Pleasure-Inclusive Sex Education, Sexual Agency, and Sexual Well-Being in Adolescents and Young Adults: A Scoping Review

Abstract

It is known that incorporating pleasure into sex education can promote condom use (e.g., Zaneva et al., 2022), but it remains unclear whether this approach also contributes to sexual agency and sexual well-being more broadly. Pleasure-inclusive sex education is designed to enhance sexual agency, which, in turn, may facilitate sexual well-being. In this study, we review the literature on two key topics: (1) the associations between pleasure-inclusive sex education and sexual agency, and (2) the links between sexual agency and sexual well-being. We conducted a search across five scientific databases using a broad range of variables related to pleasure-inclusive sex education, sexual agency, and various aspects of sexual well-being, focusing on research from the last two decades. A total of 33 articles were selected for inclusion. In Part 1 of the review, we found that all studies reported positive associations between pleasure-based sex education and sexual agency or sexual well-being. However, the literature was marked by limitations, preventing definitive conclusions about the added benefits of the pleasure component. In Part 2, we found positive associations between sexual agency (and related variables) and sexual well-being. While sexual agency appears to be linked to increased sexual well-being, it remains unclear whether pleasure-inclusive sex education plays a significant role in this relationship. Given these findings, there is a strong need for high-quality research using innovative evaluation designs that consider other important sources of sex education and contextual factors.