A Sex Education Program for Mothers: Effects, Parent Characteristics, and Practice Insights

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to measure outcomes of a group program designed to help mothers become involved in their child's sex education. Innovations included: a quasi-experimental design, use of standardized measures, and measures of mothers' personal characteristics. The design included volunteer participants, a control and experimental group, and pre- and post-measures. Initially, the 9 mothers attending the program had more sexual guilt and discomfort with sexual topics than the 28 controls (not attending); but five months later, the workshop mothers had removed these original differences; they also decreased on restrictive sexual beliefs but still remained higher than controls. The mothers who chose to attend the group were initially less involved in their child's sex education; but at post-testing both groups were similar on sex education efforts. The results indicate a relationship between parents' personal characteristics and the program effects. The discussion notes the limitations o...