| dc.description.abstract | This descriptive comparative study was designed to examine the similarities and differences in sexual attitudes and knowledge among female college students, their mothers, and their same-sexed best friend. A convenience sample was drawn from a population living in a rural Midwest state. Three groups of mother (N=24), female community college student (N=21), and same-sexed best friend {N=22) participated. Part I, II, and III of Lief and Reed's Sex Knowledge and Attitude Test was used for data collection. Analysis of variance and Pearson Product-Moment correlation were used for analysis of data. Findings included: (l} no statistically significant differences among the three groups (mother, daughter, and best-friend) between the knowledge scores and abortion, sexual myths, .and autoeroticism attitude subscales; (2) a significant difference in attitudes toward pre and extramarital heterosexual encounters between the group of friends and the group of mothers; {3) no statistically significant difference among the three groups (mother, daughter, and best-friend) between the knowledge scores and attitudes subscales which could be attributed to religion; (4) mothers were the most conservative and the female college students the most liberal in their sexual attitudes; (5) female college students were found to have the most correct sexual information, whereas, her best friend ascribed to more sexual myths; (6) protestants were the most conservative religious group and the group marking other religion the most liberal in sexual attitudes; (7) the group marking other religion was the most knowledgeable on human sexuality followed by Catholics and then the protestant group, and (8) results showed a positive correlation between the total mean knowledge scores and the total mean attitude scores, indicating that the higher the knowledge level, the higher or more liberal the attitude score. Overall, the analyses indicated that similarities do exist in sexual attitudes and knowledge among female college students, their mothers, and their same-sexed best friend. These results support the behavioristic theory of child development of sexual attitudes and knowledge. | en_US |
