Sex education and coeducation in adolescence: perspective of families, teachers, and adolescents

Abstract

Sex education from a coeducational perspective contributes to the comprehensive development of adolescents and promotes a more just, egalitarian, and inclusive society. This research, consisting of two sequential studies, uses a mixed-methods paradigm that combines quantitative and qualitative approaches. The aim of the research was to analyse the onset and duration of romantic relationships that take place during adolescence, as well as to study in depth how sex education is approached in homes and schools in Castilla-La Mancha, from the perspective of teachers, families and adolescents. The first study's sample comprised of 1840 adolescents, while the second study's sample consisted of 109 adolescents, 11 teachers, 6 fathers, and 4 mothers. Although romantic relationships are common during adolescence, the results show that the sex education provided in homes and educational centres is not adapted to the needs and requirements of adolescents. The dominant approach to sexuality in the family is the risk model, while teachers tend to support more comprehensive educational models. However, in the absence of rigorous and age-appropriate information, adolescents often turn to other sources of information outside the control of education, including the internet and peer groups. This underlines the need for a comprehensive sexuality education through the two main socialisation spaces.