J. K.Mother-daughter communication about sex. Family Relations, 1980, 29, 347-352.
4.
Furstenburg, F. F., Jr.Birth control experience among pregnant adolescents: The process of unplanned parenthood
. Social Problems1969, 19, 192-203.
5.
General Mills, Inc.Raising children in a changing society. Minneapolis: General Mills, Inc., 1977.
6.
Koblinsky, S. & Atkinson, J. Final grant report of the early childhood sex education project, 1979, unpublished manuscript.
7.
Scales, P.Sex education and the prevention of teenage pregnancy-An overview of policies and programs in the United States. Family Impact Seminar Report, Washington, D. C.: Institute for Education Leadership, 1978.
8.
Thomburg, H. D.Adolescent sources of information on sex
. Journal of School Health, 198la, 51, 274-277.
9.
Thomburg, H. D.The amount of sex information obtained during early adolescence
. Journal of Early Adolescence, 1981b, 1, 171-183.
