Twenty-sixth International Conference on Learning

Abstract

Sexuality is a complex experience of the life of any person and includes, among other aspects, the maturing of the body, feelings of affection and love, sexual practices, sexual and reproductive health. People giftedness may present dyssynchronism in the process of intellectual and affective development. This qualitative-descriptive study of a sociological approach aimed to verify the psychosocial aspects of the sexuality of gifted adolescents, in addition to: investigate access to information on sexuality as well as sexual education issues of these adolescents; analyze their possible beliefs and sexual values; to report on knowledge, actions and attitudes towards sexuality. The method involved 12 gifted adolescents (12-17 years) who answered an online questionnaire elaborated from four thematic axes: characterization, information and conceptions, beliefs, sexual and reproductive health. The results show the family and school are the major sources of information about sexuality; concepts and beliefs about sexuality depict scientific knowledge; male participants exhibit stereotypes of beauty in relation to a body considered beautiful; male and female condoms are recognized for the prevention of pregnancy (79.2%) and sexually transmitted infections (83.3%), while other methods were not correctly differentiated for pregnancy (49.4%). The relevant results are considered especially when 11 of the participants without experience of sexual practices present theoretical scientific knowledge. Formal and emancipatory sexual education can contribute to the psychosocial development of gifted adolescents, especially in working together with those without giftedness which can promote the development of all.