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Start Over Author "Levin, Dana S." Topic sex education
3 results on '"Levin, Dana S."'

1. School context and content in Canadian sex education.

Author

Levin, Dana S. and Hammock, Amy C.

Subjects
*ANALYSIS of covariance, *BIOLOGY, *CURRICULUM, *INTERPERSONAL relations, *MULTIVARIATE analysis, *SAFETY, *SCHOOLS, *SEX crimes, *SEX education, *SURVEYS, *INFORMATION resources, *UNDERGRADUATES
Abstract

Sex education, mandated in most Canadian schools, aims to teach youth about healthy sexual expression and relationships. However, programme delivery may vary widely, and sex education tends to focus on pregnancy and disease prevention and less on interpersonal issues such as relationships and violence. Sex education research tends to follow suit, focusing on dichotomous health outcomes rather than on how contextual factors, such as type of school, programme, tone, and teacher, may affect learning. This study expands this scope to include information about content presented in sex education (specifically related to relationships and sexual violence) as well as about school context, asking: Do amounts of information received in sex education about biology, relationships, and sexual violence, differ by school and programme context? Participants were 1845 undergraduates attending one of two post-secondary schools in Ontario, Canada. They completed an online survey about sexual information they had received. Independent variables included type of secondary school attended, sex education programme, and perceived tone of programme. MANCOVAs indicated that programme type and programme tone were linked with significant differences in amounts of biology, relationship, and violence messages received. Students reported the most content across all three areas was received in comprehensive sex education programmes. Safety-based programmes delivered the most information about biology and relationships, and pleasure-driven programmes delivered the most sexual violence information. School context may affect information amounts received about biology, relationships, and sexual violence, all important topics likely to contribute to the sexual health and safety of adolescents as they develop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Published
2020
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2. Formative Sexual Communications, Sexual Agency and Coercion, and Youth Sexual Health.

Author

Levin, Dana S., Monique Ward, L., and Neilson, Elizabeth C.

Subjects
*SEXUAL health, *COMMUNICATION, *SEXUAL intercourse, *ATTITUDES toward sex, *DISCOURSE, *SEX education, *UNDERGRADUATES, *SOCIALIZATION, *PARENTING, *CHILD development, *SEXUAL abstinence, *DOUBLE standard
Abstract

This article argues that formative sexual communications, and sexual attitudes and behaviors, are important foci in the exploration of the sexual health of young people. The study examines links among sexual messages received from parents and friends, the sexual attitudes of young men and women, and the sexual experiences of those youth. Analyses of data collected from 332 undergraduates suggest that sexual socialization messages are linked with such outcomes as sexual agency and sexual coercion. Additionally, young women and men appear to receive different types of messages, which affect their attitudes and behaviors differently. This study concludes that social work can use empirical research to support an agenda committed to engendering sexual health among youth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Published
2012
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3. Let's Talk About Sex...Education: Exploring Youth Perspectives, Implicit Messages, and Unexamined Implications of Sex Education in Schools.

Author

Levin, Dana S.

Subjects
Sex Education, Socialization, Gender, Sexuality, Focus Groups, Emerging Adults
Abstract

School-based sexuality education is a critical source of sexual communication for youth in the United States. Although some research exists on the types of sexual communication and “sex education” that young people receive, there exist numerous gaps in the literature. Specifically, research examining school-based sex education tends to evaluate programs based on behavioral outcomes (such as onset of vaginal intercourse, pregnancy, and sexually transmitted diseases.) Although this information is valuable, it is incomplete. Little is known about other possible effects of sex education, especially in terms of sexual negotiation and messages regarding gender and power. Additionally, young people’s own voices and experiences are rarely included. My dissertation addresses some of these gaps in a mixed methods approach, through three studies: 1) A quantitative study examining links between sex education content and sexual attitudes and experiences; 2) A quantitative study examining links between sexual socialization discourses received from sex education programs and sexual attitudes and experiences; and 3) A qualitative study of focus groups with first-year undergraduate college students inquiring about their experiences and perspectives regarding their secondary sex education. In Study 1, participants received more messages about biology and mainstream contraception than other topics, and messages about contraception and lifestyle choices were linked with more sexual agency. In Study 2, participants received more messages about sex being egalitarian, and sex as an expression of love, than other discourses. Sexual double standard messages were linked with more experiences of sexual coercion across groups. Findings from Study 3 revealed three central trends: participants seemed to receive either messages about biology and contraception or messages about abstinence and relationships, but not both; messages were gendered; and a victim-perpetrator dichotomy emerged. Sexual health is a complex issue. School-based sex education may have a variety of effects on sexual attitudes and experiences. It is important to pay more attention to the explicit and implicit messages communicated about power and gender by sex education programs. It is also critical that more research and intervention be conducted in these areas.

Published
2010

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