Sex in the 90s: 1998 National Survey of Americans on Sex and Sexual Health 2
16. Do you think sex education courses should ONLY teach abstinence — that is NOT having sex until marriage — OR should courses teach about BOTH abstinence AND give teens enough information to help them prevent unplanned pregnancies and the spread of sexually transmitted diseases if they DO decide to have sex?
18 Only abstinence 81 Both 8 Don’t know/Refused 100
17. Do you think that HIGH SCHOOL health clinics should provide young people with condoms and other forms of birth control if students ask for them?
57 Yes 40 No 3 Don’t know/Refused 100
18. In general, at what age do you think most young people have sexual intercourse for the first time?
Teens = (13-18) Perceptions
Fall 1997 Survey* 15 12 or younger 2 11 13 5 15 14 12 21 15 18 17 16 29 6 17 16 5 18 or older 14 10 Don’t Know/Refused 4 100 100
*PSRA for The Kaiser Family Foundation and YM Magazine
19. When you were growing up, did you have sex education courses in school?
41 Yes 59 No * Don’t know/Refused 100
20. Still thinking back to when you were growing up, would you say you got a lot of information about sex from (INSERT), some, only a little or no information at all?
A lot Some Only a little No info. at all DK/Ref. Did not have sex education in school (Q19) a.Sex education in school Based on total 6 17 16 1 1 59 =100 Based on those who had sex
ed. in school; n=510 15 43 39 2 1 NA =100 b.Your parents 13 22 27 38 * NA =100
21. Thinking about your (AGE) year old, have you ever talked with him or her about…
Based on parents with at least one child age 8 to 18, (target child chosenrandomly for those with more than one child in age range); n=329
Yes No DK/Ref. a. The basics of reproduction — that is “the birds and bees” 79 21 0 =100 b. HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases 80 20 0 =100 c. Issues about relationships and becoming sexually active 63 37 * =100 d. The importance of using protection, such as condoms, to preventpregnancy or disease if they become sexually active 52 48 0 =100
22. When you were growing up did your parents talk with YOU about (INSERT) or not?
Yes No DK/Ref. a. The basics of reproduction — that is “the birds and bees” 41 58 1 =100 b. Sexually transmitted diseases 21 78 1 =100 c. Issues about relationships and becoming sexually active 31 68 1 =100 d. The importance of using protection, such as condoms, to prevent pregnancy or disease if you became sexually active 25 75 * =100
23. Compared to your parents when you were growing up, do you think, (you were/you are/you would be) more open with your child(ren) about sex and sexual issues in general, less open, or about as open as your parents were with you?
79 More open 2 Less open 17 About as open 2 Don’t know/Refused 100
24. Americans have different views about sexual issues. For each of the following statements, please tell me if you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree, or strongly disagree. (First/Next)
Strongly agree Somewhat agree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree DK/Ref. a. Americans overall are uptight aboutsex and sexual issues 27 36 21 14 2 =100 b. I personally have a hard time talking aboutsex and sexual issues 11 22 25 41 1 =100 c. If Americans were more OPEN talking aboutsex there would be LESS of a problem with unplanned pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases in this country 41 27 16 14 2 =100 d. Sexual issues are private and should only bediscussed among intimate couples 26 25 25 23 1 =100
25. When you were growing up, did you have sex education courses in school?
85 Long-term monogamous relationships 9 Several relationships with different partners over a life time 6 Don’t know/Refused 100
26. What is your opinion about a married person having sexual relations with someone other than their marriage partner–is it always wrong, almost always wrong, wrong only sometimes, or not wrong at all?
January 1991* 79 Always 71 12 Almost always 17 6 Sometimes 10 2 Not wrong at all 1 1 Don’t Know/Refused 1 100 100
*PSRA for Troika Productions and Lifetime Television
27. For each of the following statements, please tell me if you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree, or strongly disagree.
Strongly agree Somewhat agree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree DK/Ref. a. In general Americans have a hard timetalking about sex and sexual issues 27 39 19 13 2 =100 b. Making sex a forbidden subject only encouragesyoung people to want to have sex 36 29 18 16 1 =100 c. Sometimes it is harder for couples to TALKabout sexual issues like birth control and sexually transmitted diseases than to HAVE sex 29 38 17 13 3 =100
READ: Now some questions about you . . .
28. How would you rate your SEX life these days? Please use a ten point scale, where ten means great and one means terrible.
15 10 7 9 18 8 11 7 7 6 11 5 1 4 2 3 2 2 8 1 10 Not applicable/Abstinent (VOL.) 100 6.77 Mean 7.00 Median
29. Are you currently married, LIVING AS married, widowed, divorced, separated, or have you never been married?
56 Married 4 Living as married 8 Widowed 10 Divorced 3 Separated 19 Never married * Gay(VOL.) 0 Refused 100
Sex In The 90s:
Kaiser Family Foundation/ABC Television 1998 National Survey of Americans
on Sex and Sexual Health:
Survey Part One Part Two Part Three ABC Television