Sexual attitudes and behaviors of school students in India - grades 6-12

Journal of Sex Research, Wntr, 1997 by Minakshi Tikoo

Grade Differences

There were significant differences between the attitudes and behaviors of sixth through ninth grade and tenth through twelfth grade students. The sample was analyzed separately for boys and girls, as there were significant gender differences in responses, over and above the grade differences. The Grade 69 girls differed significantly from the Grade 10-12 students in response to the statements that boys like sex more than girls do, girls want love more than boys, information about birth control makes young people more likely to become sexually active, it is OK for you and a very good friend to have sex, sex is OK only if you plan to marry, sex is OK only if you are married, it is best to start receiving sex education at home from parents, there should be sex education in schools, ever being attracted to an adult, ever being attracted to a girl, having had sex for money, and using a sexual health clinic. Grade differences regarding attitudes are summarized in Table 3.

Table 3
Differences in Attitudes between
                                     Girls
Variable                              6-9    10-12      t

Boys like sex more                    1.73    2.52    -10.17
Girls want love more                  1.68    2.40      8.21
Homosexual relationships
are OK                                1.73    1.68     NS
Information about birth control
makes people sexually active          1.81    2.21    -4.35
Birth control used if easier to get   2.18    2.30     NS
Sex is OK for boy- and girlfriends    1.39    1.30     NS
Sex is OK for good friends            1.50    1.25     3.22
Sex is OK before marriage             1.47    1.43     NS
Sex is OK if plan to marry            1.99    1.56     4.32
Sex is OK if married                  2.20    2.75    -6.04)
ATTSEX scale                          6.24    5.55     NS
Sex education at home                 2.03    2.29    -2.65
Sex education in school               1.76    2.41    -6.56

                                     Boys
                                      6-9     10-12    t

Boys like sex more                    1.90    2.06     NS
Girls want love more                  2.08    2.33    -3.11
Homosexual relationships
are OK                                1.88    1.80     NS
Information about birth control
makes people sexually active          2.04    2.10     NS
Birth control used if easier to get   2.40    2.39     NS
Sex is OK for boy- and girlfriends    1.92    1.82     NS
Sex is OK for good friends            1.86    1.52     4.14
Sex is OK before marriage             1.73    1.67     NS
Sex is OK if plan to marry            2.23    1.77     5.25
Sex is OK if married                  2.40    2.58     NS
ATTSEX scale                          7.72    6.77     3.94
Sex education at home                 1.89    1.72     NS
Sex education in school               1.94    2.52    -6.94

Note: Range of responses 1 = disagree. 2 neither, 3 = agree. The Bonferroni correction has been applied, and differences significant at p < .002 are reported.