Gender Role Perception and Sexual Attitude among Adolescents in a School in Uttaradit Province

Abstract

Gender role perception and sexual attitude among adolescents are associated with sexual risk behavior and teenage pregnancy. This analytical cross-sectional study aimed to investigate and compare gender perception and sexual attitude among male and female adolescents at a school in Uttaradit Province. The target population was 230 students in grade 1-6. Data collection was conducted using self-administered questionnaires (SAQ) developed by the researchers. The instruments consisted of the questionnaires for demographic data, gender role perception and sexual attitude. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics. Chi-square test was used for gender role perception and t-test was performed on sexual attitude among male and female adolescents. The results showed a significant difference in gender role perception between male and female adolescents
(p<0.01), with male adolescents having a greater proportion of gender role perception than female adolescents (67.0%, 53.7% respectively). The overall sexual attitudes were not different, being at a moderate level for both male and female adolescents. Sex education a school should be consistent with the needs of adolescents to promote sexual attitudes towards safe sex, equal gender role recognition, and responsible sex in male adolescents.