ADOLESCENT RECEPTIVITY TO THE HEALTH CURRICULUM IN WESTERN-AUSTRALIAN HIGH-SCHOOLS

Adolescents comprise a substantial proportion of the at risk population for sexually transmissible diseases and AIDS. They are also potentially amenable to the curricular influences of the high school. This study uses adolescents' perspectives and concerns regarding their sexuality and sexual relationships in which receptivity to the messages of health and sexuality curricula by adolescents provides the central focus for the investigation. The purpose was to investigate the question whether, given the same exposure to similar content and processes in sexuality education curricula in coeducational classrooms, differences in receptivity will occur between male and female high school students. It was found that, as the amount of sexuality education increased, the more receptive adolescents became to its content and processes, with females exhibiting higher receptivity than males.