Adolescent sex education: a preventive mental health measure

This paper addresses the issue of adolescent sex education as a means of preventing sexuality-related disorders. Past efforts in adolescent sex education have generally failed to empirically determine appropriate subject matter or the most effective delivery agent for these programs. Sex education programs are examined in terms of delivery agents, cognitive, attitudinal and behavorial goals and research methodology. Suggestions to empirically determine appropriate goals and delivery agents and to consider individual differences among adolescents are offered. Recommendations are made for improving experimental design in sex education research.