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Journals / Kırıkkale Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Dergisi / 2026 / Cilt: 28 Sayı: 2

THE INFLUENCE OF SEX EDUCATION ON THE SEXUAL BEHAVIOUR AND ATTITUDES OF ADOLESCENTS: A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW

Cinsel Eğitimin Ergenlerin Cinsel Davranış ve Tutumları Üzerindeki Etkisi: Sistematik Literatür Derlemesi

Begüm Atsü(MSc Clinical Child Psychology Programme, Faculty of Psychology,Anglia Ruskin University, CAMBRIDGE, UNITED KINGDOM)0009-0008-6907-6069
Pages
357–366
Publication Date
2026-08-12
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

The findings indicate that sex education generally improves adolescents’ sexual knowledge, particularly regarding reproductive health, sexually transmitted infections and contraception.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

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Objective & Hypothesis:Sex education plays a crucial role in equipping adolescents with accurate knowledge, skills, and attitudes that support healthy sexual development and responsible decision-making.
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Key Findings & Data:A comprehensive search was conducted in APA PsycInfo, MEDLINE, and CINAHL Plus with Full Text for studies published between 1980 and 2023.
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Conclusion & Impact:The findings indicate that sex education generally improves adolescents’ sexual knowledge, particularly regarding reproductive health, sexually transmitted infections and contraception.
🔬Design:Review & Systematic Survey
📍Scope:2023 Verileri
⚙️Variables:Psikoloji · cinsel eğitim · ergenler

Abstract

Sex education plays a crucial role in equipping adolescents with accurate knowledge, skills, and attitudes that support healthy sexual development and responsible decision-making. Despite increasing global recognition of its importance, risky sexual behaviours among adolescents remain a public health concern. This systematic literature review examines the influence of sex education on adolescents’ sexual attitudes and behaviours. A comprehensive search was conducted in APA PsycInfo, MEDLINE, and CINAHL Plus with Full Text for studies published between 1980 and 2023. Search terms included combinations of “sex education,” “adolescents,” “sexual attitudes,” and “sexual behaviour.” Following the screening process based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, 12 empirical studies involving adolescents were reviewed. The findings indicate that sex education generally improves adolescents’ sexual knowledge, particularly regarding reproductive health, sexually transmitted infections and contraception. Several studies reported positive changes in sexual attitudes, including increased awareness of gender equity, delayed sexual initiation, and more responsible decision-making. Differences in program content, methodology, demographic characteristics, and cultural contexts may explain variations of the results. The review highlights the importance of comprehensive, context-sensitive sex education programs and underscores the need for further research using robust methodological designs to better understand their long-term impact on adolescent sexual health outcomes.

Özet

Cinsel eğitim, ergenlerin sağlıklı cinsel gelişimlerini ve sorumlu karar verme süreçlerini destekleyen doğru bilgi, beceri ve tutumlarla donatılmasında önemli bir rol oynamaktadır. Küresel düzeyde öneminin giderek daha fazla kabul edilmesine rağmen, ergenler arasında riskli cinsel davranışlar hâlâ önemli bir halk sağlığı sorunu olarak varlığını sürdürmektedir. Bu sistematik literatür incelemesi, cinsel eğitimin ergenlerin cinsel tutumları ve davranışları üzerindeki etkisini incelemektedir. 1980–2023 yılları arasında yayımlanan çalışmalar için APA PsycInfo, MEDLINE ve CINAHL Plus with Full Text veri tabanlarında kapsamlı bir tarama yapılmıştır. Arama terimleri “cinsel eğitim”, “ergenler”, “cinsel tutumlar” ve “cinsel davranış” ifadelerinin çeşitli kombinasyonlarını içermiştir. Önceden belirlenmiş dâhil etme ve dışlama kriterlerine göre gerçekleştirilen tarama sürecinin ardından, 12 çalışma incelemeye dâhil edilmiştir. Bulgular, cinsel eğitimin genel olarak ergenlerin cinsel konulara ilişkin bilgi düzeyini artırdığını, özellikle üreme sağlığı, cinsel yolla bulaşan enfeksiyonlar ve doğum kontrol yöntemleri konularında bilgi kazandırdığını göstermektedir. Bazı çalışmalar, toplumsal cinsiyet eşitliği konusunda farkındalığın artması, cinsel ilişkinin daha geç yaşta başlaması ve daha sorumlu karar verme gibi cinsel tutumlarda olumlu değişiklikler olduğunu bildirmiştir. Bu derleme, kapsamlı ve bağlama duyarlı cinsel eğitim programlarının önemini vurgulamakta ve ergenlerin cinsel sağlık sonuçları üzerindeki uzun vadeli etkileri daha iyi anlamak için güçlü metodolojik tasarımlarla yürütülecek daha fazla araştırmaya ihtiyaç olduğunu ortaya koymaktadır.

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Cite This Article

Atsü, B. (2026). THE INFLUENCE OF SEX EDUCATION ON THE SEXUAL BEHAVIOUR AND ATTITUDES OF ADOLESCENTS: A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW. Kırıkkale Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Dergisi, Cilt: 28 Sayı: 2, 357–366. https://doi.org/10.24938/kutfd.1923816

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