Parents’ Opinions of Ninth-Graders Sexual Education in Finland

Author(s):

Marjorita Sormunen(submitting)Kerttu Tossavainen(presenting)Hanna Näätänen Kirsi Bykachev

Conference:

ECER 2015

Network:

08. Research on Health Education

Format:

Paper

Session Information

08 SES 09 A, Sexuality Education: Human Rights and Inclusion Perspectives

Paper Session

Time:

2015-09-10

11:00-12:30

Room:

108.Oktatóterem [C]

Chair:

Kirsi Bykachev

Contribution

Parents have a big influence on their children’s sexual health and sexual development (Grossman 2014, Somers & Anagurthi 2014). According to previous studies, most parents agree that they share the responsibility for their children’s sexual health issues with school. (Elliot 2010, Foster et al. 2011, Sormunen et al. 2013.) Cooperation between the school and home can increase effectiveness in the adolescents’ sexual education, for example, by ensuring that the adolescents have been informed sufficiently about sexual health. So far, the adolescents’ sexual education has been scantly studied from the parents’ perspective.

In the last two decades, sexuality has increasingly become a general matter in everyday life at our society (Kontula 2009). For example, adolescents are able to get a lot of information about sexuality and sexual health issues through Internet. At that time, the parent’s role is important. A parent can have an influence on adolescents’ thinking and actions related to sexual health by offering support and time for discussions (Korteniemi-Poikela & Cacciatore 2010). However, not all adolescents want to discuss with their parents about sexual health issues (Schoutena et al. 2007, Shtarkshall et al. 2007, Ogle et al. 2008, Powell 2008).

The aim of the study was to describe the parents’ opinions of the ninth-graders’ (age 15-16) sexual education. The study was implemented as a part of research and development project AHIC (Addressing challenging health inequalities of children and youth between two Karelias).

The research questions are:

In parents’ opinion, who has the responsibility for ninth-graders’ sexual health education?
How often parents discuss about sexual health issues with ninth-graders?
What kind of issues related to sexual health do parents and ninth-graders discuss?

Which factors enhance or inhibit parents’ participation on ninth-graders’ sexual health education?

Method

The target group consisted of the ninth-graders’ parents and guardians in four schools in North Karelia, Finland. The data were collected by electronic questionnaires in March 2014. The questionnaire consisted of 91 Likert-scale statements, seven open questions, and eight background questions. Forty-seven (47) parents participated in the study. The data were analysed by descriptive methods. Fisher’s exact test was used to examine the connection between background variables and statements.

Expected Outcomes

The parents experienced that the ninth-graders (100%) and the parents themselves (96%) have a vast responsibility for the ninth-graders’ sexual health issues. Also the ninth-graders` boyfriend or girlfriend were seen having a big responsibility (84%). According to parents, the responsibility of school was considered as rather big also (77%). Mothers had more active role in telling their adolescent about sexual issues than fathers did (98% and 81%, respectively). Responsibility of the ninth-graders’ friends were considered as minor (36%), but media, instead, was indicated to have rather large responsibility (67%). The ninth-graders rarely asked their parents about sexual issues even though parents commonly encouraged their adolescent to do so. The parents started conversations with the ninth-grader, for example, about sexual maturation, puberty, body changes, and feelings. The ninth-grader most often asked their parents about sexual orientation and sexual minorities. According to the parents, sexual health and sexuality issues were important topics for discussion. Parents also wanted to warn their adolescent about sexually transmitting diseases. Almost all parents experienced to have sufficient knowledge to discuss about sexuality issues with their ninth-grader. These findings can be utilized in designing formal sexual education for the adolescents. Furthermore, the findings are useful in designing cooperation between the school and home in adolescent sexual education. In future, this topic should be examined from the perspectives of the adolescents and the parents with a larger sample, as well, as by other methods, such as interviews.

References

Elliot S. 2010. ”If I could really say that and get away with it!” Accountability and ambivalence in American parents´ sexuality lessons in the age of abstinence. Sex Education 10(3), 239-250. Foster L, Byers E & Sears H. 2011. Middle schools students` perceptions of the quality of the sexual health education received from their parents. The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality 20(3), 55-70. Grossman J, Tracy A, Charmaraman L, Ceder I & Erkut S. 2014. Protective Effects of Middle School Comprehensive Sex Education with Family Involvement. Journal of School Health 84(11), 739-747. Kontula O. 2009. Between sexual desire and reality: The evolution of sex in Finland. Väestöntutkimuslaitoksen julkaisuja D/49 2009. Väestöliitto, Helsinki. Korteniemi-Poikela E & Cacciatore R. 2010. Portaita pitkin. Lapsen ja nuoren seksuaalisuuden kehittyminen. WSOY, Helsinki. Ogle S, Glasier A & Riley S. 2008. Communication between parents and their children about sexual health. Contraception 77, 283–288. Powell E. 2008. Young people`s use of friends and family for sex and relationships information and advice. Sex Education 8(3), 289–302. Schoutena B, van den Buttea B, Pasmans M & Meeuwesenb L. 2007. Parent-Adolescent communication about sexuality: The role of adolescents` belief, subjective norm and per-ceived behavioral control. Patient Education and Counseling 66(1), 75-83. Shtarkshall A, Santelli J & Hirsch J. 2007. Sex Education and Sexual Socialization: Roles for Educators and Parents. Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health 39(2), 116-119. Somers C & Anagurthi C. 2014. Parents’ attitudes about adolescents’ premarital sexual activity: The role of interparent consistency/inconsistency in sexual outcomes. Health Education Journal 73(5), 545-553. Sormunen M, Tossavainen K & Turunen H. 2013. Parental perceptions of the roles of home and school in health education for elementary school children in Finland. Health Promotion International 28(2), 244-256.

Author Information

Marjorita Sormunen (submitting)

University of Eastern Finland

Department of Nursing Science

Kuopio

Kerttu Tossavainen (presenting)

University of Eastern Finland

Department of Nursing Science

Kuopio

Hanna Näätänen

University of Eastern Finland, Finland

Kirsi Bykachev

University of Eastern Finland

Department of Nursing Science

Kuopio

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