Since 1980, the Federal Centre for Health Education (BZgA) has been researching the attitudes and behaviour of young people in the Federal Republic of Germany with regard to sexuality education. Aspects of sexual and reproductive health of 14- to 25-year-olds are regularly monitored in the representative survey.
Current survey
This 10th iteration of the representative survey follows on from previous studies showing changes in young people’s behaviour and attitudes towards sexuality over time.
The current survey continues the proven study design, enabling statements to be made about developments and trend data over a period of time:
- of 45 years for adolescents (German nationality/no migrant background)
- of 45 years for parents of adolescents (German nationality/no migrant background)
- and of 10 years for young adults
Since the first survey in 1980, the sampling procedure and the survey design have been revised and modified several times. For example, the survey has been extended to the eastern German Bundesländer and to young adults up to the age of 25. The aspect of migrant background has also been included.
Relevance of the research project
The aim is to highlight key issues such as sexuality education at school and at home, first sexual experiences and knowledge and experience of contraception. For this purpose, 14- to 17-year-olds and their parents as well as 18- to 25-year-olds were surveyed. The questions ranged from knowledge and attitudes towards contraception, to information-seeking behaviour in the field of sexual and reproductive health, to experiences of sexualised violence.
Based on these findings, sexuality education, family planning and advising interventions can be developed or adapted.