| Abstract | Sexual health, per the WHO, includes physical, emotional, mental, and social aspects of sexuality. It stresses a positive and respectful approach to sexual relationships and rights. However, public health often emphasizes the negative outcomes and risks, neglecting the important aspects of sexual well-being and pleasure. Integrating these aspects into public health is crucial for addressing inequalities and improving overall sexual health and justice.
OBJECTIVES:
This research explores how double standards in evaluating sexual behavior affect the sexual health and self-esteem of medical students in Croatian program and English program. It also looks at how these standards vary between generations and how open students are to reconsidering stigmas when discussing their own and others' sexuality.
METHODS:
This study, conducted from January to May 2023, examined how double standards in sexual behavior affect the sexual health and self-esteem of medical students in Split, Croatia. Participation included 347 medical students from the University of Split's Croatian and English programs, provided they were over 18, enrolled in the medical program, and consented to take part.
RESULTS:
Medical students in the Croatian program generally perceive their sexual attitudes as more conservative than their parents, whereas those in the English program see their attitudes as similar to their parents. Regarding close friends, Croatian students view their attitudes as more liberal than those of their peers, while English students see their attitudes as more aligned with their peers. These findings suggest cultural influences play a significant role in shaping the perceived liberal or conservative sexual attitudes among medical students.
CONCLUSION:
The research shows that medical students tend to view their sexual attitudes as more conservative than those of their parents, indicating a generational shift towards traditional norms. Influences such as societal expectations, medical education, and strong family values contribute to this conservatism among younger individuals. |
| Abstract (croatian) | CILJEVI:
Ovo istraživanje ispituje kako dvostruki standardi u ocjenjivanju seksualnog ponašanja utječu na seksualno zdravlje i samopoštovanje studenata medicine u hrvatskom programu i engleskom programu. Također istražuje kako se ovi standardi razlikuju između generacija i koliko su studenti otvoreni za preispitivanje stigmi kada raspravljaju o vlastitoj i tuđoj seksualnosti.
METODE:
Ovo istraživanje, provedeno od siječnja do svibnja 2023. godine, ispitivalo je kako dvostruki standardi u seksualnom ponašanju utječu na seksualno zdravlje i samopoštovanje studenata medicine u Splitu, Hrvatska. Ukupno je sudjelovalo 347 studenata medicine hrvatskog i engleskog programa Sveučilišta u Splitu, pod uvjetom da su stariji od 18 godina, upisani u medicinski program te pristanak na sudjelovanje.
REZULTATI:
Studenti medicine u hrvatskom programu općenito percipiraju svoje seksualne stavove kao konzervativnije u odnosu na svoje roditelje, dok studenti u engleskom programu svoje stavove vide sličnima onima svojih roditelja. Što se tiče bliskih prijatelja, studenti sa hrvatskog programa svoje stavove vide liberalnijima u odnosu na svoje vršnjake, dok studenti engleskog programa svoje stavove vide usklađenima s onima svojih vršnjaka. Ovi nalazi sugeriraju da kulturni utjecaji igraju značajnu ulogu u oblikovanju percipiranih liberalnih ili konzervativnih seksualnih stavova među studentima medicine.
ZAKLJUČAK:
Istraživanje pokazuje da studenti medicine imaju tendenciju da svoje seksualne stavove smatraju konzervativnijima od stavova svojih roditelja, što ukazuje na generacijski pomak prema tradicionalnim normama. Utjecaji poput društvenih očekivanja, medicinske edukacije i snažnih obiteljskih vrijednosti doprinose ovoj konzervativnosti među mlađim pojedincima. |
