DevelopmentandValidationoftheSexEducationConfidence.pdfVIP

Volume 2, Issue 2, 2008 Development and Validation of the Sex Education Confidence Scale (SECS) Tara Tietjen-Smith, Assistant Professor, Department of Health Human Performance, Texas A M University – Commerce, Tara_Tietjen-Smith@ Rick Balkin, Associate Professor, Department of Counseling, Texas A M University – Commerce, Rick_Balkin@ Sandy Kimbrough, Assistant Professor, Department of Health Human Performance, Texas A M University – Commerce, Sandy_Kimbrough@ Abstract Sex education is a highly discussed, controversial topic in the literature. Instruments measuring knowledge about sexual health exist, but none measure how comfortable educators are teaching sex education. The purpose of this study was the development and validation of items for the Sex Education Confidence Scale (SECS). This Scale was intended for use with teacher preparation students and practicing teachers in health and physical education. Overall, the psychometrics of the SECS were quite sound, with evidence for internal structure demonstrated through strong factor loadings. Strong reliability estimates were evident on the three scales across a representative and diverse sample. Background Sex education is a controversial topic in today’s society. Americans have a variety of views in regard to the type of curriculum taught, with 82% supporting programs teaching both abstinence and additional pregnancy-prevention methods (Bleakley, Hennessey, Fishbein, 2006). Current curriculums may be taught by a variety of individuals including school nurses, community educators, and teachers of various disciplines. One logical choice may be the health or physical education teacher. Many instruments have been created to measure knowledge about sexual health, but few (i.e. Alldred, David, Smith, 2003) measure how comfortable educators are teaching this subject. Several youth and college sexual health surveys (i.e. International Communications Research, 2008; Olsen Weed, 1991; Syno