Aussie youth play it safe when it comes to sex info

New research from Family Planning NSW, in conjunction with MySpace, shows young people haven’t written off ‘traditional resources’ for the internet when it comes to finding out about sex.

Findings released on International Youth Day

To celebrate International Youth Day, Family Planning NSW and MySpace Australia today revealed the results of collaborative research in which more than 1000 MySpace users aged 12-24 across Australia were surveyed about where they go for information regarding sex, sexual health, puberty, contraception and relationships, and whether or not they trust that information.

STANDOUT FINDINGS 

• When it comes to sexual activities, schools were a source of information for only 20% of respondents. Friends were the most common source at 50%.  
• When it comes to contraception, doctors (48%) were the most commonly used source of information followed by friends (38%). 
• Overall friends were the most commonly used source of information for young people with 43% of respondents calling on their mates for information. 
• The internet and other media were used widely for information but trusted less than other sources. Doctors were the most trusted source of information (31%). 

“The results show that young people seem to have an appropriate level of scepticism when it comes to using the internet for sexual health information,” said Dr Deborah Bateson, Medical Director for Family Planning NSW.  

The research, a partnership project between Family Planning NSW and MySpace Australia, involved a survey which ran from June 19th to July 21st 2010 and utilised MySpace’s strength as an online community used by around 1 million young people aged 12 to 24.

“We see this kind of information from young people as hugely valuable,” said Dr Bateson. “It certainly has an impact on the way we provide sexual health education and resources to young people, particularly when it comes to safe sex and healthy relationships. 

The survey covered a range of topics—from sexual health to contraception—with over 100 questions, indicating that young people would likely turn to doctors and parents for the technical side of sexual health and friends and the internet when it comes to the emotional aspects of relationships. 

Key findings: 

Over 1000 people aged 12-24 responded to the survey. The median age of respondents was 16 and the majority were female (75%). Most respondents (83%) were attracted to the opposite sex, 2% were attracted to the same sex and 15% to both sexes. 

Young people are integrating the internet with traditional sources: 

• Overall friends were the most commonly used source of information for young people – 43% of respondents used their friends for information
• The internet, doctors and partners were equally used by approximately 33% of respondents.
• Parents and schools were used by approximately 25% of respondents.

The internet and other media were used widely for information but trusted less than other sources: 

• Doctors were the most trusted source of information – 31% of respondents.
• Friends, partners and parents were trusted by more than 25% of respondents.
• The internet was only trusted by 21% and the media by 16% of respondents.

Authority sources such as parents, doctors and schools were used and trusted, but more so for technical topics such as sexual health and contraception. Friends and partners were the primary sources of information for sexual activity and relationship information: 

• Doctors were likely to be used by 38% of respondents for information on ‘body stuff’ and by nearly 50% of respondents for contraception and sexual health.
• Only 13% and less than 10% would get information on sexual activities and relationships from doctors.
• Parents were more likely to be used for information on relationships than doctors (23%), but most likely to be used for information on ‘body stuff’, contraception and sexual health.
• Almost 50% of respondents would use a friend for information on body stuff, sex and relationships, but less on contraception and sexual health.

When it comes to body stuff (puberty, body changes, etc): 

• Friends were the most used source (over 50%), followed by the internet (45%) and doctors (38%).
• Parents, schools and the media were used by approximately 33% of respondents.

When it comes to contraception: 

• Doctors (48%) were the most commonly used source of information followed by friends (38%)
• Parents and the internet were equally used by 33% of respondents.

When it comes to sexual health: 

• Doctors were the most commonly used source of information, and used by nearly 50% of respondents.
• The internet was the next most common source of information for sexual health, to be used by over 33%of respondents.
• Parents and schools were likely to be used by nearly 25% of respondents.

When it comes to sexual activities: 

• Friends were the most commonly used source of information for sexual activities, used by nearly 50% of respondents.
• Partners and the internet were the next most common sources, used by over 33% of respondents.
• Schools were a source of information for over 20% of respondents.
• Doctors and parents were little used as sources of information for sexual activities.

When it comes to relationships: 

• Friends were the most commonly used source of information for relationships, used by nearly 50% of respondents.
• Partners, while still important sources used by 30% of young people, were not as important as they were for sexual activities.
• Parents or the internet were a source of relationship information for nearly a quarter of young people, but doctors were little used (less than 10%).

The survey also asked young people what they wanted more information about: 

• ‘How to’ information regarding sexual activities and pleasure
• Contraception
• Sexually transmissible infections

Other important topics raised were: 

• Pregnancy, and how to be a teenage parent
• The risks of drinking alcohol and drug-taking have on pregnancy
• Where to get clinical services, what are the costs and are they confidential

One female respondent, aged 13, wrote:  

“I know alot (sic.) from my Mum. She tells me everything I want to know and often tells me them if she thinks I should know. We're really close but sometimes I can't bring myself to ask some things. I want to know more about pregnancy and because I'm a virgin- how to have sex. I often feel I'll be really nervous when the time comes and also, the male mind, what emotions they go through.”

 Another respondent, male and 15 years, old wrote:  

“I don’t know maybe more to do with feelings and emotional attachments after sex as schools only talk about puberty and avoid sex and friend(s) only talk about how it felt physically.”

For more information, please contact:

Lindsey Parks, FPNSW Communications & Marketing Officer

email: lindseyp@fpnsw.org.au

phone: 02 8752 4356       mobile: 0447 376 791

Lucy Hearn

email: lhearn@myspace-inc.com

phone: 02 9288 7251 mobile: 0405 105 510

About Family Planning NSW

Family Planning NSW has been helping people make informed choices about their reproductive and sexual health for more than 80 years. We are an independent, not-for-profit organisation focusing on the contribution to, promotion, collection and dissemination of reproductive and sexual health knowledge, information and learning to people in NSW. 

Family Planning NSW has clinics operating in Ashfield, Fairfield, Penrith, Newcastle and Dubbo, providing medical services, health promotion and reproductive education to thousands of men and women every year.

About MySpace

MySpace.com is a technology company that connects people through personal expression, content, and culture. Launched in January 2004, MySpace was acquired by News Corporation in October 2005 and subsequently launched in the Australian market in August 2006. Today MySpace empowers a global community of more than 100 million users to experience the Internet through a social lens, by integrating personal profiles, photos, videos, mobile, messaging, games, and the world’s largest music community. MySpace's international network includes more than 30 localised community sites in the United States, Brazil, Canada, Latin America, Mexico, Austria, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Australia, India, Japan, and New Zealand. Fox Interactive Media is a division of News Corp).