Exploring How Trauma is Addressed in Sexual Education Interventions for Youth: A Scoping Review

Health Education & Behavior, 2020

Monica Faulkner

Suggested Citation
Panisch, L., Faulkner, M., Fava, N. & Fernandez, S. (2020). Exploring How Trauma is Addressed in Sexual Education Interventions for Youth: A Scoping Review. Health Education & Behavior. https://doi.org/10.1177/1090198120954398

Abstract
Traumatic experiences are common among adolescents and can negatively affect learning and increase the risk of early pregnancy, parenthood, and sexually transmitted infections. Little is known about how current sexual health interventions address trauma. Out of 169 articles initially screened, 29 met inclusion criteria and 23% (n = 6) addressed trauma. Four interventions addressed trauma in the intervention content, while two studies evaluated trauma in outcome measures. Educators can broaden this reach by developing trauma-informed content that is compatible with existing curricula.