title: A meta-analysis examining effects of school sexuality education programs on adolescents' sexual knowledge, 1960-1997.
abstract: This study analyzed and synthesized findings from selected studies conducted from 1960 through 1997 regarding effects of school sexuality education on adolescents' sexual knowledge. This purpose was achieved using meta-analysis. Sixty-seven studies that met the selection criteria were included in the meta-analysis. The 67 studies reported 72 outcomes regarding sexual knowledge, which were grouped into six independent variables related to knowledge about sexuality. A weighted effect size method developed by Hedges and Olkin was calculated using all studies. For all studies, 97% of weighted effect sizes were positive. The weighted average effect size on sexual knowledge across all studies of 0.41 was statistically significant, indicating a significant difference occurred between control and experimental groups' mastery of objectives related to sexual knowledge. It was concluded that sexuality education programs positively affect overall sexual knowledge.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Wayne State University, 4100 John R. Road, Hudson-Webber Cancer Research Center, Fourth Floor, Detroit, MI 48201, USA. songe@karmanos.org
authors.forename: E Y
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: B E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Pruitt
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McNamara
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Colwell
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D015987:Effect Modifier, Epidemiologic; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D012736:Sex Education; D019529:Sexuality