A Study on Knowledge, Attitude, and Experience in Sex and Sexual Autonomy of College Students

Choi, Myung Sook; Ha, Na Sun

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to measure knowledge, attitude, experience of sex, sexual autonomy and the need of sex education of college students in order to provide sex information. METHOD: The subjects of this study were 356 college students. The data were collected from October 26 to December 5, 2003 by using a structured questionnaire. RESULT: The respondents' score of sexual knowledge was relatively low as 53.7 mean score on the basis of 100. However, the scores of sexual knowledge related to masturbation, induced abortion, and contraception were relatively high. The respondents' score of sexual attitude was 3.09. The respondents' score of sexual autonomy was 3.89. The percentage of subjects that experienced sexual intercourse was 41.6% and there was a difference between the gender. There was a positive correlation between sexual knowledge and sexual autonomy and between sexual knowledge and sexual attitude. There were significant differences in the sexual knowledge, sexual attitude and sexual autonomy depending upon the experience of coitus. The respondents expressed the need of sex education in college. CONCLUSION: An integrated sex education program should be developed and contents must have a concrete and honest education which is appropriate to college students.