Ahna Ballonoff Suleiman1, Megan Johnson2, Elizabeth A Shirtcliff3, Adriana Galván4. 1. UC Berkeley, School of Public Health, Berkeley, CA. asuleiman@berkeley.edu. 2. University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA. meganjohnson@berkeley.edu. 3. Iowa State University, Human Development and Family Studies, Ames, IA. birdie@iastate.edu. 4. Department of Psychology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA. agalvan@ucla.edu.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Many school-based abstinence-only sex education curricula state that sexual activity outside of marriage is likely to have harmful psychological effects. Recent advances in neuroscience have expanded our understanding of the neural underpinnings of romantic love, marriage, sexual desire, and sexual behavior and improved our understanding of adolescent brain development. METHODS: In this article, we review recent advances in neuroscience and clarify what is known about the link between neural development and adolescent romantic and sexual behavior and what opportunities exist for future research. RESULTS: Whereas the evidence from neuroscience does not yet allow for clear conclusions about the cost or benefits of early romantic relationships and sexual behavior, it does indicate that providing developmentally appropriate education contributes to lifelong sexual health. CONCLUSIONS: Developing policies and practices for school-based sex education that reflect current research will best support the sexual and reproductive health of adolescents throughout their lives.
BACKGROUND: Many school-based abstinence-only sex education curricula state that sexual activity outside of marriage is likely to have harmful psychological effects. Recent advances in neuroscience have expanded our understanding of the neural underpinnings of romantic love, marriage, sexual desire, and sexual behavior and improved our understanding of adolescent brain development. METHODS: In this article, we review recent advances in neuroscience and clarify what is known about the link between neural development and adolescent romantic and sexual behavior and what opportunities exist for future research. RESULTS: Whereas the evidence from neuroscience does not yet allow for clear conclusions about the cost or benefits of early romantic relationships and sexual behavior, it does indicate that providing developmentally appropriate education contributes to lifelong sexual health. CONCLUSIONS: Developing policies and practices for school-based sex education that reflect current research will best support the sexual and reproductive health of adolescents throughout their lives.
Authors: Peng Zhang; Ersheng Gao; Qiao Sun; Chaohua Lou; Elaine Y L Leung; Yan Cheng; Laurie S Zabin Journal: J Public Health Policy Date: 2015-11-05 Impact factor: 2.222
Authors: Kate F Plourde; Suzanne Fischer; Joy Cunningham; Kristin Brady; Donna R McCarraher Journal: Reprod Health Date: 2016-06-13 Impact factor: 3.223