Summary Literature and
Lecture for Youth & Sexuality
Youth & Sexuality | Utrecht University
Weekly themes
1. Psychosexual development
2. Sexuality from the bio-ecological, evolutionary, and socio-cultural
perspectives
3. Sociocultural dynamics of young people’s sexuality
4. Sex Education: towards a sex-positive future + reducing sexual violence
through sex education
5. Sexual abuse during childhood and adolescence
6. LGBT youth and sexuality + intersectionality in sexuality research
Week 1 – Psychosexual development
📚 Literature Summary
Liang et al. (2019) – The State of Adolescent Sexual and
Reproductive Health
Reviews 25 years of global data since the 1994 ICPD.
Main aim: Evaluate progress and identify disparities in adolescent sexual
and reproductive health and rights (ASRHR).
Progress highlights:
Later marriage and childbirth, especially among girls.
Increased contraceptive use, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Decline in harmful practices like FGM and child marriage.
Better educational attainment correlates with delayed sexual debut.
Challenges:
Summary Literature and Lecture for Youth & Sexuality 1
, Persistent inequalities by gender, region, income, and urban/rural
divide.
High adolescent pregnancy rates in some regions.
STI/HIV prevalence remains high; violence and sexual coercion are
widespread.
Conclusion: Despite progress, vulnerable youth still face major risks.
Targeted policy efforts are essential.
Cacciatore et al. (2019) – The Steps of Sexuality Model
Introduces an emotion-focused, child-centered model spanning birth to
adulthood.
Integrates psychoanalytic theory, attachment theory, Erikson’s psychosocial
stages, and developmental tasks theory.
Emphasizes that sexual development is holistic — biological, emotional,
cognitive, and social.
Presents 11 developmental steps from body discovery in infancy to mature
sexual relationships in adolescence.
Core principles:
Respect for individual pace and readiness.
Education must match emotional and cognitive development.
Applies to diverse youth (LGBTQ+, disabilities).
Educational implications:
Sexuality education should start early and cover more than risk
prevention.
Emotional well-being, communication, and mutual respect are central.
de Graaf et al. (2024) – Seks onder je 25e (Summary)
Survey among >10,000 Dutch youth aged 13–25.
Key trends:
Sexual initiation happens later (median age now 18.7).
Summary Literature and Lecture for Youth & Sexuality 2
, Youth still value pleasure and intimacy, but girls report less pleasure
and more discomfort.
Gender diversity more visible and accepted.
Ongoing concerns:
Sexual violence is common.
Orgasm inequality between genders.
Declining contraceptive use.
Conclusion: Despite positive trends in awareness and openness, gender
inequality and risk behaviors remain challenges.
🧠 Lecture Summary
Lecture 1a – Introduction (de Looze & Akkus)
Sexuality is multi-dimensional (WHO definition): includes identity,
orientation, behavior, values, intimacy.
Influenced by biological, psychological, social, and cultural factors.
Focus on ages 12–25: period of major sexual development.
Emphasized:
The relevance of youth sexuality in societal change.
Controversies around sex education and disinformation.
Digitalization, pandemic impact, and declining condom use.
Increased visibility of gender diversity, but also rising backlash.
Recent Dutch law changes make online and offline sexual harassment
punishable.
Lecture 1b – Psychosexual Development (Hanneke de Graaf)
Sexual development = life-long, context-dependent, and multi-path.
Key components: body image, orientation, behavior, beliefs, gender, love,
risk.
Age-specific insights:
Summary Literature and Lecture for Youth & Sexuality 3
Lecture for Youth & Sexuality
Youth & Sexuality | Utrecht University
Weekly themes
1. Psychosexual development
2. Sexuality from the bio-ecological, evolutionary, and socio-cultural
perspectives
3. Sociocultural dynamics of young people’s sexuality
4. Sex Education: towards a sex-positive future + reducing sexual violence
through sex education
5. Sexual abuse during childhood and adolescence
6. LGBT youth and sexuality + intersectionality in sexuality research
Week 1 – Psychosexual development
📚 Literature Summary
Liang et al. (2019) – The State of Adolescent Sexual and
Reproductive Health
Reviews 25 years of global data since the 1994 ICPD.
Main aim: Evaluate progress and identify disparities in adolescent sexual
and reproductive health and rights (ASRHR).
Progress highlights:
Later marriage and childbirth, especially among girls.
Increased contraceptive use, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Decline in harmful practices like FGM and child marriage.
Better educational attainment correlates with delayed sexual debut.
Challenges:
Summary Literature and Lecture for Youth & Sexuality 1
, Persistent inequalities by gender, region, income, and urban/rural
divide.
High adolescent pregnancy rates in some regions.
STI/HIV prevalence remains high; violence and sexual coercion are
widespread.
Conclusion: Despite progress, vulnerable youth still face major risks.
Targeted policy efforts are essential.
Cacciatore et al. (2019) – The Steps of Sexuality Model
Introduces an emotion-focused, child-centered model spanning birth to
adulthood.
Integrates psychoanalytic theory, attachment theory, Erikson’s psychosocial
stages, and developmental tasks theory.
Emphasizes that sexual development is holistic — biological, emotional,
cognitive, and social.
Presents 11 developmental steps from body discovery in infancy to mature
sexual relationships in adolescence.
Core principles:
Respect for individual pace and readiness.
Education must match emotional and cognitive development.
Applies to diverse youth (LGBTQ+, disabilities).
Educational implications:
Sexuality education should start early and cover more than risk
prevention.
Emotional well-being, communication, and mutual respect are central.
de Graaf et al. (2024) – Seks onder je 25e (Summary)
Survey among >10,000 Dutch youth aged 13–25.
Key trends:
Sexual initiation happens later (median age now 18.7).
Summary Literature and Lecture for Youth & Sexuality 2
, Youth still value pleasure and intimacy, but girls report less pleasure
and more discomfort.
Gender diversity more visible and accepted.
Ongoing concerns:
Sexual violence is common.
Orgasm inequality between genders.
Declining contraceptive use.
Conclusion: Despite positive trends in awareness and openness, gender
inequality and risk behaviors remain challenges.
🧠 Lecture Summary
Lecture 1a – Introduction (de Looze & Akkus)
Sexuality is multi-dimensional (WHO definition): includes identity,
orientation, behavior, values, intimacy.
Influenced by biological, psychological, social, and cultural factors.
Focus on ages 12–25: period of major sexual development.
Emphasized:
The relevance of youth sexuality in societal change.
Controversies around sex education and disinformation.
Digitalization, pandemic impact, and declining condom use.
Increased visibility of gender diversity, but also rising backlash.
Recent Dutch law changes make online and offline sexual harassment
punishable.
Lecture 1b – Psychosexual Development (Hanneke de Graaf)
Sexual development = life-long, context-dependent, and multi-path.
Key components: body image, orientation, behavior, beliefs, gender, love,
risk.
Age-specific insights:
Summary Literature and Lecture for Youth & Sexuality 3
