Sex educators’ attitudes and intentions towards using sexually explicit material: an application of the theory of planned behaviour

Abstract

ABSTRACTBy means of an online survey, this study investigated factors predicting the intention to use sexually explicit material among 52 sex educators. The online survey was based on the theory of planned behaviour and measured attitudes towards sexually explicit material, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control and the intention to use sexually explicit material when teaching. Multiple linear regression analyses revealed that descriptive norms and absolute obstacles predicted the intention to use sexually explicit material. Multivariate analyses of variance showed that sex educators were more likely to use sexually explicit material in a special education setting than as part of general education. Sex educators who had viewed and discussed sexually explicit material during their professional training had a higher intention to use sexually explicit material than those who had not. These findings may be important elements to consider in the training of sex educators and organising sex education classes.