Sex positivity in sexuality education and happiness among young adults

Project (M.S.W., Social Work) -- California State University, Sacramento, 2013.This study examined the degree to which the sexuality education experiences of young adults, ages 18-30, were sex positive, and the relationship between sex positivity and happiness. In this descriptive study, Social Work students at California State University, Sacramento (N=75) were surveyed using a nonprobability convenience sampling method. Study findings indicate a weak positive relationship between sex positivity in sexuality education and happiness among the sample. Additionally, a relationship with a trusted adult of whom the participant could openly ask questions regarding her/his body, and about sexuality in general was shown to have a moderate positive relationship with overall sex positivity in sexuality education. This initial effort at measuring sex positivity fills a gap in the literature. The study also describes the link between sexuality education and general happiness, rather than satisfaction related to aspects of one???s own sexuality experiences ??? another subject on which very little research has been published. Happiness as a metric, grounded in positive psychology, is also underutilized when compared with negative indicators of mental health, such as anxiety and depression. These results align with the key social work values of the importance of human relationships; the dignity and worth of the person; and even social justice issues around sexuality. The study has further implications for sexuality education policy, and valuing happiness and sexual rights alongside other human rights, as the United Nations and other NGOs such as the International Planned Parenthood Federation have called for.Social Wor