Perspectives on Conceptualizing Developmentally Appropriate Sexuality Education

Authors

Sara Silverio Marques, Center for Youth WellnessFollow
Eva Goldfarb, Montclair State UniversityFollow
Julianna Deardoff, University of California - Berkeley
Norman A. Constantine, University of California - BerkeleyFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

Winter 2-1-2017

Journal / Book Title

American Journal of Sexuality Education

Abstract

Despite recognition of the importance of a developmentally appropriate approach to sexuality education, there is little direct guidance on how to do this. This study employed in-depth interviews with experienced sexuality educators and developers of sexuality education materials to identify how this concept is understood and applied in the field. Developmentally appropriate sexuality education was conceptualized consistently across interviews to include (a) addressing developmentally relevant topics, (b) adapting content to cognitive development, (c) accommodating developmental diversity, and (d) facilitating the internalization of sexual health messages. However, these views fell short of incorporating the breadth of knowledge offered by adolescent development research.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1080/15546128.2016.1266442

MSU Digital Commons Citation

Marques, Sara Silverio; Goldfarb, Eva; Deardoff, Julianna; and Constantine, Norman A., "Perspectives on Conceptualizing Developmentally Appropriate Sexuality Education" (2017). Department of Public Health Scholarship and Creative Works. 115.
https://digitalcommons.montclair.edu/public-health-facpubs/115

Published Citation

Silvério Marques, Sara, Eva S. Goldfarb, Julianna Deardorff, and Norman A. Constantine. "Perspectives on conceptualizing developmentally appropriate sexuality education." American Journal of Sexuality Education 12, no. 1 (2017): 35-54. Harvard