Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Availability

Open Access Thesis

Keywords

Youth--Attitudes; Youth--Sexual behavior;

Abstract

This study investigated relationships among adolescent 's sexual knowledge, sexual attitudes, communication about sexuality, reported contraceptive behavior, and educational aspirations of junior/senior high school students. A survey which included questions from Kirby's (1984) instruments was administered to 177 students attending a rural mid-western high school. Data were analyzed using chi-square, analysis of variance, and Pearson Correlation Coefficients. Statistical significance was reached for five of the eleven hypotheses tested. A higher degree of sexual knowledge was positively associated with both student's use of effective birth control and their educational aspirations. Premarital sexual behavior was less likely to occur with students reporting conservative attitudes. Open communication about sexuality was positively associated with effective use of birth control. Students who had not experienced sexual intercourse reported higher educational aspirations. Findings have implications for the necessity of providing adolescents with accurate information about sexuality that would encourage responsible decision-making about their sexuality and future.

Year of Submission

1988

Degree Name

Master of Arts

Department

Department of Home Economics

First Advisor

Mary L. Franken

Second Advisor

Joel W. Wells

Third Advisor

Dennis Cryer

Comments

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Date Original

1988

Object Description

1 PDF file (93 leaves)

Language

en

File Format

application/pdf

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