Who Gets More Benefit From Sexual Health Education and When? (Poster 8)

• In Event: Saturday Poster Session 9:35 am
  In Poster Session: Learning and Motivation in Social and Cultural Contexts 2

Abstract

A sexual health intervention program was implemented among 2,038 7th graders in 19 middle schools from the midwestern US to address gaps in teen health and improve health equity. Latent growth models revealed that Latinx and Black students were those who initially reported low levels of refusal self-efficacy, less positive attitudes and norms about abstinence, and higher intentions to have sex. They also received more benefits from the intervention, demonstrating a greater increase in refusal self-efficacy and adaptive attitudes and norms, and a lower increase in intention to have sex. Importantly, a motivational climate (i.e., perceived mastery goal orientation) in health class generally facilitated students’ learning from the intervention program largely regardless of student gender/ethnic/racial/socioeconomic backgrounds.

Authors

• Hyun Ji Lee, The Ohio State University

• August Masonheimer, Purdue University

• Eric M. Anderman, The Ohio State University