Browsing by Subject "sexual development"

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
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    Sexual Identity
    (ABC-CLIO, 2021) Brandon-Friedman, Richard A.
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    Sexual Identity Development and Its Impact on Sexual Well-being: Differences Between Sexual Minority and Non-Sexual Minority Former Foster Youth
    (Elsevier, 2020-10) Brandon-Friedman, Richard A.; Pierce, Barb; Wahler, Elizabeth; Thigpen, Jeffry; Fortenberry, J. Dennis; School of Social Work
    Little is known about differences in the levels of sexual well-being, sexual identity development, or sexual health outcomes between sexual minority and non-sexual minority youth in the foster care system. Using a sample of youth formerly in the foster care system, this study compared the sexual well-being, sexual identity development, and sexual health outcomes of sexual minority and non-sexual minority youth and found that sexual minority youth have lower levels of sexual well-being, have less developed sexual identities, and experience more sexual victimization and unintended pregnancies of themselves or of a partner than their non-sexual minority peers. These results indicate that the sexuality-related needs of sexual minority youth in the foster care system are not being met. Attention to the sexual development of sexual minority youth and means through which to enhance their sexual identity development and increase their sexual well-being are needed.
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    Youth Sexual Development: A Primer for Social Workers
    (Oxford, 2019) Brandon-Friedman, Richard A.; School of Social Work
    Sexuality and sexual expression are core aspects of most clients’ lives, yet most schools of social work fail to cover sexual development, leaving social workers uninformed about this essential area of human development. This is particularly the case when the sexual development of youths is concerned, as youth sexuality is often considered too controversial to explore. Considering a positive approach to youth sexuality that seeks to enhance youths’ sexual development and promote their achievement of full sexual and reproductive rights, this article seeks to provide social workers with a resource they can use to enhance their understanding of youth sexual development and its applicability to social work practice. The two main theoretical orientations used to understand sexual identity development are covered as well as the research support for each. Following the explanation of theory is a discussion of how the two theoretical orientations can be integrated to form a more expansive base for the understanding of sexual identity development. A final section provides guidance on how an advanced understanding of youthful sexual identity development can enhance social work practice at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels.