Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer
  • Register
  • Login
  • Language
    • English
    • Język Polski
  • Menu
  • Home
  • Current
  • Archives
  • Announcements
  • About
    • About the Journal
    • Submissions
    • Editorial Team
    • Privacy Statement
    • Contact
  • Register
  • Login
  • Language:
  • English
  • Język Polski

Przegląd Badań Edukacyjnych (Educational Studies Review)

Attitudes of Polish Adults to School Sexuality Education vs. Their Opinions About Issues Related to Sexuality
  • Home
  • /
  • Attitudes of Polish Adults to School Sexuality Education vs. Their Opinions About Issues Related to Sexuality
  1. Home /
  2. Archives /
  3. Vol. 1 No. 49 (2025): Educational Studies Review /
  4. Original research projects

Attitudes of Polish Adults to School Sexuality Education vs. Their Opinions About Issues Related to Sexuality

Authors

  • Joanna Dec-Pietrowska University of Zielona Góra, Poland https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0915-9977
  • Alicja Kozakiewicz University of Zielona Góra, Poland https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6490-2511
  • Joanna Mazur University of Zielona Góra, Poland https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3937-7230
  • Zbigniew Izdebski University of Warsaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0165-1860

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.12775/PBE.2025.002

Keywords

sexuality education, opinions about sexuality, sexuality education attitude, school, Poland

Abstract

Sexuality education in Polish schools arouses many controversy and mutually exclusive opinions in the society. This paper presents the results of the questionnaire survey conducted in 2020 on a representative sample of 3,000 adult Poles. Sexuality education attitude was analysed with two questions used earlier in our own research. Four sexuality education attitudes (SEA) were distinguished. The following characteristics of the respondents were taken into account: gender, age, place of residence, education level, living in a formal or informal relationship, having children and attitude towards religion. Adjusted standardized residuals (ASR) were analysed. As the measure of the power of correlation between the surveyed factors and the SEA group status the Cramér’s V was assumed for nominal features. The SEA groups were compared with the use of Kruskal-Wallis nonparametric test together with the analysis of multiple comparisons (post hoc). Strong relations of school sexuality education attitude with demographic and social factors were demonstrated, where the place of residence was the only non-differentiating factor. The strongest was the relation with the attitude to religion, gender and education. In order to plan and implement effectively educational school curricula related to sexuality, it is important to understand these determinants.

References

Aker, S., ŞahIn, M., & Oğuz, G. (2019). Sexual Myth Beliefs and Associated Factors in University Students. Turkish Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care, 13(4), 472–480, doi: 10.21763/tjfmpc.653462.

Allen, L., & Rasmussen, M.L. (Eds.) (2017). The Palgrave Handbook of Sexuality Education. UK: Palgrave Macmillan, doi: 10.1057/978-1-137-40033-8_1.

Blanc, A. (2023). Attitudes Toward Sexual Behaviors: Relationship with Gender and Sexual Orientation. Current Psychology, 43, 1–10, doi: 10.1007/s12144-023-04398-3.

Brockschmidt, L., Ivanova, O., & Ketting, E. (2019). Sexuality Education in Europe – An Assessment of the Current State, Challenges and Good Practice. European Journal of Public Health, 29(4), 185-354, doi: 10.1093/eurpub/ckz185.354.

Dec-Pietrowska, J. (2023). Edukacja seksualna w Polsce i systemach edukacyjnych wybranych krajów – modelowe rozwiązania i międzynarodowe inicjatywy [Sexuality Education in Poland and in Educational Systems in Selected Countries –Model Solutions and International Initiatives]. Edukacja Międzykulturowa, 21(2), 69–82, doi: 10.15804/em.2023.02.05.

Dec-Pietrowska, J., Paprzycka, E., & Walendzik-Ostrowska, A. (2017). Czego (nie) dowiemy się o kobiecości i męskości? Selektywność przekazu “edukacji seksualnej” w Polsce [What Do We (Not) Learn About Femininity and Masculinity? Selectivity of the ‘Sex Education’ Narrative]. Societas Communitas, 1(23), 103–121.

Dec-Pietrowska, J., & Walendzik-Ostrowska, A. (2020). On the Issues of Sexuality Education in Poland. Wychowanie w Rodzinie, 23(2), 229–242, doi: 10.61905/wwr/170454.

Denford, S., Abraham, C., Campbell, R., & Busse, H. (2017). A Comprehensive Review of Reviews of School-Based Interventions to Improve Sexual Health. Health Psychology Review, 11(1), 33–52, doi: 10.1080/17437199.2016.1240625.

Garcia, L., & Fields, J. (2017). Renewed Commitments in a Time of Vigilance: Sexuality Education in the USA. Sex Education, 17(4), 471–481, doi: 10.1080/14681811.2017.1285387.

Garzon-Orjuela, N., Samaca-Samaca, D., Moreno-Chaparro, J., Ballesteros-Cabrera, M.D.P., & Eslava-Schmalbach, J. (2021). Effectiveness of Sex Education Interventions in Adolescents: An Overview. Comprehensive Child and Adolescent Nursing, 44(1), 15–48, doi: 10.1080/24694193.2020.1713251.

Golbası, Z., Evcılı, F., Eroglu, K., & Bırcan, H. (2016). Sexual Myths Scale (SMS): Development, Validity and Reliability in Turkey. Sexuality and Disability, 34(1), 75–87, doi: 10.1007/s11195-016-9430-3.

Goldfarb, E.S., & Lieberman, L.D. (2021). Three Decades of Research: The Case for Comprehensive Sex Education. Journal of Adolescent Health, 68(1), 13–27, doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2020.07.036.

Henry, S., & Heyes, J.M. (2022). Sexuality Education and Religion: From Dialogue to Conversation. Journal of Philosophy of Education, 56(5), 727–738, doi: 10.1111/1467-9752.12704.

Izdebski, Z. (2020). Zdrowie i życie seksualne Polek i Polaków w wieku 19–49 lat w 2017 roku. Studium badawcze na tle przemian od 1997 roku [Health and Sexual Life of Polish Men and Women Aged 19–49 in 2017. Research Study on the Background of Change Since 1997]. Warszawa: Wydawnictwa UW.

Izdebski, Z., Dec-Pietrowska, J., Kozakiewicz, A., & Mazur, J. (2022). What One Gets Is Not Always What One Wants – Young Adults’ Perception of Sexuality Education in Poland. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(3), 1366, doi: 10.3390/ijerph19031366.

Izdebski, Z., & Wąż, K. (2020). Attitude of People in Their Emerging Adulthood Towards Selected Moral Norms Related to Sexual Activity. Przegląd Badań Edukacyjnych, 2(31), 147, doi: 10.12775/PBE.2020.024.

Izdebski, Z., Wąż, K., Kowalewska, A., & Mazur, J. (2020). Psychosocial Determinants of Sexual Norms and Their Impact on Sexual Debut in Polish Adolescents. International Journal of Public Health, 65(8), 1393–1401, doi: 10.1007/s00038-020-01470-8.

Kantor, L.M., & Lindberg, L. (2020). Pleasure and Sex Education: The Need for Broadening Both Content and Measurement. American Journal of Public Health, 110(2), 145–148, doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2019.305320.

Kee-Jiar, Y., & Lee, S. (2020). A Systematic Review of Parental Attitude and Preferences Towards Implementation of Sexuality Education. International Journal of Evaluation and Research in Education, 9, 971, doi: 10.11591/ijere.v9i4.20877.

Ketting, E., Brockschmidt, L., & Ivanova, O. (2021). Investigating the ‘C’ in CSE: Implementation and Effectiveness of Comprehensive Sexuality Education in the WHO European Region. Sex Education, 21(2), 133–147, doi: 10.1080/14681811.2020.1766435.

Mayo, C. (2022). Gender Diversities and Sex Education. Journal of Philosophy of Education, 56(5), 654–662, doi: 10.1111/1467-9752.12686.

Niland, R., Flinn, C., & Nearchou, F. (2024). Assessing the Role of School-Based Sex Education in Sexual Health Behaviours: A Systematic Review. Cogent Psychology, 11(1), 2309752, doi: 10.1080/23311908.2024.2309752.

Picken, N. (2020). Sexuality Education Across the European Union: An Overview. Retrieved 4 July 2023 from: https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/publication/5724b7d8-764f-11eb-9ac9-01aa75ed71a1/language-en.

Reimers, E. (2024). Sex Education and Religion – Resistance and Possibilities. British Journal of Religious Education, 47(1), 1–11, doi: 10.1080/01416200.2024.2336533.

Renold, E., & Timperley, V. (2023). Once Upon a Crush Story: Transforming Relationships and Sexuality Education with a Post-Qualitative Art-Ful Praxis. Sex Education, 23(3), 304–314, doi: 10.1080/14681811.2022.2090915.

Santelli, J.S., Kantor, L.M., Grilo, S.A., Speizer, I.S., Lindberg, L.D., Heitel, J., Schalet, A.T., Lyon, M.E., Mason-Jones, A.J., McGovern, T., Heck, C.J., Rogers, J., & Ott, M.A. (2017). Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage: An Updated Review of U.S. Policies and Programs and Their Impact. Journal of Adolescent Health, 61(3), 273–280, doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2017.05.031.

Slominski, K.L. (2022). Religion and Sex Education. In: Ch. Winkelmann (Ed.), The Palgrave Encyclopaedia of Sexuality Education (pp. 1–10). Springer International Publishing, doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-95352-2_15-1.

UNESCO (2009). International Technical Guidance on Sexuality Education: An Evidence Informed Approach for Schools, Teachers and Health Educators. Paris: UNESCO.

Warzecha, D., Szymusik, I., Pietrzak, B., Kosińska-Kaczyńska, K., Sierdziński, J., Sochacki-Wojcicka, N., & Wielgos, M. (2019). Sex Education in Poland – A Cross-Sectional Study Evaluating Over Twenty Thousand Polish Women’s Knowledge of Reproductive Health Issues and Contraceptive Methods. BMC Public Health, 19(689), 1–8, doi: 10.1186/s12889-019-7046-0.

Winkelmann, Ch. (Ed.) (2010). Standards for Sexuality Education in Europe: A Framework for Policy Makers, Educational and Health Authorities and Specialists. Geneva: WHO.

Winkelmann, Ch., & Ketting, E. (Eds.) (2013). Standards for Sexuality Education in Europe. Guidance for Implementation. Cologne: WHO Regional Office for Europe, BZgA.

Yılmaz, M., & Karataş, B. (2018). Opinions of Student Nurses on Sexual Myths: A Phenomenological Study. Sexuality and Disability, 36(3), 277–289, doi: 10.1007/s11195-018-9517-0.

Young, H., Koltő, A., Reis, M., Saewyc, E.M., Moreau, N., Burke, L., Cosma, A., Windlin, B., Gabhainn, S.N., & Godeau, E. (2016). Sexual Health Questions Included in the Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children (HBSC) Study: An International Methodological Pilot Investigation. BMC Medical Research Methodology, 16(1), 169, doi: 10.1186/s12874-016-0270-8

Przegląd Badań Edukacyjnych (Educational Studies Review)

Downloads

  • pdf

Published

2025-08-15

How to Cite

1.
DEC-PIETROWSKA, Joanna, KOZAKIEWICZ, Alicja, MAZUR, Joanna and IZDEBSKI, Zbigniew. Attitudes of Polish Adults to School Sexuality Education vs. Their Opinions About Issues Related to Sexuality. Przegląd Badań Edukacyjnych (Educational Studies Review). Online. 15 August 2025. Vol. 1, no. 49, pp. 5-23. [Accessed 27 December 2025]. DOI 10.12775/PBE.2025.002.
  • ISO 690
  • ACM
  • ACS
  • APA
  • ABNT
  • Chicago
  • Harvard
  • IEEE
  • MLA
  • Turabian
  • Vancouver
Download Citation
  • Endnote/Zotero/Mendeley (RIS)
  • BibTeX

Issue

Vol. 1 No. 49 (2025): Educational Studies Review

Section

Original research projects

License

Copyright (c) 2025 Joanna Dec-Pietrowska, Alicja Kozakiewicz, Joanna Mazur, Zbigniew Izdebski

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Stats

Number of views and downloads: 239
Number of citations: 0

Search

Search

Browse

  • Browse Author Index
  • Issue archive

User

User

Current Issue

  • Atom logo
  • RSS2 logo
  • RSS1 logo

Information

  • For Readers
  • For Authors
  • For Librarians

Newsletter

Subscribe Unsubscribe

Language

  • English
  • Język Polski

Tags

Search using one of provided tags:

sexuality education, opinions about sexuality, sexuality education attitude, school, Poland
Up

Akademicka Platforma Czasopism

Najlepsze czasopisma naukowe i akademickie w jednym miejscu

apcz.umk.pl

Partners

  • Akademia Ignatianum w Krakowie
  • Akademickie Towarzystwo Andragogiczne
  • Fundacja Copernicus na rzecz Rozwoju Badań Naukowych
  • Instytut Historii im. Tadeusza Manteuffla Polskiej Akademii Nauk
  • Instytut Kultur Śródziemnomorskich i Orientalnych PAN
  • Instytut Tomistyczny
  • Karmelitański Instytut Duchowości w Krakowie
  • Ministerstwo Kultury i Dziedzictwa Narodowego
  • Państwowa Akademia Nauk Stosowanych w Krośnie
  • Państwowa Akademia Nauk Stosowanych we Włocławku
  • Państwowa Wyższa Szkoła Zawodowa im. Stanisława Pigonia w Krośnie
  • Polska Fundacja Przemysłu Kosmicznego
  • Polskie Towarzystwo Ekonomiczne
  • Polskie Towarzystwo Ludoznawcze
  • Towarzystwo Miłośników Torunia
  • Towarzystwo Naukowe w Toruniu
  • Uniwersytet im. Adama Mickiewicza w Poznaniu
  • Uniwersytet Komisji Edukacji Narodowej w Krakowie
  • Uniwersytet Mikołaja Kopernika
  • Uniwersytet w Białymstoku
  • Uniwersytet Warszawski
  • Wojewódzka Biblioteka Publiczna - Książnica Kopernikańska
  • Wyższe Seminarium Duchowne w Pelplinie / Wydawnictwo Diecezjalne „Bernardinum" w Pelplinie

© 2021- Nicolaus Copernicus University Accessibility statement Shop