Date of Conferral

2022

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Human Services

Advisor

Douglas McCoy

Abstract

The topic of abstinence-only sex education and comprehensive sex education in schools, as well as its effectiveness, have been a subject of conversation in the United States since the beginning of the 21st century. The lack of applicable sex education for sexual minorities has been missing from the conversation, and has led to STIs, HIV/AIDs, and pregnancy. The purpose of this study was to test whether sexual minority emerging, and young adults would score higher or lower on sexual risk scale, depending on the type of sex education they received in school. The research question concerned whether the type of sex education received predicted sexual risk scale scores among emerging and young adult sexual minorities. A quantitative cross-sectional survey design was used. Participants (N = 320 participants) met the eligibility criteria of identifying themselves as between 18-30 years old and as any other sexual orientation than heterosexual or straight. A group comparison was made between the sexual risk scale scores for those who had abstinence only sex education and those who had comprehensive sex education. Analysis of variance was completed, and a post hoc analysis found that the sexual risk scale scores for those who had primarily abstinence-only sex education differed significantly from those sexual risk scale scores for those who had primarily comprehensive sex education. This research shows these individuals are split in their sexual risk scores, with over half high, showing that sex education of both types (abstinence-only and comprehensive) is failing to lower the sexual risk of sexual minority emerging and young adults. This study can lead to positive social change by helping educators and advocates to develop more effective sex education for sexual minorities.

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