Adolescent Understanding of Key Variables Affecting Receptivity to Health Curricula.

Adolescents comprise a substantial proportion of the at-risk population for sexually transmissible diseases (STD's) and AIDS. This study examines the link between sexuality education programs and student receptivity in Western Australian secondary schools. The researchers ask the question, "Given the same exposure to similar content and processes in sexuality education curricula in coeducational classrooms, will differences occur in receptivity between male and female high school students?" The question was answered in part by an instrument constructed to measure key constitutive variables of receptivity in the dimensions of "understandings" and "affects." The questionnaire was administered to high school students (N=533) and the results were compared to the empirical data derived from a social survey of 14-15 year old adolescents following similar health/sexuality education curricula. Two main findings emerged from the study: (1) the amount of health education, including sexuality education, that adolescent students received in high school influenced their receptivity towards the practice of responsible sexual behaviors attuned to community standards, thus potentially enhancing personally fulfilling relationships; and (2) girls exhibited higher receptivity to the messages of the sexuality education curriculum than did boys. Included are eight tables which present the statistical data. (RJM)