RAISE YOUR HAND, Strengthening student participation in sexual education lessons in the Upper East Region of Ghana

Abstract

This rapport shows that personal relevance does not stimulate Ghanaian students to participate actively in sexual education lessons. Even tough increasing personal relevance of a behaviour has been shown in Western samples to increase intrinsic motivation and decrease resistance, the current study showed an opposite effect. After a generation of personal relevance to sex education, students in the Upper East Region of Ghana were less intrinsically motivated to gain information about sexuality. Students simultaneously showed more resistance towards sex-related topics, and experienced more discomfort to speak during sexual education lessons. On a macro level this rapport provides insight in cross-cultural research. The reversed results indicate a necessity for an integrationist cross-cultural approach on behavioural change, whereby psychological theories are modified to specific cultural characteristics.