Determinants of Sexual Awareness among High School Students in Tokyo, Japan—Cross Sectional Analysis in Relation to Social Capital

Abstract

Purpose: The study aimed to clarify the relationship between cognitive social capital and sexual awareness in high school students in Tokyo, Japan. Method: The self-administered questionnaire survey was administered to 1073 high school junior students in Tokyo in Feb. 2017 (collection rate 94.5%). Final analysis subjects totaled 1011 boys and girls (94.2%). True/false questions on timing to wear condom for sex knowledge, acceptability to sexual behavior of high school students for sexual awareness, sense of community belonging for social capital, existence of sexually experienced peers, and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale score (binarized with the mean value) were verified. Multiple logistic regression analysis assigning sexual awareness for dependent variable and sex knowledge, sexually experienced peers and Self-Esteem score for independent variable [model 1], including social capital for independent variable [model 2] was performed. The study was approved by Ethical Review Board of sub-organ. Results and Discussion: Out of subjects, 52.6% answered correctly questions on sex knowledge, 33.2% showed tolerance to sexual behavior of high school students, 68.6% had many peers with sex experience, and 75.9% had a sense of community belonging. In model 1, in both genders, having sex knowledge, high Self-Esteem score, and existence of sexually experienced peers was associated with a sense of intolerance to sexual behavior of high school students. In model 2, in both genders, having a sense of community belonging was associated with a sense of intolerance to sexual behavior of high school students [OR (95% CI): boy 1.11 (0.81 - 1.53), girl 1.14 (0.72 - 1.79)]. Persons with high cognitive social capital were likely to have a cautious sense toward sexual behavior. Conclusion: Cognitive social capital was found to be associated with sexual awareness. Cognitive social capital should be emphasized in promoting adolescent reproductive health for the future.