The Influence of Sex Education on the Sexual Behaviour and Attitudes of Adolescents: A Systematic Literature Review

Sex education plays a crucial role in equipping adolescents with accurate knowledge, skills, and attitudes that support healthy sexual development and responsible decision-making. Despite increasing global recognition of its importance, risky sexual behaviours among adolescents remain a public health concern. This systematic literature review examines the influence of sex education on adolescents’ sexual attitudes and behaviours. A comprehensive search was conducted in APA PsycInfo, MEDLINE, and CINAHL Plus with Full Text for studies published between 1980 and 2023. Search terms included combinations of “sex education,” “adolescents,” “sexual attitudes,” and “sexual behaviour.” Following the screening process based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, 12 empirical studies involving adolescents were reviewed.The findings indicate that sex education generally improves adolescents’ sexual knowledge, particularly regarding reproductive health, sexually transmitted infections and contraception. Several studies reported positive changes in sexual attitudes, including increased awareness of gender equity, delayed sexual initiation, and more responsible decision-making. Differences in program content, methodology, demographic characteristics, and cultural contexts may explain variations of the results.The review highlights the importance of comprehensive, context-sensitive sex education programs and underscores the need for further research using robust methodological designs to better understand their long-term impact on adolescent sexual health outcomes.