Mindset and Sexual Health: Does Mindset Impact Receptiveness to Sexuality Education Curricula?

Abstract

Introduction: Sexual health programs have been found to facilitate improved physical and social well-being, yet the role that individual differences play in shaping program outcomes is under-explored. This study addresses how mindset variation in adherence to social norms influences experiences in a sexual health program.

Methods: Between June 2022 and January 2023, participants (UK residents; N = 125, age 22.09 (SD = 2.10)) engaged in a pretest–posttest design with a gamified sexual health training program. Variables (i.e., mindset, STI-related stigma/shame, sexual self-efficacy, comfort, sex guilt) were measured at three time points (Time 1 (T1): 1-week pre-training (N = 125); Time 2 (T2): immediate post-training (N = 98); and Time 3 (T3): 1-week post-training (N = 87)). Multilevel modeling was used, predicting that changes after engagement with the program will be more true for “looser” rather than “tighter” mindsets.

Results: Participation in the program appeared to reduce STI-related shame significantly (T2: b = − 0.31; T3: b = − 0.39) and increased sexual self-efficacy (T2: b = 0.24; T3: b = 0.16) and comfort (T2: b = 0.18; T3: b = 0.14). Modest reductions in STI-related stigma occurred (T2: b = − 0.06; T3: b = − 0.06), but not in sex-related guilt (T2: b = − 0.02; T3: b < 0.01). Main effects revealed that looser mindsets were associated with greater comfort (b = − 0.26), while tighter mindsets showed marginal associations with higher sexual self-efficacy (b = 0.24) and sex guilt (b = 0.15). Interaction effects revealed that mindset differences influenced the variable of comfort, with tighter mindsets showing larger increases post-training (T2: b = 0.22; T3: b = 0.20).

Conclusions: (1) online sexuality education programming was effective at producing changes in some, but not all, measured sexual health outcomes, and (2) mindset is relevant to sexual health.

Policy Implications: This work suggests that the tightness-looseness framework can guide person-centered approaches, enhancing effectiveness and responsiveness in sexual health training curricula.