A Qualitative Research on

The Views of Silliman Senior High

School Students on Premarital Sex
Practices

Cartagena, Pauline Aira S.

Millares, Iyanla Jireh V.
Guasa, Jannelle Vera B.
Cainglet, Charmel D.

STEAM D
 Chapter 1

The Problem and Its Scope

Adolescence is a critical stage of development among teenagers between ages 13 and 19.

This period of maturation between childhood can be a time of both disorientation and

discovery (Psychology Today, 2016). During this stage, adolescents are expected to be well

aware of and be familiar with their own emotional development, self-identity, beliefs,

responsibility and role in society and especially their sexuality. Furthermore, teenagers cope with

the physical changes in their bodies, experience increased attraction to the opposite sex and feel

the need for sexual stimulation. The adolescents sexual behavior and attitudes, which is ripening

along with the establishment of their views on sexuality, are governed by numerous factors such

as social norms, peer pressure, and religion.

The Filipino adolescents sexual views can be traced back to the deep rooted cultural values

that were taught to them. Data from a study on the sexual attitudes of Filipino adolescent

students in UP Dilliman revealed that more than half of them still perceive someones sexual

purity to be sacred and sex to be exclusive only to married couples (De Jose, 2013). The belief in

the importance of being a virgin until marriage is established by the strong Catholic background

of the country. Despite this, the cases of premarital sex in the Philippines are continuing to grow,

especially in the urban areas of the National Capital Region (NCR) having the highest prevalence

at 41%. A survey offered by the Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality Study (YAFS) said that 1 in

3 youth has engaged in premarital sex aged 15-24. This means that an estimated 6.2 million of

youth has experienced premarital sex (Marquez, 2013). Serquina-Ramiro said that the influx of

Western liberal ideas either through migration or cyberspace and the strong advocacy by
womens groups in the country have increasingly restructured the Filipino adolescents

worldview of sex and sexuality.

The Advocates for Youth Organization has stated in their article about adolescent sexuality

that no single primary data source exists to capture all dimensions of adolescent sexual

behaviour. This is especially true because although the biological aspects of sexuality are the

same worldwide, the perceptions and attitudes towards it varies across cultures and places

(Boundless, 2016). The norms of sexuality in the Philippines may not be the same as the norms

of one country.

In the local context, the cases of teenage pregnancy in Negros Oriental are continuing to

increase according to statistics from the Negros Oriental Provincial Health Office. In 2014 there

were over 4,103 cases of teenage pregnancy in Negros and 4,895 cases in 2015. This increase has

brought concerns because the trend in not only in Negros but all over the country. Osorio, J et al.,

in their research on Filipino youths relationship, love and sexuality said that in order to achieve

a change among teens' sexual behavior, an important step is to improve our knowledge about

their opinions concerning relationships, love and sexuality.

There is not enough study on the sexual views of teenagers in Dumaguete City (Panaligan,

C., 1990). This lack of information has prompted the researchers of this study to bridge the gap

of understanding on the beliefs of teenagers on sexual practices such as masturbation and sexual

intercourse. To be more specific, this study will focus on the Senior High School students in

Silliman University. These students, who will be the respondents of the study, mostly aging

between 16-18 years old, are more likely to experience heightened sexual urges as they start to

approach the peak of puberty. Studying how SUSHS students feel and think towards sex could
usher in a concrete mental grasp on understanding the sexual behavior of teenagers in the

institution, as well as help determine the specific factors that develop their views on sex and their

sexuality. The researchers also hope that this study will be able to increase health development in

the society and help educators make more conscious decisions on how to approach teenage

sexuality.

Statement of the Problem

We need a thorough investigation on the sexual views of Senior High Students in Silliman

University in order to gain insight about how adolescents feel and think towards sex and other

sexual practices. Other than that, this study will also determine where they stand in terms of

whether they think sexual practices are healthy for their bodies or whether these sexual activities

are morally wrong. This research will help authorities, parents and even other adolescents in

answering questions about the sexual views that teenagers hold that could direct their choices in

engaging sexual practices. This study will answer the following questions:

1. How are sexual practices viewed locally?

2. What factors help develop teenagers sexual views?
3. Where or to whom do teenagers seek information about sex and sexuality?
4. How do teenagers think and feel about premarital sex practices?
5. Is talking about sex openly necessary?

Significance of the Study

This study aims to fill the gaps of understanding towards the personal sexual beliefs of

Silliman Senior High School students. With the information and data gathered in this research,

those who want to comprehend the patterns of sexual views among SUSHS students could

benefit from this study.

Parents or Guardians

Parents could better understand how their adolescent perceives sex. Majority of teenagers

do not talk to their parents openly about sex and their sexuality. Some may have attempted to talk

to their parents but retreated anyways because of their parents conservative attitude towards the

subject of sex. (Panalingan, C., 19990). This study encourages parents to rethink their values and

beliefs about sex in order to address a necessary issue of the lack of parental communication with

their adolescents. In addition to this, parents could help teenagers make more responsible

decisions in approaching sex as well as informing them about how ones sexuality is a part of

their development.

Fellow Adolescents and other Senior High or Junior High students

Adolescents need information. They are the ones who will experience these physical

changes and deal with their sexuality. This study will inform them about how other adolescents

view sex as well as assure those who are struggling with their sexuality that they are not alone.

Teenagers are naturally curious about sex and their sexuality but often refrain from seeking

information due to fear and stigma that surrounds the topic of sex (Philippine Center for

Population and Development, 2001). This study will prompt teenagers to identify for themselves

their sexual views and what influenced them to develop those views.

Future Researchers

Future researchers who want to dig deeper into the sexuality of a typical Senior High

student could benefit from this study. The recent data that they will gather from this research will

provide them with a basis and background on local views about sexuality and sex. Aside from
that, they could also determine unfilled gaps that would help them answer even more complex

questions about the sexual structure of adolescents.

Scope and Delimitation

The study focuses on the sexual views of young Filipino SHS students in Silliman University

from the peak of their puberty years. The researcher will analyze data on how students feel and

think towards premarital sex as well as determine what factors contributed to the students sexual

views. It does not however include the premarital sex practices that correlate to the sexual views

of these students.

Definition of Terms

Views general perspective on sex

Premarital Sexual Practices any sexual act that is outside of marriage; includes masturbation,

vaginal intercourse, oral sex, fingering etc.

Rationale

The researchers want to limit the study to a more local background because there is a lack

of understanding towards how Senior High School Students who are reaching the peak of

puberty view sex. Their beliefs in sex usually govern their actions whether or not to pursue

sexual activities and determine their attitudes towards sex. This study aims to understand and

explore their beliefs as well as provide a concrete analysis of on their attit

References:

Pagunsan, L. (2016). Cases of teenage pregnancy continue to rise. Retrieved 4 March 2017 from:
http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/1971471420747/cases-of-teenage-pregnancy-continue-to-rise
Rahman, S. 2016. Philippine teen pregnancy rates defy trend, Country tops list of Asian countries, with
one in 10 women in 15-19 age group already a mother, according to UN study. Retrieved 13 Feb
2017 from: http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/02/philippine-teen-pregnancy-rates-defy-trend-
160228181232852.html

Republic of the Philippines Department of Health. 2003. Adolescent and youth health program. Retrieved
13 Feb 2017 from: http://www.doh.gov.ph/adolescent-and-youth-health-program

Boundless. Human Sexuality and Culture. Boundless Psychology Boundless, 20 Sep. 2016. Retrieved
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Psychology Today. 2016. All about adolescence. Adolescence. Retrieved 13 Feb 2017 from :
https://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/adolescence

De Jose, E. 2013. Filipino adolescents sexual attitudes and behaviors : results from a university cohort.
Academic Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, 2(8), 721

Serquina-Ramiro, L. 2005. Physical intimacy and sexual coercion among adolescent intimate partners in
the Philippines. Journal of Adolescent Research, 20(4), 476-496

Panaligan, C. 1990. The sexual views and sexual practices of teenagers in dumaguete city.