Sex stereotypes and school adolescents' sexual behaviour in Osun State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigated the association between sex stereotypes and the sexual behaviour of Nigerian school-going adolescents. It also ascertained the effects of age and sex on adolescents' beliefs about sex stereotypes. The study sample consisted of 658 (male = 287, female = 371) adolescents from nine randomly selected secondary schools in three urban towns in Osun State, Nigeria. A survey questionnaire consisting of items describing various misconceptions about sexuality to which respondents were to indicate their levels of agreement on a five-point Likert scale was used to collect data. The instrument measured the extent to which respondents engaged in risky sexual behaviour such as casual sex, multiple sexual partners and unprotected sexual intercourse. Data were analysed using simple percentages and chi-squared statistics. The results showed that Nigerian adolescent students strongly believed in sex stereotypes and demonstrate a tendency to engage in risky sexual behaviours. Results also indicated that respondents who reported a level of sex stereotypes showed a tendency to engage in risky sexual behaviour and that respondents' sex had a significant relationship with their belief in sex stereotypes. A large majority of respondents who reported a high level of stereotypes were males.