Child Development

clude pregnancy prevention information (except for
abstinence), sources of family planning services, the
most likely time for pregnancy to occur, abortion, and
sexual orientation. These latter subjects are the basis
for community-based controversy about sex edu-
cation. As mentioned earlier, some people believe
giving certain information teenagers will encourage
their sexual activity, cause an increase in the abortion
rate, or bring about more homosexuality.

In fact, in the late 1990s effective sex education
programs were shown to delay adolescents’ sexual ac-
tivity and increase contraceptive use among adoles-
cents who have sexual intercourse. From years of
study of sex education programs, researchers have
found that some programs are more successful than
others in reducing sexual activity or increasing safe
sexual practices. Sex education programs that are ef-
fective:

1. focus on reducing one or more sexual behaviors
   that lead to unintended pregnancy or HIV/STD
   infection;


2. use social learning theories that have been used
   by other health promotion programs that are
   successful;


3. give clear messages;


4. provide basic, accurate information about the
   risks of unprotected intercourse and ways to
   avoid unprotected intercourse;


5. include activities that address social pressures
   on sexual behaviors;


6. provide modeling and practice of communica-
   tion, negotiation, and refusal skills;


7. use a variety of teaching methods to involve stu-
   dents and get them to personalize the informa-
   tion;


8. incorporate information appropriate to the age,
   sexual experience, and culture of the students;


9. last long enough to complete important activi-
   ties adequately;


10. select teachers or peers who believe in the pro-
    gram and provide training for them.

Programs with these components can be effective
with high-risk youth, that is, students who are most
likely to use drugs and alcohol, be sexually active,
and/or drop out of school.

It has also been found that the goals of reducing
the rates of pregnancy and childbearing can also be
reached by youth programs that address issues of pov-
erty, unemployment, and school performance. Exam-
ples of these include the Youth Incentive Entitlement
Employment Program, the Teen Outreach Program,

and the American Youth and Conservation Corps.

The reasons for the positive impact of these programs

are not fully known, but the programs do address fac-

tors that put adolescents at high risk for being sexual-

ly active such as poverty, lack of future orientation,

problems at schools, social disorganization, and lack

of feeling connected.

The future of sex education programs in the

twenty-first century will depend on the national polit-

ical climate and local community reactions. Although

86 percent of registered voters in a national survey

agreed that sex education should be taught in the

public schools, the political environment will certainly

influence the future direction of sex education.

See also: ADOLESCENCE; SEXUAL ACTIVITY

Bibliography

Darroch, Jacqueline E., David J. Landry, and Susheela Singh.

‘‘Changing Emphases in Sexuality Education in U.S. Public

Secondary Schools, 1988–1999.’’ In the Alan Guttmacher In-

stitute [web site]. New York, 2000. Available from http://

http://www.agi-usa.org/pubs/journals/3220400.html; INTERNET.

Kirby, Douglas. ‘‘Reflections on Two Decades of Research on Teen

Sexual Behavior and Pregnancy.’’ Journal of School Health 69,

no. 3 (1999):89–94.

‘‘Trend toward Abstinence-Only Sex Ed Means Many U.S. Teen-

agers Are Not Getting Vital Messages about Contraception.’’

In the Alan Guttmacher Institute [web site]. New York, 2000.

Available from http://www.agi-usa.org/pubs/archives/

newsrelease3205.html; INTERNET.

Wilson, S. N. ‘‘‘Sexuality Education’: Our Current Status, and an

Agenda for 2010.’’ In the Alan Guttmacher Institute [web

site]. New York, 2000. Available from http://www.agi-usa.org/

pubs/journals/3225200.html; INTERNET.

Jane L. Abraham

SEXUAL ACTIVITY

Sexuality is an aspect of human development across

the lifespan. The rapid biological and psychosocial

changes that occur during adolescence enhance the

importance of sexuality during this critical period.

During puberty, hormones increase adolescents’ at-

traction to potential sexual partners and enables their

bodies to reproduce. Psychosocial development en-

hances teens’ abilities to negotiate sexual relation-

ships and to realize that their physically mature

bodies encourage adultlike interactions, including ro-

mantic relationships and a greater degree of autono-

my from parents. This article reviews a number of

adolescent sexual issues, including sexual activity,

contraception, sexually transmitted infections (STIs),

and reproduction. In addition, the issues of substance

use, violence, and sexual orientation as related to ad-

olescent sexual behavior are discussed.

SEXUAL ACTIVITY 359