Research Products
Periodically, the NCSH will release reports on message testing and pre-testing of coalition products, and other research. These reports can help inform other work that is being developed by coalition members.
Uncovering What Matters to Young Adults: Communicating About Sexual Health & Relationships
Open communication with partners is key to our sexual health and overall well-being. But for many young adults (those 18 to 26 years old) these conversations are anxiety-producing or avoided altogether.
In response, the National Coalition for Sexual Health (NCSH) conducted extensive research with young adults to explore their communications and relationship experiences, and the results were recently published in the American Journal of Sexuality Education. This research serves as the foundation for NCSH’s recently launched multimedia campaign: Own the Awk.
While most young adults recognize the importance of open communication, many barriers stand in their way, such as low self-esteem, fears about partner reactions, and embarrassment. Yet, 85% said they want to talk more openly about sexual health and relationship topics, while 97% want to improve their communication skills.
The research also uncovered how to best motivate and equip young adults to engage in open sexual health conversations: by building their communication skills and changing attitudes about these conversations. We must also meet young adults where they are – mainly online – while offering practical advice, scripts, and role modeling of conversations.
Download the Full Article Here
Sexual Health Communications and Relationships Among Young Adults: Executive Summary of Qualitative and Quantitative Research Findings
Communicating openly with sexual and romantic partners is key to good sexual health and well-being. Yet, for many young adults (ages 18 – 26), these discussions are often anxiety-producing or avoided altogether. In 2022, NCSH conducted an IRB-approved research study to explore sexual health and relationship communications through an online survey with 1,256 young adults and 16 focus groups with 79 young adults.
This research with diverse young adults nationwide– of different gender identities, sexual orientations, races/ethnicities, education levels, and socioeconomic status– explored:
- The perceived benefits of and barriers to open communication
- Their comfort level in talking openly
- The topics they’d like to discuss more openly
- The skills and information that would help them better communicate
- The best channels, messengers, and formats for reaching them
The executive summary includes key findings of the research, along with recommendations for future messages relating to skills, attitudes, and knowledge to help young adults talk more openly with partners.
Download the Executive Summary
Expanding the Role of Retail Health Clinics in Addressing Sexually Transmitted Infections: Selected Findings from a Qualitative Study and Recommendations for the Future
In partnership with the Convenient Care Association, NCSH helped shape a series of virtual focus groups and a brief survey conducted with 27 retail health clinic (RHC) providers, clinical managers, and administrative leadership on the role, capabilities, barriers to and benefits of STI screening and treatment in RHCs.
Based on this qualitative research, this report:
- Overviews retail health clinics, their locations, services offered, patient populations, and background
- Summarizes findings from the focus groups and surveys conducted with retail health clinic leadership, clinical managers, and providers
- Discusses the barriers and challenges to providing sexual health screening and treatment
- Includes recommendations and considerations for the future to expand the role of retail health clinics in addressing STIs.
Suggested citation: Altarum Institute and the Convenient Care Association. (2021). Expanding the Role of Retail Health Clinics in Addressing Sexually Transmitted Infections: Selected Findings from a Qualitative Study and Recommendations for the Future.
Results of Qualitative and Online Message Testing to Support a Sexual Health Campaign
To motivate the public to take action to protect and improve their sexual health, NCSH members agreed that it was essential to define and promote the benefits of taking care of your sexual health, the core action steps to achieving good sexual health, and a short, simple definition of sexual health. Through qualitative and quantitative methods, these concepts were pre-tested with 300 members of the public to ensure they were clear, compelling, and relevant. Based on these results, a definition was selected, and a message framework for sexual health was created.
Highlights of the findings include:
- According to the public, the four most important benefits of good sexual health were positive relationships, feeling good about yourself, peace of mind, and a healthy body.
- The most important action steps were considered to be “value who you are and decide what’s right for you,” “build positive relationships,” and “choose partners who treat you well.”
