An Exploratory Study of Selected Sexual Knowledge and Attitudes of Indiana Adults

Abstract

Although there are numerous ways to obtain accurate information about sexuality, research suggests that many American adults do not have accurate sexuality and sexual health knowledge. This research investigated selected sexual knowledge and attitudes of adults in Indiana. A representative sample of men (n = 158) and women (n = 340) aged 18 to 89 was surveyed via telephone interviews regarding sexuality-related topics. The level of sexual knowledge was determined from 14 content based questions, for example questions about sexually transmitted infections, gender, sexual orientation, and other reproductive health topics. Additionally, Indiana adults were surveyed about their beliefs regarding certain sources of influence over young peoples' sexual values. Key findings of the research indicate that adults in Indiana do not have accurate information about sexuality and seem to have wide-spread sexuality-related misperceptions and misinformation. This lack of sexual knowledge or misinformation may negatively impact the sexual health of Indiana adults and, by extension, their children. Additional findings and implications for educators, health professionals, and policymakers are discussed.

Key Words:

• Family communication
• attitudes
• school based sexuality education
• Indiana
• sexuality sex education
• sex