Korean J Psychosom Med.  2023 Jun;31(1):25-32. 10.22722/KJPM.2023.31.1.25.

Factors Influencing Sexuality Knowledge and Gender Sensitivity During Adolescents and Early Adulthoods

• Na HS
• Lee SG
• Baek KM
• Im WY
• Kang SG
• Cho SJ
• Na KS
• Kang JM
• Cho SE
• Bae SM

• KMID: 2550643
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.22722/KJPM.2023.31.1.25

Abstract

Objectives
：This study investigated the level of sexuality knowledge and gender sensitivity and factors influencing on them among Korean high school and college students.
Methods
：129 questionnaires from high school and college students with consent forms, collected from July to December of 2022, were analyzed. After identification of participants’ gender, age, major, their report of the practicality of sex education, and their experience of violence or sexual assaults, participants’ level of sexuality knowledge and gender sensitivity were compared.
Results
：Females showed higher gender sensitivity, regardless of age and group (p=0.004). The early adulthood group (≥19 years old) showed higher sexuality knowledge and gender sensitivity, compared to those adolescents (<19 years old). Among college students, those who majored in health science were identified with higher sexuality knowledge and gender sensitivity, compared to non-health science major students(p<0.001; p=0.005).
Conclusions
：This study revealed the significant differences in sexuality knowledge and gender sensitivity according to sex, age, and majors in adolescents and early adults. Therefore, it seems to be necessary to consider the differences in sexuality knowledge and gender sensitivity among age, sex, and majors when establishing public policy or legislation for sex crimes, including digital sex crimes.

Keyword

Sexuality knowledge; Gender sensitivity; Adolescents; Early adulthoods.