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Huey-Ling Lin, Curriculum and Instruction, Alabama State University, 217 Councill Hall, 915 S. Jackson St., Montgomery, AL 36104, 334-229-4237, feelinglin@aol.com, Jeff Gorrell, Graduate School of Education, George Mason University, 4400 University Dr., MS 2F1, Fairfax, VA 22030-2001, and Tina G. Vazin, PhD, Foundations and Psychology, Alabama State University, 915 South Jackson Street, Montgomery, AL 36101.
The purpose of this study was to determine the relation between behavioral intentions and action plans for teen's sexual experience. The sample was 63% Black, 25% White, and others, and was comprised of 1654 females and 1526 males. The instrument contained two open-ended and three closed-ended questions to measure behavioral intentions and action plans.
Three trained coders examined the written responses for the open-ended questions independently. The frequency of each of the key words, phrases, or terms was identified then the major themes emerged. For the quantitative data, the differences in teens' sexual intentions and action plans from pre- and post-tests were tested for significance by using a chi-square test. The correlation between sexual intention and action plan was also examined.
Findings from teens' written responses indicated that there is a positive relationship between teens' knowledge related to sex (e.g., protection) and their beliefs that they are potentially threatened by a particular consequence (e g., STD, pregnancy). Overwhelmingly, a risk-reducing action (e.g., staying abstinent, using a condom or other protection) was viewed as providing a potential benefit. Also the results of the chi-square analyses indicated that teens increased their intentions to refuse or abstain from having sex in 12 months as well as increasing their willingness to reach this goal. The correlation analysis suggested that, if teens reported that they intended not to have sex in the near future, they tended to state that staying abstinent is the best way to avoid an unwanted pregnancy or a sexually transmitted disease.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Adolescents, Sexual Behavior
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.