New Study Exposes Challenges in Teen Sexual Education

Let me paint you a picture. Picture the adolescent years—those wild, tempestuous, deeply irritating times of acne, awkwardness, and a heady cocktail of misguided confidence mixed with utter cluelessness. Now, add to that a society that bombards teenagers with conflicting messages about sex, relationships, and respect. It’s no wonder, then, that the results of a recent study on adolescent behavior by the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) are less than rosy.

Enter Claudia Ivethe Jaen Cortés, a psychologist from UNAM’s Faculty of Psychology, who has taken a hard look at the various pressures and absurd expectations placed on young people. And what has she found? Nothing short of chaos. According to Jaen Cortés, adolescents are dealing with more risk factors than a Formula 1 driver on a rain-slicked track. In other words, they’re in trouble, and we’re the ones who put them there.

The Pressure Cooker of Adolescence

Jaen Cortés’ study makes it clear: when adolescents are constantly exposed to an environment teeming with risk factors—peer pressure, societal norms, outdated beliefs, and strained family dynamics—their physical and mental health doesn’t just suffer; it nose-dives. They’re living through a perfect storm of conflicting messages that make it nearly impossible to navigate life’s big questions, especially when it comes to sex and relationships.

The study reveals that despite the (alleged) progress we’ve made in terms of equality and gender roles, young people in Mexico are still feeling the pull of traditional beliefs that shackle women in particular. It’s as if society’s whispering to them, "You’re free to make your own choices—as long as they fit neatly within these outdated norms."

This pressure has real consequences. Imagine a teenager with access to a sea of information at their fingertips but who’s still raised in an environment where parents and schools avoid talking about sex, relationships, and boundaries. The end result? Confusion, risky behavior, and a whole lot of unnecessary angst.

Jaen Cortés isn’t just waving her arms about like an alarmist. She offers a path forward—a series of clear, actionable steps, which would involve some good old-fashioned education and informed intervention. It’s the kind of education that goes beyond the textbook diagrams and occasional “Just say no” slogans.

What Jaen Cortés is proposing is that young people should be taught that reproductive health isn’t just about preventing disease or procreation. It’s about well-being—physical, mental, and social. Imagine a curriculum that not only explains the biology of sex but also addresses respect, consent, and how to have a healthy, mutually respectful relationship. This isn’t revolutionary; it’s common sense. But it’s common sense that’s shockingly rare in many places, even today.

She’s calling for an approach that’s, quite simply, human. It’s an approach that tells young people that they have the right to make decisions about their bodies and that their intimate lives should be free of coercion, shame, or violence. And this isn’t just some fluffy feel-good nonsense; it’s backed by research and the grim statistics we’d rather ignore.

The Data Doesn’t Lie—And It’s Not Good

Jaen Cortés’ study, which included 444 adolescents aged 12 to 17, is as clear as it is disturbing. These teens are under enormous social pressure to act in certain ways, to conform to expectations about sexuality and relationships. And, predictably, many of them are engaging in risky behaviors—like neglecting to use condoms or other contraceptive methods—because the channels of open communication and education simply don’t exist.

There’s also the stark influence of family dynamics on adolescent sexual behavior. It turns out that the key to helping young people make safe choices isn’t by wagging a disapproving finger but by building strong, open relationships. But, in reality, many parents adopt punitive approaches that only serve to push their children further away. And in households where domestic violence is present, teens are more likely to end up in risky or harmful relationships themselves. It’s a cycle as predictable as it is tragic.

This is not a problem unique to Mexico. But what makes the situation particularly frustrating is that solutions exist—they just aren’t being implemented on a wide scale. The Mexican government, through its Ministry of Health, has already outlined the need for comprehensive sex education in its Specific Action Program for Sexual and Reproductive Health (2020–2024). The goal? To provide evidence-based information that would help young people make better decisions.

But the data from the 2022 National Health Survey (ENSANUT) makes it clear that the information isn’t sinking in as it should. For instance, a whopping 73.2% of adolescents have heard about contraceptive methods, and 88% know how to use a condom. And yet, in practice, 17% did not use any form of protection in their last sexual encounter. There’s a gap here—a chasm, really—between knowledge and action.

So, What’s the Solution?

Here’s a radical idea: treat teenagers like the intelligent, albeit slightly deranged, individuals they are. Rather than assume they’ll make disastrous choices at every turn, equip them with the tools to make smart decisions. Give them open channels to talk about sex, relationships, and their bodies without the stigma or shame that seems to accompany these topics.

In a world where we are happy to dole out advice on which phone to buy or where to go on holiday, isn’t it a bit absurd that we still struggle to discuss something as fundamental as reproductive health? Jaen Cortés’ work suggests that this is exactly what’s needed—a candid, research-backed approach that tackles the root causes of risky behavior head-on.

In conclusion, we can choose to keep throwing teenagers into the deep end of the relationship pool, fully dressed, and hope they’ll swim. Or, we can equip them with life vests, a few swimming lessons, and maybe a word or two about where the life buoys are located. We have the tools; we just need to use them. As Jaen Cortés’ research shows, an informed, empowered adolescent is far more likely to grow into a healthy, capable adult. Isn’t it time we gave them the support they deserve?