Adolescent Exposure to School Health Education: Factors and Consequences

Abstract

The National Adolescent Student Health Survey (NASHS) represents perhaps the most comprehensive study of adolescent health in the last quarter-century. This article addresses two primary issues within the context of that study: (1) factors affecting exposure to school health education programs, and (2) the consequences of school-based health education. Health education was found to be widespread, although needs were underserved in the areas of violence, AIDS, STDs, suicide, and consumer health. Health needs varied by sex, grade, and region, although the health curriculum varied primarily by grade and was less related to needs by sex. Instruction regarding fighting and drug use was more prevalent in schools with the highest levels of fighting and drug use, indicating a connection between the health curriculum and local needs. Adolescents who had received health instruction were consistently more knowledgeable about the topic of instruction than their uninstructed peers. In many cases that knowledge translated into healthier attitudes and behaviors related to the topic of instruction. Health education appeared to be more related to knowledge than to attitudes or behaviors.