Couple reports of the perceived influences of a college human sexuality course: an exploratory study

Abstract

Research on the effects of college sexuality education has been largely quantitative in nature and has focused on changes in individual attitudes, behaviours and knowledge. This study sought to explore, qualitatively, the influences of enrolment in a human sexuality course on relationships. Eight couples from an undergraduate human sexuality course completed a brief questionnaire and 60-minute semi-structured interviews, both together and individually. Interviews were analysed using critical qualitative methodologies. Findings suggest a wider range of perceived influences than indicated in the previous literature. In particular, after taking the class, participants felt less secretive about sex and more comfortable with sexuality overall. All participants shared some aspects of the class with their partners, exposing several themes surrounding perceived influences of the class. These included increased communication overall, and particularly about sex; changes to body image, self-confidence and agency; perceived changes to their relationship and sexual relationship; willingness to try new sexual behaviours or positions; and new information related to health and anatomy that led to increased health protective behaviours and, in some cases, increased sexual pleasure. Implications for intervention evaluation methods and for sexuality educators are discussed.

Keywords:

• sexuality education
• college students
• couple relationships
• effects

Acknowledgements

This research was supported by a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada Doctoral Fellowship (Award no: 752-2007-0621) and by the School of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation at Indiana University. Thank you to my dissertation advisor William Yarber and my friend and mentor Barbara Dennis for their significant guidance and support in completing this project. I appreciate the wisdom of Pat Goodson and Nicole Klein who provided feedback on previous drafts of this manuscript.