ADOLESCENT RECEPTIVITY TO THE HEALTH CURRICULUM IN WESTERN-AUSTRALIANHIGH-SCHOOLS

Adolescents comprise a substantial proportion of the at risk populatio n for sexually transmissible diseases and AIDS. They are also potentia lly amenable to the curricular influences of the high school. This stu dy uses adolescents' perspectives and concerns regarding their sexuali ty and sexual relationships in which receptivity to the messages of he alth and sexuality curricula by adolescents provides the central focus for the investigation. The purpose was to investigate the question wh ether, given the same exposure to similar content and processes in sex uality education curricula in coeducational classrooms, differences in receptivity will occur between male and female high school students. It was found that, as the amount of sexuality education increased, the more receptive adolescents became to its content and processes, with females exhibiting higher receptivity than males.