From Awareness to Practice: How Parents Seek Support for Children's Sexuality Education

Background/Objectives: This study aimed to explore parents' responses and information-seeking patterns regarding early childhood sexuality education by integrating semantic network analysis of digital discourse with in-depth interviews. Methods: A mixed-methods design was employed. Semantic network analysis was conducted on 124 online posts from Korean parenting communities and Q&A platforms, while in-depth interviews were conducted with 18 parents of young children. Online data were analyzed using semantic network analysis, and interview data were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. Results: Four interconnected domains of the parental response were identified: (1) recognizing sexuality in everyday contexts, (2) adopting initial coping strategies, (3) struggling with the role-action gap, and (4) seeking structured and collaborative support. Although parents recognized their role as primary sexuality educators, they experienced substantial uncertainty about how to respond and relied heavily on mediated resources, particularly sexuality education books and online information. Conclusions: Parents need practical, developmentally appropriate guidance to respond confidently to children's sexuality-related questions and everyday situations. Family-centered support systems and accessible, evidence-based resources should be developed to strengthen parents' capacity and bridge the gap between recognizing their educational responsibility and implementing sexuality education in daily life.