Correlates of school-based sexuality education: A comparative study of students and teachers of secondary schools in Hong Kong

Abstract

This study examined factors associated with SBSE in secondary schools, with a view to provide information for effective implementation of SBSE. It looked into students’ and teachers’ sexual attitudes and their views on SBSE. Other associated factors, viz., religiosity, spirituality, and demographic characteristics were also examined. Participants were recruited via convenience sampling from three secondary schools. Participation was voluntary and anonymous. Informed consents were solicited before data collection. The sample included 818 students (mean age = 15.3 years) and 98 teachers (mean age = 35.8 years). Results showed that students were generally more liberal than teachers in sexual attitudes. Male gender, higher education, older in age, and no religious affiliation were associated with liberal sexual attitudes among students. However, no such demographic effects were observed among teachers. Compared with students, teachers showed higher levels of religiosity and spirituality. Consistent with Western studies, both students and teachers showed positive attitude towards SBSE, which provide fertile ground for the implementation of SBSE. Religiosity and spirituality were associated with conservative sexual attitudes. Inconsistent with findings reported in the West, female students, conservative sexual attitudes, religiosity, and spirituality were associated with positive attitudes towards SBSE. Findings of this study implicated that sociocultural factors in the local setting should be taken into account for effective implementation of SBSE.