‘I Learned to Accept Every Part of Myself’: The Transformative Impact of a Theatre-Based Sexual Health and HIV Prevention Programme

Download as .RIS

Citation

Grewe, Mary E.; Taboada, Arianna; Dennis, Alexis C.; Chen, Elizabeth; Stein, Kathryn; Watson, Sable; Barrington, Clare; & Lightfoot, Alexandra F. (2015). 'I Learned to Accept Every Part of Myself': The Transformative Impact of a Theatre-Based Sexual Health and HIV Prevention Programme. Sex Education, 15(3), 303-317. PMCID: PMC4465173

Abstract

Theatre-based interventions have been used in health promotion activities among young people to address HIV and sexual health. In this study, we explored the experience of undergraduate student performers participating in a theatre-based HIV prevention and sexual health education intervention for high school students in the USA. Undergraduate students enrolled in a credit-bearing course to learn about HIV and sexual health, participatory theatre and health education techniques. We analysed students' reflective essays written throughout the semester to identify any changes and the intervention processes that promoted these changes. Students experienced five interrelated forms of transformation: (1) increased knowledge about HIV and sexual health; (2) changes in attitude and communication about sex; (3) artistic growth; (4) emotional growth; and (5) clarification of career goals and future plans. Intervention processes that contributed to these transformations included improvisation, guided writing exercises, the creation of a close-knit cohesive group, and interactions with a group of HIV-positive speakers. Theatre-based, peer-led sexual health programmes can provide a transformative experience for undergraduate student performers. The transformative effects are linked to specific activities and processes of the intervention and require examination in future research.

URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14681811.2015.1022820

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year Published

2015

Journal Title

Sex Education

Author(s)

Grewe, Mary E.
Taboada, Arianna
Dennis, Alexis C.
Chen, Elizabeth
Stein, Kathryn
Watson, Sable
Barrington, Clare
Lightfoot, Alexandra F.

PMCID

PMC4465173

ORCiD

Barrington - 0000-0001-7802-4051
Dennis - 0000-0001-6366-9850