Tag: sex ed

Good Relationships are Built on Verbal Communication

Leslie Becker-Phelps highlights a study (pdf) that showing that couples who delayed having sex (showed “sexual restraint”) ended up with more successful marriages.

Why?

Because early sex may indicate less commitment to the long-term relationship. Also, it may undermine the couple’s ability to communicate verbally. The study’s authors speculate:

… we speculate that the rewards of sexual involvement early on may undermine other aspects of relationship development and evaluation such that individuals may not put as much energy into crucial couple processes such as communication and may stay with partners who are not as skilled in these processes, thereby resulting in a marriage that is more brittle.

—Busby et al (2010) (pdf): Compatibility or Restraint?: The Effects of Sexual Timing on Marriage Relationships

This is an important concept for adolescents to grasp, as Becker-Phelps points out:

These are the very messages that adults often deliver to adolescents who want to begin exploring their sexuality. Wait, they say. If you are meant to be together, it will happen. In the meantime, get to know each other and grow together. Decide whether this relationship really is right for you before you become sexually involved. It’s great advice.

— Becker Phelps (2011): Premarital Sex — Why Wait? on The Art of Relationships Blog

Sex. Ed. on TV update

The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy has recently issued a report showing that teen pregnancy dropped by 6% in 2009. They have some evidence that the TV show “16 and Pregnant”, which I’ve mentioned before, is one of the reasons why.

Among those teens who have watched MTV’s 16 and Pregnant, 82% think the show helps teens better understand the challenges of teen pregnancy and parenthood and how to avoid it.
– Albert (2010)

Of course, it’s essential to note that, “Teens (46%) say parents most influence their decisions about sex.”

The report has many more details.

Sex. Ed. on TV

The message — that babies and parenting are hard work — seems to be sinking in for some of its intended audience. [15 year olds] Leslie, Miguel and Paola all intend to be parents, but, as Miguel says, “not at this age.” – Grigsby Bates, 2010.

NPR’s Morning Edition had a story on “Teen Mom” and “16 and Pregnant”, two TV shows from MTV. These shows apparently offer a very realistic take on what it means to be a teen parent. So much so, the Kaiser Family Foundation is providing free DVD’s of the 16 and Pregnant series (as well as the Think HIV: This Is Me documentary).

I have not seen either of these series, but am interested in finding out if any of my students are familiar with them, if they’re appropriate for early adolescents, and if anyone else has tried them. From the radio program it sounds like they might be a useful supplement to the Baby Think It Over® infant simulators.

On a somewhat tangential note, every time is see the Baby Think It Over dolls, I’m reminded of Elna Baker’s story, Babies Buying Babies (see Act 3), on This American Life. It’s about the choices parents make when choosing the race of a life-like, newborn doll for their kids. The Baby Think It Over dolls are pretty life-like and I’ve heard anecdotes of kids getting strange looks when walking around, not just with a baby, but one that looks like it’s from a different race.