Did COVID break sex ed?

Disruption to any program of education can put students on the back foot. Delays to curricula, extended illnesses, and administrative bloat can all set students up to fail.

No other event in recent memory has disrupted education more than the COVID-19 pandemic, with lockdowns and online classes reducing the quality of education and providing students with fewer opportunities to learn. Research in the UK has shown that students who were in school or other forms of education lost 35% of a normal school year’s worth of learning between 2020 and 2022.

One dimension that has yet to be studied in depth is the effect COVID had on sex education.

But a fascinating new study presented to the American Academy of Pediatrics examines how students’ knowledge and beliefs about sexual health have changed.

Keep reading to find out more.

The more you know about your sexual health, the better you can protect yourself.

What does the study say?

The study, titled Sex Ed by Brown Med: The Impact of COVID-19 on Middle Schoolers’ Sexual Health Education, was led by medical students at the Warren Alpert Medical School at Brown University.

Researchers compared two cohorts of middle school students. Both cohorts participated in an eight-lesson sex ed program. One cohort was taught between 2018 and 2019, and the other was taught between 2023 and 2024. The program was taught by medical student volunteers. It covered topics like communication, consent, decision-making, safe sex, healthy relationships, puberty, reproductive health, sexual orientation, and gender identity.

Both cohorts filled in questionnaires to gauge their knowledge and beliefs. Results from this questionnaire showed key differences between the two cohorts. The pre-pandemic cohort demonstrated improved beliefs about their sexual health. By contrast, the post-pandemic cohort demonstrated no measurable change in beliefs following the program.

Why is this important?

These findings are significant because they demonstrate support for broader concerns around the long-term impact of COVID on student engagement, and how learning is incorporated into the intellectual and emotional landscape of the students – whether or not they “take it in.”

From the results of the study, we can glean that students are less engaged and open about sexual health education. The study authors emphasised that while knowledge gains remain intact, the diminished influence on beliefs underscores the difficulty of fostering behavioural changes in schools.

These results may also have implications for students as they age. Negative or incorrect beliefs about sexual health can have serious consequences for adolescents. Effective sexual health education has proven to decrease the risks of adolescent pregnancy and the transmission of STIs, while also equipping students with the skills to make safe and informed choices about relationships and sexual activity. However, without shifts in beliefs, students may find it difficult to apply what they’ve learned.

The study also underscores the pandemic’s wider impact on attitudes toward school-related topics. According to the authors, disruptions in routine learning and limited access to supportive resources may have led to decreased openness and engagement among middle schoolers. This aligns with existing research documenting post-pandemic changes in engagement across various subjects.

The researchers stressed that these findings highlight the urgent need to update sexual health curricula. “Sexual health curriculum needs to evolve so it can meet students where they are at and give them the tools they will need,” Haddock said. This emphasises the importance of not only adjusting the content but also improving the way education is delivered to better address students’ social and emotional needs.

Final thoughts

While all students should get sex ed, adults can always learn more continuously throughout their lives. The more you know about your sexual health, the more power you have to take action where needed.

If you’re worried about your sexual health, or you think you may have an STI, Better2Know can help. Click the button below to book an STI test at a sexual health clinic near you.

Don’t leave your sexual health to chance.

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