Reducing Adolescent Sexual Risk: A Theoretical - ETR Associates

Table2-2Learning Objectives to Reduce Sexual Activity: Delaying Initiation of Sex, Reducing Frequency of Sex Among Sexually Active, Reducing Number ofPartners, Avoiding Concurrent Partners, Increasing Time Between Partners and Having Only Long-Term, Mutually Faithful Partners, if Having Sex *Specific BehaviorsStudents will beable to:Knowledge andPerceptions of RiskStudents will beable to:Attitudes, Valuesand BeliefsStudents will beable to:Perceptions ofPeer NormsStudents will beable to:Skills andSelf-efficacyStudents will beable to:IntentionsStudents will beable to:Parent-ChildCommunicationStudents will beable to:Decide to not havesex, either at all atthat point in theirlives or unless in along-term, mutuallymonogamouscaring relationship(LTMMCR)• Explain the function of the male and femalereproductive systems and how they work.• Characterize different types of sex.• Assess the risk of pregnancy or STD if havingunprotected sex.• Evaluate the consequences of unintendedteen pregnancy and childbearing.• Predict how (or reconstruct how)unintended pregnancy and childbearing mayimpact their lives.• Assess the risk of STD if having unprotectedsex.• Evaluate the symptoms and consequences ofdifferent STDs, including incurable STDs suchas herpes and HIV.• Assess the impact of having an incurable STDon their lives.• Analyze the impact of small increases innumbers of sexual partners on the increasedsize of sexual networks and risk of STDtransmission.• Compare and contrast the risk of havingconcurrent sexual partners instead ofsequential sexual partners.• Conclude that the only 100% effective wayof avoiding STDs, including HIV, or gettingpregnant is to not have sex.• Appraise how LTMMCRs can reduce STD risk.• Define characteristics of a LTMMCR.• Assess the emotional and socialconsequences of having sex or casual sex.• Evaluate the most important reasons for nothaving sex or for having sex only within aLTMMCR.• Assess the pressures/influences (social, peer,partner, media) to have and not have sex.• Conclude that people should always havethe choice to not have sex.• Generate ways to show love and affectionwithout having sex, and choose theirfavorites.• Internalize the beliefthat it’s important torespect oneself andthat they are worthyof respect.• Internalize the beliefthat not having sexor having sex withinLTMMCR is consistentwith respectingoneself.• Value a decisionto not have sex orto have sex withinLTMMCR.• Believe that makingthe decision to nothave sex will reducerisk of getting STDs(including HIV) orbecoming pregnantand having sex onlywithin a LTMMCRwill reduce risk ofSTD/HIV.• View taking responsibilityfor sexualbehavior favorably.• Value not gettingpregnant or gettingsomeone pregnant,or acquiring anSTD/HIV.• Internalize the beliefthat most youngpeople their agehave not had sex (ordid not have sex lastmonth) if true.• Internalize the beliefthat most youngpeople their agesupport the decisionto not have sex.• Internalize the beliefthat friends approveand respect theirdecision to not havesex.• Identify peers whowill support theirdecision to not havesex.• Internalize the beliefthat most youngpeople their agesupport the decisionto have sex onlywithin a LTMMCR, ifhaving sex.• Internalize the beliefthat friends approveand respect theirdecision to only havesex within LTMMCR,if having sex.• Make a decisionto not have sexwith confidence.• Commit to nothaving sex atthis time in theirlives or to havesex only within aLTMMCR.• Communicate withparents and otheradults and evaluatehow parents andother adults feelabout younger teenshaving sex.• Identify parents andother adults who willsupport their decisionto not have sex.• Communicate withparents and otheradults and internalizethe belief that mostparents and otheradults feel it’s importantfor people tohave sex only withina LTMMCR, if they dohave sex.(Continued)22 Reducing Adolescent Sexual Risk: A Theoretical Guide for Developing and Adapting Curriculum-Based Programs