Social Factors Influencing the Development of Adolescents’ Sexual Self-Concept: Implications for Comprehensive Sexual Health Education
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Authors
Giesbrecht, Riley
Issue Date
2024-02
Type
Capstone
Language
en
Keywords
adolescent sexuality , sexual self-concept , sex positivity , school-based sexual health education
Alternative Title
Abstract
This capstone investigates how social factors influence adolescent sexual self-concept (SSC) and informs sexual health education (SHE) practices. Examining religious, educational, and caregiver influences reveals nuanced findings. Religious teachings in conservative denominations often perpetuate shame and stigma for sexual and gender minority youth. School-based SHE programs promoting abstinence and heteronormativity negatively impact SSC, especially for LGBTQIA2S+ youth. Caregivers, while influential, face barriers in discussing sex positively. The implications for counsellors include providing accurate information, supporting families with queer youth, and adopting culturally competent approaches. Despite some progress, challenges persist in critiquing abstinence-only ideologies and promoting comprehensive SHE. A proposed workshop aims to empower caregivers in fostering open discussions about sexuality within families. In conclusion, comprehensive and inclusive SHE is vital for informed decision-making and positive SSCs among adolescents, urging further research and focus in this area.
Description
Citation
Publisher
License
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United States
openAccess
openAccess