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Faith-Based Sex Education Programs: What They Look Like and Who Uses Them

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore the kinds of sex education programs for youth available in mainline churches. This research project sought to identify the kinds of programs developed, the ages of the youth involved, the reasons for implementing the programs, the goals of the programs, the topics covered, and the perceived youth response to these programs as identified by youth ministers and leaders. The sample included 92 churches/synagogues with memberships over 300 that were within a 25-mile radius of our small, urban area in southeast Michigan. Findings from this study lay the groundwork for exploring whether these programs have an impact on adolescents’ sexual behaviors.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Psychology Department, Eastern Michigan University, 537 Mark Jefferson, Ypsilanti, MI, 48197, USA

    Carol R. Freedman-Doan, Leanna Fortunato & Jacqueline M. Titus

  2. Psychology Department, Dennison University, Knapp 410E, Granville, OH, 43023-0810, USA

    Erin J. Henshaw

Authors
  1. Carol R. Freedman-Doan
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  2. Leanna Fortunato
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  3. Erin J. Henshaw
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  4. Jacqueline M. Titus
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Carol R. Freedman-Doan.

Appendix: Telephone Interview for Churches

Appendix: Telephone Interview for Churches

  • Does the church use a particular program to address teenage sexuality and relationships?

  • Tell me about the program you use. What are the goals of the program?

  • Does the program have a name and is it available for purchase so we can get more information about it?

  • How old are the kids in the program?

  • Who administers the program? For example, Sunday school director, youth pastor, etc.

  • How long is the program?

  • Is attendance required for confirmation/first communion/church membership?

  • Are parents involved? To what degree?

  • Do you know of any other denominations that use this program?

  • How many years have you been doing this program?

  • What has been your experience with the program?

  • How many youth are typically in attendance?

  • What do you feel has been the youth response?

  • How concerned are you about the sexual behaviors of the youth in your church? What specific behaviors are you concerned about?

  • Should the church be the place where adolescents learn information about sexual behavior? Why or why not?

    If not the church, where should they get this information?

    If in the church, what information should they get?

    (If not mentioned, find out if birth control information should/should not be given in the church)

This next question might be a bit difficult to answer, but we are testing out how well the item works. On a scale of 1–10, with 1 being most liberal and open to interpretation and 10 being most conservative (a literal interpretation), where would you place your congregation in terms of its interpretation of scripture/religious doctrine?

figure a

  • I have just a couple questions about the size and composition of your church:

  • What is the average size of your Sunday worship attendance?

  • How many members do you have? Who does this include? How do you define membership?

  • How many family units?

  • What is the approximate racial composition of your church?

  • Do you have any idea about the SES of your congregation?

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Freedman-Doan, C.R., Fortunato, L., Henshaw, E.J. et al. Faith-Based Sex Education Programs: What They Look Like and Who Uses Them. J Relig Health 52, 247–262 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-011-9463-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-011-9463-y

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