J Korean Community Nurs.  1999 Jun;10(1):239-251.

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

• Nam MH

Abstract

The purpose of this survey is to measure the sexual knowledge, attitude, and experience in college students in order to provide better sex education programs and direction. For this study, questionnaires were given to 259 students in K college of Kyongnam and collected during the period of June 1 to June 20, 1998. Data was analyzed using a statistical computer package: SPSS to manipulate the data along with frequency, mean, t-test, F-test and Pearson correlation coeffiency. The results from this study were summarized as follows: 1. Sex related knowledge marked 12.01 at a maximum level of 25. In the areas of Sex physiology(51.8%), genital physiology(49.9%), venereal diseases(44.3%) and contraceptive methods (38.1%), students were shown to have certain levels of knowledge. 2. Sex related attitudes marked 15.35 at a maximum level of 35. The most frank attitudes concerned 'premartial coitus in males' and the most conservative attitudes concerned 'extramarital coitus in females'. 3. Concerning sexual behavior 80.7% of the respondents had associated with the opposite sex. The most frequent behaviors were walking arm in arm (male : 28.6%, female: 36.2%). Their main problems were relationships with the opposite sex(male : 39.2%, female: 24.5%), frustrated sexual desire(male : 26.0%, female: 9.8%) and unwanted pregnacy(male: 15.2%, female: 7.8%) To solve sex problems, respondents intended to consult their friends(male : 35.7%, female: 46. 7%) and become active in sports or recreation (male: 23.4%, female: 11.4%). About 81.2% of male students had a masturbation experience, but only 11.4% of female did, 40.0% of male students had a sexual intercourse experience, but only 13.3% of females did, 7.8% of male students used contraceptive methods, but only 2.9% of females did. 12.3% of male students had a rape experience, but only 10.5% of females did. The proportion of male students who made someone pregnant was 12.3%,however pregnant female were only 6.8% and the proportion of male students who forced someone to have an abortion was 12.3%, females who experienced an abortion were only 5.7%. 4. Regarding genital physiology, there was a statistically significant differences in gender (t=-7.342, p=0.000). Regarding contraceptive methods, there was a statistically significant difference in the father's education level(F=2.421, p=0.036) 5. In sexual attitudes, there were statistically significant differences in gender(t=4.456, p=0.000), religion(F=4.315, p=0.000), high school(F=3.150, p=0.045), habitation form(F=3.164, p=0.0025 and methods of acquiring sexual knowledge(F=2.990, p=0.012). 6. The variables regarding sexual experience were gender, high school, economic status, habitation form, method of acquiring sexual knowledge, and parental attitudes toward sex. From the result of the study, sex education is required and must be taught as a regular course in the curriculum of all Korean schools at all levels.

MeSH Terms

Arm
Coitus
Contraception
Curriculum
Surveys and Questionnaires
Education
Female
Gyeongsangnam-do
Humans
Male
Masturbation
Parents
Physiology
Rape
Recreation
Sex Education
Sexual Behavior
Sports
Walking