title: [Internet use and adolescents' sexual health].
abstract: Internet use is an important part of the daily life of adolescents. The ease of searching the internet for information makes finding information on sex, a topic of particular interest to adolescents, easy. Although the internet is replete with sexual information, the influence of internet use on adolescents' sexual health is analogous to a double-edged sword. This article identifies the four main sexual dilemmas facing Taiwan adolescents and analyzes the pros and cons of internet use with regard to adolescents' sexual health. Cons include the predominance of internet pornography and the potential risks of making friends online. Pros include the internet's role as an optimal communications platform and tool for sex-related research. We suggest that nurses have a unique role and functions to play in promoting adolescent sexual health. We also offer recommendations for school health nursing and clinical nursing. Further internet-based quantitative and qualitative research is necessary to clarify relevant sexual health issues. Finally, we offer design suggestions for sexual education homepages.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Fooyin University, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Ying-Hua
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Tseng
authors.forename: Ruey-Hsia
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Hsiu-Hung
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Fan-Hao
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Chou
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D060728:Reproductive Health