Sexuality Educational Course and Effects on College Students
Undergrads who attend a college university in the southeastern portion of the United States participated in a study that looks at material related to a sexuality course completed by college students. The course touched on different subjects with most students feeling they were able to take away useful information. Researchers wanted to focus more on the positive benefits of the course. Because college sexuality courses offer vast amounts of information, many feel they may be able to help reduce common concerns related to sexual activity including pregnancy and sexual abuse.
Many understand how sex education can help inform students so they can make better choices when and if they decide to engage in sex. There are different studies similar in nature but this one specifically focuses on attitudes in relation to tolerance of different unfamiliar sexual behaviors. Basically, the study made a few points on past studies conducted on this subject matter, with some suggesting there have been changes among sexual attitudes over the years. In short, different aspects are in need of an update assessment to show the shift and where it occurred.
For this study, 85 college students enrolled in separate sections of a Human Sexual Behavior class. Most that enrolled were female with the average age being 22 years old. Seniors, juniors, sophomores and post-bachelors took part in the course. Their majoring backgrounds include Psychology, Communications, Criminal Justice and Spanish to name a few. Most students were Caucasian and identified themselves as being bisexual, homosexual and heterosexual. The course itself is taught each year and it examines different aspects of human sexuality such as gender roles, birth control, sexuality development, sex & media, pornography, erotica and other subjects of interest. Each session lasts for 50 minutes 3 times a week for a semester.
In class the students were given measures to complete that included 23 items related to sexual behavior. Acceptability of casual sex, purpose of enjoying sex and how it is close form of communication between 2 people were a few concepts examined. Students were asked if they agreed or disagreed with certain statements. The questionnaire used was the BSAS (brief sexual attitudes scale). Personal attitudes about sec were asked through the TSAQ (true blood sexual attitudes questionnaire. The TSAQ asked about bisexual and homosexual sexual behaviors, sex variations such as cross-dressing and commercial sex such as erotica.
Each questionnaire measured different sexual behaviors with students completing it at the beginning and again at the end of the course. Since the questions were answered mostly by females, there wasn’t enough data to compare genders. After comparing results from both questionnaires it appears students have a greater tolerance for sexual variations at the end of the course. Some of the results were consistent with previous findings from earlier studies. The students who received a grade for completing the course did so on completing required work and not for completing the 2 questionnaires. Students also claimed they felt they received more knowledge and better understanding of different sexual concepts.