Women's Health Nursing (여성건강간호학회지)

Korean Society of Women Health Nursing (한국여성건강간호학회)
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Sexual Maturation, Attitudes towards Sexual Maturity, and Body Esteem in Elementary-School Children

초등학생의 성 성숙, 성 성숙 태도 및 신체 자존감

  • Park, Sunah (Department of Nursing, Gangneung-Wonju National University) ;
  • Choi, Eunyoung (Department of Nursing, Kyungdong University) ;
  • Lee, Eunhee (Department of Nursing, Gangneung-Wonju National University) ;
  • Byeon, Mikyeong (Department of Nursing, Songho University) ;
  • Lee, Byeongju (Department of Nursing Science, Andong Science College) ;
  • Jung, Kyea (Department of Nursing, Songgok College)
  • 박선아 (강릉원주대학교 간호학과) ;
  • 최은영 (경동대학교 간호대학) ;
  • 이은희 (강릉원주대학교 간호학과) ;
  • 변미경 (송호대학교 간호학과) ;
  • 이병주 (안동과학대학교 간호학과) ;
  • 정계아 (송곡대학교 간호학과)
  • Received : 2017.12.12
  • Accepted : 2018.06.05
  • Published : 2018.06.20
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Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate sexual maturation, attitudes toward sexual maturity, and body esteem in the sexual development of Korean elementary-school boys and girls. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with 399 fifth and sixth graders (192 boys and 207 girls). The data were analysed with a $x^2$ test, t-test, and Pearson correlation coefficients. Results: Among the 207 girls, 70.5% had pubic hair growth, 68.1% had breast development, and 56.0% had a menstrual period. In boys, 59.4% of the 192 subjects experienced the development of external genitalia and 52.6% had pubic hair growth. Sexual maturation was related to grade (boys, t=7.07, p=.008; girls, t=12.76, p<.001), age (t=-2.20, p=.030; t=-4.11, p<.001), height (t=-5.16, p<.001; t=-7.52, p<.001), and weight (t=-2.89, p=.004; t=-5.19, p<.001) in both boys and girls. Girls were more likely to have sexual maturity than boys ($x^2=22.29$, p<.001). Boys showed more positive attitudes toward sexual maturity (t=2.10, p=.036) and higher body esteem (t=2.12, p=.035) than girls. Conclusion: This study shows that sexual maturation, attitude toward sexual maturity, and body esteem in sexual development differ between boys and girls. The findings indicate that it is necessary to develop a tailored sex-education program according to the sex of elementary-school children.

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References

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