Making Friends and Caring – Data From Integrated Sex Education

Abstract

The present study examined connections between building and maintaining future relationships, being able to look after themselves, and after others (3 outcome variables) with perceptions of 6th-graders about sex education topics covered at school (20 explanatory variables). The study utilized a convenience sample (N=108/118; 91.5% response) from 4 schools at the Rauma School District in Finland; one school provided two classes of 6th graders, another provided one combined class of 5th and 6th graders. The students were 12.3 years of age (median 12 years). Boys and girls did not differ in their responses to outcome variables. They received adequate amounts of information for future purposes of being able to look after themselves (n=98/102) or after others (n=81/108) but less for the purposes of building and maintaining relationships (n=53/103). The outcome variable of building and maintaining relationships was associated with tolerance and understanding of difference, showing of emotions, and dating.