Abstract

Previous literature indicates that the American public is comfortable including multiple topics in sexual health education curriculum in public schools, yet comprehensive sex education is often portrayed as controversial, especially in the southern USA. Southern university students (N = 560) completed an online survey containing 18 potential sexual health education topics that could be taught in schools. Favorability and timing of all topics as well as demographics variables’ relationships with a total topic endorsement score were assessed. All topics were endorsed by a majority of participants. The least endorsed topic (sexual pleasure) was still selected to be taught at some time by a majority (70 %) of participants. Political affiliation had the strongest relationship with overall endorsement of topics followed by religious commitment. Political affiliation mediated the predictive path of religious commitment to the total topic endorsement score. Findings indicated that, similar to previous literature, individuals would like a wide variety of topics to be included in sexual health education. Therefore, ideas of heightened dispute surrounding comprehensive sex education in the southern USA may be unfounded. Additionally, caution should be exercised when assessing religious individual’s support or opposition of sexual health topics without also analyzing their political affiliation.