Sex information and attitudes in young people

A questionnaire survey was conducted in the Wellington area among 696 senior secondary school pupils. The first part of the questionnaire studied aspects of sexual knowledge and the sources of information. The general level of knowledge was good at an elementary level but less than adequate when more detailed knowledge was considered. The role of peers, parents and schools was complementary. In the second part of the questionnaire a standard attitude test was administered. A majority of young people in this survey supported a standard of permissiveness with affection and did not support a double standard giving greater rights to males. Boys were more permissive than girls.