Sex Education Justice: A Call for Comprehensive Sex Education and the Inclusion of Latino Early Adolescent Boys

Abstract

Many sex education programs do not conceptualize adolescent sexuality as a normative process of development, thus sexuality is not part of a holistic picture of health education.The current project examines the multiple determinants of adolescent boys’ sexual behaviors in the context of developing sex education. Limited research has examined the simultaneous influence of individual, peer, partner, and parent factors on adolescent’s sexual behaviors. Results suggest that adolescents’ substance use and self-efficacy were strong predictors of boys’ sexual behaviors. Moreover, while parental and peer communication were not significant predictors, partner communication significantly influenced the number of sexual behaviors. Overall, the results of the study suggest that comprehensive sex education programming could benefit from having multiple outcome goals that address the dual influence of substance use and risky sex, while including partners in fostering positive adolescent sexual health.