Factors Predicting Media Literacy on Sexual Health Among Adolescents Studying in Upper Secondary School of Nakhon Nayok Province

Abstract

This study's predictive correlational approach aimed to 1) examine the degree of sexual behavior and media literacy regarding sexual health; 2) find factors that predict sexual health media literacy; and 3) examine the relationship between sexual behavior and media literacy regarding sexual health among adolescents enrolled in upper secondary schools in the province of Nakhon Nayok. 316 upper secondary school students, ages 15 to 19, from the province of Nakhon Nayok participated in this study. They were selected through cluster random sampling from 11 secondary schools under the secondary educational service office Prachinburi-Nakhon Nayok. The sociodemographic questionnaire, the sexual health knowledge and understanding test, the media literacy on sexual health test, and the sexual behaviors questionnaire were the research instruments. Reliability of these questionnaires were 0.89, 0.79, and 0.79 respectively. Multiple regression analysis, Pearson correlation, and descriptive statistics were among the data analysis techniques used. The results demonstrated that internet media accounted for the majority of upper secondary school students' daily and frequent exposure to sexual health information. It served as the primary source of sexual health information. The selection of sexual health media was heavily influenced by peers. In general, upper secondary school pupils' media literacy on sexual health was regarded as moderate. Peer influence, sexual health knowledge and comprehension, gender, and online media exposure all contributed to the prediction of media literacy on sexual health, accounting for 39.70% of the variance (R²=0.397, F=6.810, p<.05). Furthermore, there was a significant correlation between sexual behaviors and higher media literacy on sexual health among upper secondary school students, with statistical significance at the 0.05 level.