Background
to the
Research
- This report is based on
the results of the first major survey of sexual attitudes and lifestyles
of young people, aged 14-25 years, in NI.
- The survey was conducted
by the University of Ulster in conjunction with the Family Planning
Association Northern Ireland from 2000 to 2002.
- The report exclusively presents
the findings from the one-to-one in-depth interviews conducted during
the research.
Research
Approach
- 15 one-to-one in-depth interviews were
conducted with young people across NI.
- Interviewees self-selected and volunteered
during the research project. Some interviewees had completed the survey
questionnaire prior to the interview and self-selected through this.
Others were approached during focus group discussions and agreed to
take part in an interview.
- Interviews took place in a location chosen
by the interviewee.
- Interviews lasted between 45 and 140 minutes
and were tape-recorded.
Main
Findings
- Twelve stories from young people are presented
in the report. Young people talk about their puberty, their experiences
of sex education, their first boyfriends and girlfriends and their
current sexual relationships. These experiences are embedded in accounts
of their lives in general.
- Some interviewees talk about their sexual
abuse or about homophobic bullying and their difficulties in 'coming
out'.
- Others share their experiences of teenage
pregnancies or about their difficulties of finding a partner because
of a disability.
- Some interviewees talk about fatherhood
or about the threats they received because they were in a religiously
mixed relationship in NI.
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