A comparative analysis of understandings of sexual behaviour among key stakeholders in UK secondary schools
In many school settings, adolescent sexuality has been discussed largely in terms of sexual behaviour and risk. Little attention has been given to the positive aspects of sexuality and sexual expression. This study sought to explore how key stakeholders in three secondary schools in the UK understand youth sexual behaviours.
Methods: We utilized the UK version of the Traffic Light Tool developed by Brook, but also based on the Family Planning Queensland’s tool. Students in three secondary schools and key teaching and counselling staff were targeted for focus group workshops. Two schools were for parenting teenagers and the other, an access college with the majority of students from ethnic minority backgrounds. The focus group exercise involved the group deciding whether sexual behaviours were healthy, potentially risky, or dangerous. The exercise was carried out twice with each group using two age-group scenarios. Participants had to reach a consensus on the risk assessment. The discussion was taped, transcribed and analysed.
Results: For all groups, it took a lot of discussion to reach a consensus on some behaviours, particularly the risk assessment of sexual intercourse for 13–15 year olds. Internet related behaviours, such as sending erotic images, met with an easy consensus regardless of the group. For the student mums, risk was an expected part of life, so ability to manage this was a key factor in the sorting exercise. The access students expressed more conservative and moralistic views, with evidence of self-policing taking place. The adults in our study were less moralistic than students, and legal frameworks were frequently employed.
Conclusions: The study revealed that the teenage mothers, who had received considerable sexuality education, and the teachers were better able to articulate positive ideas around sexuality than the access students. Future research will expand the data collection to other schools.
