The sexual and reproductive health of Australian young people : theoretical and practical analysis

Abstract

Previous research has brought focus to the flaws of current sexual and reproductive health education in secondary schools. However, few studies have been conducted that examine how an individual's learning style and personality type may influence their understanding of sexual and reproductive health education. Presently, research has been conducted focusing on specific aspects of learning styles, personality traits, or sexual health education, but no research has examined the interaction between all three factors. This study will provide a detailed review of past research examining sexual health education globally and in Australia, issues of gender, sexual orientation, and culture, as well as the discourses they are made up of, and the myths and misconceptions plaguing sexual health education in a present day context. The experimental aspect of this study will focus on the Sexual Health Knowledge Scale (Weinstein, Walsh, & Ward, 2008), the Index of Learning Styles (Felder & Spurlin, 2005), and the HEXACO personality inventory (Ashton & Lee, 2009), and their interactions, to gain a clearer understanding of sexual health knowledge in young Australians. Exploratory analysis of personality traits, and learning styles, and their relation to comprehension of sexual health for young adults found that gender, sexual orientation, relationship status, ethnicity, knowledge confidence, Agreeableness and Visual/Verbal learning all significantly correlate with Sexual Health Knowledge, with many also being significant predictors of knowledge. These findings could help guide future education, pushing for inclusion of minorities, and advocating for a stronger gender balance concerning sexual responsibility in the hope of increasing overall understanding.

Date of Award	2019
Original language	English