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Sexual Attitudes on Sexual Behavioral Dynamics of Senior High School Students

Elton Edward Baranaskas

Black_death@459@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

Adolescents delay sexual activity until they are physically, cognitively, and emotionally
ready for mature sexual relationships and their consequences. However, majority of
adolescents initiate sexual activity during high school, and the proportion of high school
students who have ever had sexual intercourse increases by age. To understand the
situation, this study focused on sexual attitudes on sexual behavioral dynamics of senior
high school students. It utilized a descriptive survey design using a survey questionnaire
to gather data from senior high school students of selected private schools, who have
been selected through purposive sampling. Analysis of results revealed that senior high
school students are strongly agreeable to birth control, engage in sexual intercourse
monthly, but mostly claim not experiencing love-making. Results also revealed that
there is a significant difference on the sexual attitudes and profiles of the respondents
in terms of type of friends, daily allowance, and age. In addition, there is a significant
interaction between sexual attitudes and sexual behavioral dynamics of the students;
therefore, students’ sexual behaviors are related to their sexual attitudes. It is then
recommended that senior high school students should receive support and guidance in
developing skills to evaluate their readiness for responsible sexual relationships to
avoid sexual issues.

Keywords: Sexual attitudes, sexual behavioral dynamics, senior high school students,
Davao City, survey

INTRODUCTION

Sex life is a sector of a person's everyday existence. This involves sexual

activity or symbolizes the absence of sexual activity such as masturbation. In this time
of age, sex has become a common phenomenon that makes almost everyone practicing
it regardless of age, culture, personality or perspective.

In 2000, United States retains as the leading country in teen pregnancy showing
84.5 per 1,000 females aged 15–19 years (Abma, Dawson, Martinez, & Mosher, 2004).
Greeks ranked first as the most sexually active people worldwide in which 87 percent of
them are having sexual intercourse at least once a week. However, they are facing
several problems concerning their sex life. In these countries, sex is practically a way of
life (Network, 2005). In cultures like these, sex is no longer a taboo but a way of life, a
way of maintaining the relationship whether before or after marriage, and a way of
discovery of the self for some.
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In the Philippines, majority of the Filipinos still believe that sexual activities
outside marriage and between homosexuals are immoral because this country is
dominated by Roman Catholics. But because of intermarriages and western influences
through media, many Filipinos already practice pre-marital sexual activities. Some
experience sex casually to any partner with or without a relationship.
De Jose (2013) stated that sexual attitudes and behavior differ from one group of
Filipino youth to another, depending on their social class, educational level, and place
of residence. In metropolitan and large cities like Manila, Quezon, Cebu, Iloilo, Davao,
Dumaguete, and Zamboanga, adolescents and young adults are exposed to the
cosmopolitan life and consequently receive more information on sex and sexuality.
They are also freer to experience numerous options than the less educated youths.
Youth in small towns have narrower and more restricted ideas on sexuality, because of
the family’s and Church’s strong control and influence. Furthermore, youngsters in big
cities have easy access to adult magazines and entertainment, in which sexuality is
openly discussed or shown, even though their parents and the Church try to hide such
information from them. He further described that the sexual attitudes and behaviors of
adolescents, 15–24 years old, attending a large state university in Manila, Philippines
revealed high percentages for both male and female adolescents who still value
virginity, and disclosed disagreement with premarital sex (PMS), multiple sex, casual
sex, pornography, cohabitation, same-sex relationship, petting and female
masturbation. However, male masturbation, necking, and holding hands and kissing
were found to be acceptable. Results likewise indicated an increase in adolescents who
engaged in PMS over time, although generally low (27.7%) compared to the findings of
other studies. Of those who have engaged in PMS, 80% did not use condom, which puts
the adolescents into risks of unplanned pregnancy and exposure to sexually transmitted
infections (STI) or human immuno-deficiency virus (HIV). 

Globalization has influenced Filipinos living in the urban areas but the overall
culture remains quite conservative in its sexual values. Why then are there Filipinos
especially in Davao City practicing premarital sex or casual sex despite the teachings or
influences of family, church, education and culture? Why is the Philippines ranked
number one in most infected country for HIV or acquired immuno-deficiency syndrome
(AIDS)? Why is Davao City ranked number one for STI? The Reproductive Health and
Wellness Center (RHWC) in Davao City has noted 414 Human Immunodeficiency Virus-
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV–AIDS) cases in Davao City from January to
November 2017. Based on RHWC's latest data obtained from Epidemiology Bureau of
the Department of Health (DOH), out of the 414 cases, 391 are males and 23 are
females. Davao City currently has 2,277 HIV-Aids cases since 1984. There were 191
individuals aging 25 to 34 who tested positive of HIV/Aids; 162 whose ages range from
15 to 24; 51 cases for ages 35 to 49; and 50 above with seven. There are three cases for
ages 15 below, based on the latest data (SunStar Davao, 2018).

Because of this alarming incidence of diseases acquired through sexual

activities, outdated information, and absence of local record, the researcher looked at
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these as a gap in the literature and aimed to discover what was really happening in
Davao City about the sex life of Davao residents especially the youths despite the many
norms of their cultures. In addition, it is to shed light on what the role of sex and what it
stands in their everyday lives. The results of this study maybe used by the public as
added information, by the psychologists and counselors as updated information on the
sex lives of the youths, and by the academe as information for seminars and classroom
lectures.

Statement of the Problem

This study determined the relationship between sexual attitudes and sexual
behavioral dynamics of Senior High School (SHS) students in Davao City. It specifically
answered the following questions:

1. What is the demographic profile of the SHS students in Davao City in terms
of:

1.1. age;
1.2. daily allowance;
1.3. number of friends; and
1.4. type of friends?

2. What is the level of sexual attitudes of SHS students in Davao City in terms of:

2.1. permissiveness;
2.2. birth control;
2.3. communion; and
2.4. instrumentality?

3. What is the sexual behavioral dynamics of SHS students in Davao City in

terms of:

3.1. love-making activity;

3.2. love-making experience; and
3.2. sexual activity frequency?

4. Is there a significant difference on the sexual attitudes of SHS students in

Davao City when categorized according to their profile?

5. Is there a significant relationship between the sexual attitudes and sexual

behavioral dynamics of SHS students in Davao City?
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Hypotheses

This study is tested at 0.5 level of significance.

HO1: There is no significant difference on the sexual attitudes of SHS students in

Davao City when categorized according to their profile.

HO2: There is no significant relationship between the sexual attitudes and sexual
behavioral dynamics of SHS students in Davao City.

Review of Related Literature

Several studies and literature have been published in the area of sexual
attitudes and sexual behavioral dynamics. Relevant information related to this study
has been provided in this section.

Sexual Attitudes

Sexuality is one of the fundamental drives behind everyone’s feelings, thoughts,

and behaviors. It defines the means of biological reproduction, describes psychological
and sociological representations of self, and orients a person’s attraction to others.
Further, it shapes the brain and body to be pleasure-seeking. Yet, as important as
sexuality is to being human, it is often viewed as a taboo topic for personal or scientific
inquiry (Lucas & Fox, 2018).

Relationships between sexual attitudes and behavior among adolescents were

studied in data collected by self-administered questionnaires from approximately 3,500
junior and senior high school students attending four inner-city schools during 1981-
1982. An analysis of the results by sex, race and age found that 83 percent of sexually
experienced adolescents cite a best age for first intercourse that is older than the age at
which they themselves experienced that event, and 43 percent of them report a best
age for first coitus older than their current age. In addition, 88 percent of young women
who have had a baby say the best age at which to have a first birth is older than the age
at which they first became mothers. Thirty-nine percent of the women and 32 percent
of the men say that they believe premarital sex is wrong. Among those who are virgins,
the proportions are much higher. However, even among those who have had
intercourse, approximately 25 percent of both sexes say they believe sex before
marriage is wrong. Women desire stronger relationships before having intercourse than
do men, and women claim to have had a stronger relationship with their last sexual
partner. Very few teenagers believe neither partner is responsible for pregnancy
prevention, which tends to be viewed as a joint responsibility. Those who see it as a
shared responsibility are slightly more likely than those who assign the responsibility to
one or the other partner to have used a method at last intercourse, and they are
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considerably more likely to have used a method than are those who believe
contraception is neither partner's responsibility (Zabin, Hirsch, Smith, & Hardy, (1984).

The role of cultural factors in explaining sexual attitudes among African

American urban girls, aged 10-13 years, was investigated by Belgrave, Van Oss Marin,
and Chambers (2000) and predicted that girls with higher school interest, family
cohesion, religiosity, and behavioral self-esteem would endorse less risky sexual
attitudes. Also, older girls were expected to have more risky sexual attitudes than
younger girls, and girls from 1- rather than 2-parent households were expected to have
more risky sexual attitudes. A questionnaire containing measures of the study
constructs was administered to 214 girls who were subjects in a substance abuse
prevention program. Pretest data were used in analyses. A final regression model
accounted for 23% of the variance in sexual attitudes. Age and behavioral self-esteem
were significant predictors, with younger teens and teens with higher behavioral self-
esteem having less risky sexual attitudes. Cultural variables contributed to explaining
variation in sexual attitudes after other variables were controlled for. Higher levels of
ethnic identity were associated with less risky sexual attitudes.

Permissiveness. Mass media play an important role in the socialization of youth.

Given its expanding nature and accessibility, the Internet may be at the forefront of this
education. However, the extent of the Internet's impact on adolescent sexual attitudes
and behaviors is not yet known. Braun-Courville and Rojas (2009) stated that exposure
to Internet pornography has potential implications for adolescent sexual relationships,
such as number of partners and substance use. Sexually Explicit Web (SEW) can serve
an educational purpose and create an opportunity for adults to engage adolescents in
discussions about sexual health and consumption of Internet material. Longitudinal
research is still needed to evaluate how exposure to SEW influences youth attitudes and
sexual behavior. In addition, Brown, L'Engle, Pardun, Guo, Kenneavy, and Jackson
(2006) stated that exposure to sexual content in music, movies, television, and
magazines accelerates white adolescents’ sexual activity and increases their risk of
engaging in early sexual intercourse. Black teens appear more influenced by
perceptions of their parents’ expectations and their friends’ sexual behavior than by
what they see and hear in the media.

Hendrick, Hendrick, Slapion-Foote, and Foote (1985) developed a sexual

attitudes questionnaire and showed that female and male subjects differed in which
females were more responsible, conventional, and idealistic; whereas, males were
more permissive, instrumental, control-oriented and power-oriented. The means
suggested that females were moderately conservative in sexual attitudes, while males
were moderately permissive.

The link between adolescents' exposure to sexual media content and their
sexual socialization has hardly been approached from an identity development
framework. Moreover, existing research has largely ignored the role of adolescents'
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exposure to sexually explicit Internet material in that association. This study introduces
two characteristics of adolescents' sexual self—sexual uncertainty and attitudes toward
sexual exploration—and investigates these characteristics as potential correlates of
adolescents' exposure to sexually explicit Internet material. Drawing from a sample of
2,343 Dutch adolescents aged 13 to 20, Peter and Valkenburg (2008) find that more
frequent exposure to sexually explicit Internet material is associated with greater sexual
uncertainty and more positive attitudes toward uncommitted sexual exploration (i.e.,
sexual relations with casual partners/friends or with sexual partners in one-night
stands).

The influence of the Roman Catholic Church was and still is hegemonic over 90%
of the Filipino population. Throughout Filipino history, the political powers have been
submissive to the Catholic Church. The Church is determined to maintain its hold on
important aspects of civil life. A very conservative interpretation of Catholic decrees
about sexuality and marriage have been inscribed in the minds of the Filipino people, in
a way that has proven difficult to alter or delete. The prevailing Catholic dogma on
sexual morality is written deep in the unconsciousness of every boy and girl. Only a few
years ago, 98 percent of the youth associated premarital sex with guilt and sin. Only
recently has this begun to change. The Youth Adult Sexuality Survey revealed that about
18% accepted premarital sex, although a majority of 80% still believed it was a sin and
morally unacceptable. Outstanding among these are the Church’s views on the social
roles of males and females, its insistence that any form of masturbation or premarital
intercourse is sinful, and condemnation of homosexuality as unnatural behavior. The
Church also places great emphasis on virginity as a prerequisite for matrimony, citing
the example of the Virgin Mary, the Blessed Mother of Jesus Christ, who conceived her
son without the need of sexual intercourse or a biological father. Young people who
attend church frequently and who value religion in their lives have the least permissive
attitudes and are less experienced sexually (Thorton & Camburn, 1989).

Moore and Rosenthal (1991) investigated the association between adolescents'

perceptions of parental and peer attitudes towards sexuality and AIDS precautions, and
the risky sexual behaviours of 1008 sexually active, heterosexual undergraduate
students aged 17‐20 years. Students were asked to rate the extent to which their
mothers, fathers and friends would agree or disagree with 16 statements reflecting
support of the adolescent engaging in sexual behaviour and using sexual precautions,
including precautions against AIDS. The adolescents also indicated whether they were
sexually active and their level of condom use in both ‘regular’ (or steady) and ‘casual’
relationships. Results indicated that adolescents perceived their parents as non‐liberal
in their sexual attitudes and relatively unlikely to discuss sex or precautions with them.
Parents were viewed as more accepting of their sons' sexual behaviours than of their
daughters'. Adolescents believed that peers were more likely to discuss sexuality and
precautions than parents, and were more liberal in their sexual attitudes. Adolescent
sexual risk‐taking was related to the perceived attitudes of significant others in ways
which varied across gender and type of relationship.
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Male and female undergraduate students were surveyed concerning their sexual
attitudes, sexual behaviors, and contraceptive behavior. In addition, the general
attitudes about sexuality that the students perceived as communicated to them by their
parents, their church, and their peers were assessed. It was found in female students
that general attitudes about sexuality, as defined on an erotophilia-erotophobia
dimension, and sexual behaviors were correlated with the perceived attitudes of peers,
rather than those of parents and church. However, male students' attitudes and some
sexual behaviors were correlated with the perceived attitudes of their parents, rather
than the views of their peers and church. Church attitudes were not found to be related
to any of the measures. None of the sources of influence, parents, peers, or church
attitudes, or erotophilia-erotophobia was related to contraceptive behavior (Daugherty
& Burger, 1984).

Adolescents are at increased risk of HIV, yet little is known about the family
factors related to sexual risk taking among these youths. Donenberg, Wilson, Emerson,
and Bryant (2002) explored whether perceived parental monitoring and perceived
parental permissiveness were linked to high-risk sexual behavior in 169 ethnically
diverse urban youth seeking mental health services in Chicago and tested whether
adolescent gender moderated these associations. They evaluated sexual risk taking at a
global level and for specific risk behaviors (e.g., sex without a condom, sex while using
drugs and alcohol). Girls reported more risky sex overall than boys, and girls were more
likely than boys to report having sex without a condom. At low levels of parental
permissiveness, rates of risky sex among boys and girls did not differ, but at high levels
of permissiveness girls reported more sexual risk taking than boys, and girls were more
likely than boys to report having sex while using drugs and alcohol and having sex
without a condom. Findings highlight the complexity of adolescent sexual behavior and
the need for multilevel assessment of risk taking. Results suggest that parental
monitoring and permissiveness are more strongly associated with sexual risk taking in
troubled girls than troubled boys, and they underscore a need for gender-sensitive,
family-focused HIV-prevention programs.

Moreover, gender is an important factor in understanding premarital sexual

attitudes and behaviors. Many studies indicate that males are more likely to initiate
sexual intercourse and have more permissive perceptions about sex than females. Yet
few studies have explored possible reasons for these gender differences. With samples
of unmarried adolescents in three Asian cities influenced by Confucian cultures, this
article investigates the relationship between underlying gender norms and these
differences in adolescents' premarital sexual permissiveness (PSP). In a collaborative
survey conducted by Zuo, Lou, Gao, Cheng, Niu, and Zabin (2012) in 2006–2007 in
urban and rural areas of Hanoi, Shanghai, and Taipei, 16,554 unmarried participants
aged 15–24 years were recruited in the three-City Asian Study of Adolescents and
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Youth, with 6,204, 6,023, and 4,327 respondents from each city, respectively. All the
adolescents were administered face-to-face interviews, coupled with computer-assisted
self-interview for sensitive questions. Scales on gender-role attitudes and on PSP for
both male and female respondents were developed and applied to our analysis of the
data. Multilinear regression was used to analyze the relationship between gender-role
attitudes and sexual permissiveness. Results showed that male respondents in each
city held more permissive attitudes toward premarital sex than did females, with both
boys and girls expressing greater permissiveness to male premarital sexual behaviors.
Boys also expressed more traditional attitudes to gender roles (condoning greater
inequality) than did girls in each city. Adolescents' gender-role attitudes and
permissiveness to premarital sex varied considerably across the three cities, with the
Vietnamese the most traditional, the Taiwanese the least traditional, and the
adolescents in Shanghai in the middle. A negative association between traditional
gender roles and PSP was only found among girls in Shanghai and Taipei. In Shanghai,
female respondents who held more traditional gender-role attitudes were more likely
to exercise a double standard with respect to male as opposed to female premarital sex
(odds ratio [OR] = 1.18). This relationship also applied to attitudes of both girls and boys
in Taipei (OR = 1.20 and OR = 1.22, respectively). Although with variation across sites,
they concluded that gender differences in PSP and attitudes to gender roles among
adolescents were very significant in each of the three Asian cities influenced by
Confucian-based values. Traditional gender norms may still be deeply rooted in the
three cities, especially among females; while it is important to advocate gender equity
in adolescent reproductive health programs, the pathway of traditional gender norms in
influencing adolescent reproductive health outcomes must be understood.

Birth Control. Kirby (2002) identified the most important antecedents associated
with adolescent initiation of sex, contraceptive use, and pregnancy. More than 100
antecedents create a complex and detailed picture of the correlates of adolescent
sexual behaviors. They describe characteristics of the adolescents themselves, their
partners, peers, families, schools, and communities, as well as relationships to these
entities. They included antecedents that were inherently sexual and nonsexual. She
concluded that to reduce teen pregnancy substantially, multiple sexual and nonsexual
antecedents in different clusters may need to be addressed.

Communion. In an attempt to examine the relationship between parent-child

communication about sex and parent-adolescent attitudes about sex, 12- to 20-year-
olds (N=141) and their parents completed sexual communication and attitude
questionnaires. The correlation between parents' and children's attitudes were high for
all the early adolescents and low for all the middle adolescents. Only among the late
adolescents was there a significant difference in the correlations between the sexual
attitudes of parents and their children as a function of family communication level, with
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the attitudes of adolescents and parents in the high communication group being highly
correlated and the attitudes of adolescents and parents in the low communication
group not being significantly correlated. Middle adolescents had significantly more
permissive sexual attitudes than early and late adolescents. Gender variables were also
studied, but conclusions were limited due to the small number of participating fathers.
All findings must be tempered with the recognition of the possible sampling bias
introduced by the use of a convenience sample. It is suggested that the more
responsible sexuality seen in adolescents who can talk to their parents about sex may
be a function of the similarity in sexual attitudes between these late adolescents and
their parents (Fisher, 1986).

Sex education is intended to provide youth with the information and skills
needed to make healthy and informed decisions about sex. The study of Mueller, Gavin,
and Kulkarni (2008), they examined whether exposure to formal sex education is
associated with three sexual behaviors: ever had sexual intercourse, age at first episode
of sexual intercourse, and use of birth control at first intercourse. Data used were from
the 2002 National Survey of Family Growth, a nationally representative survey. The
sample included 2019 never-married males and females aged 15–19 years. Bivariate
and multivariate analyses were conducted using SUDAAN. Interactions among
subgroups were also explored. Results showed that receiving sex education was
associated with not having had sexual intercourse among males (OR = .42, 95% CI
= .25–.69) and postponing sexual intercourse until age 15 among both females (OR
= .41, 95% CI = .21–.77) and males (OR = .29, 95% CI = .17–.48). Males attending school
who had received sex education were also more likely to use birth control the first time
they had sexual intercourse (OR = 2.77, 95% CI = 1.13–6.81); however, no associations
were found among females between receipt of sex education and birth control use.
These patterns varied among sociodemographic subgroups. Formal sex education
therefore may effectively reduce adolescent sexual risk behaviors when provided
before sexual initiation. Sex education was found to be particularly important for
subgroups that are traditionally at high risk for early initiation of sex and for
contracting sexually transmitted diseases.

Using two waves of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, the
study of Meier (2003) examines two sets of relationships between attitudes, religiosity,
and first sex among adolescents. The findings are consistent with past research that find
attitudes are a significant predictor of sexual activity. The effect of religiosity on first sex
is mediated by attitudes about sex. Regarding reciprocal effects, having sex for the first
time has a significant effect on later attitudes, but not religiosity. Her study highlights
the importance of going beyond traditional, recursive models that consider only one
side of a causal relationship.

Instrumentality. Women tend to hold an expressive social representation of

aggression (as a loss of self‐control) while men tend to hold an instrumental
representation (as a means of imposing control over others). Because expressive beliefs
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correspond to excuses and instrumental beliefs to justifications, it may be a sex

difference in moral acceptability of aggression that informs social representation.
Participants completed the Expagg questionnaire with reference to an episode of same‐
sex or cross‐sex physical aggression and rated the moral acceptability of their
behaviour. Women scored higher on Expagg (specifically lower than men on the
instrumental scale) but there was no effect of target sex or participant‐by‐target
interaction. Contrary to expectation, women rated their own aggression as more
acceptable than did men and hence this could not explain their lower levels of
instrumentality relative to men (Astin, Redston, & Campbell, 2003).

Bleakley, Hennessy, Fishbein, and Jordan (2009) examined how sources of

sexual information are associated with adolescents' behavioral, normative, and control
beliefs about having sexual intercourse using the integrative model of behavior change.
Survey data from a quota sample of 459 youths. The most frequently reported sources
were friends, teachers, mothers, and media. Regression analyses indicated that learning
about sex from parents, grandparents, and religious leaders was associated with beliefs
likely to delay sex; friends, cousins, and media were associated with beliefs that
increase the likelihood of having sexual intercourse. They concluded that different
sexual information sources were associated with different underlying beliefs.

Alternative high schools serve approximately 280,000 students nationwide who

are at high risk for failing or dropping out of regular high school or who have been
expelled from regular high school because of illegal activity or behavioral problems.
Such settings provide important opportunities for delivering health promotion
education and services to these youth and young adults. However, before this survey,
the prevalence of health-risk behaviors among students attending alternative high
schools nationwide was unknown. The Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS)
monitors the following six categories of priority health-risk behaviors among youth and
young adults: behaviors that contribute to unintentional and intentional injuries;
tobacco use; alcohol and other drug use; sexual behaviors that contribute to
unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) including human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection; unhealthy dietary behaviors; and physical
inactivity. Substantial morbidity among school-aged youth and young adults also results
from unintended pregnancies and STDs, including HIV infection. ALT-YRBS results
indicate that in 1998, a total of 87.8% of students at alternative high schools had had
sexual intercourse, 54.1% of sexually active students had not used a condom at last
sexual intercourse, and 5.7% had ever injected an illegal drug (Grunbaum, Kann,
Kinchen, Ross, Gowda, Collins, & Kolbe, 1999).

In addition, Burleson and Gilstrap (2002) examined the extent to which

personality orientations such as expressiveness and instrumentality mediate the effects
of sex on goal orientations in support situations. Participants (N= 184; 89 males and 95
females) completed a questionnaire that provided assessments of biological sex,
instrumental and expressive personality orientations, and interaction goals in support
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contexts. Regression procedures indicated that the influence of sex on communication

goals was indirect, with sex primarily associated with personality orientation, and
personality orientation influencing two of the four communication goals. The
personality trait of expressiveness also exerted a direct influence on the goal of
discussing feelings. Interestingly, personality did not predict the goal of talking about
the problem. The success of this model suggests that it is possible to develop more
explanatory accounts of how sex influences varied forms of social behavior.

Sexual Behavioral Dynamics

The study of Paul, McManus, and Hayes (2000) focused on a specific risky
practice common among contemporary college students: the hookup. Hookups are
defined as a sexual encounter which may or may not include sexual intercourse, usually
occurring on only one occasion between two people who are strangers or brief
acquaintances. The aim of this study was to determine the relative importance of a
variety of social and psychological predictors in understanding differences among
undergraduate students who had never hooked up, those who had hooked up without
sexual intercourse, and those who had hooked up with sexual intercourse. Analyses
revealed that, as predicted, social, individual, and relational psychological variables
helped to explain the variance among college students' varied hookup experiences. By
examining the full range of sexual involvement characteristic of the casual sexual
phenomenon of hooking up within a multivariate model, they were able to achieve a
more differentiated understanding of college students' casual sexual experimentation.

With data from a junior high school in an urban area of North Carolina, Billy,
Udry, and Rodgers (1984) use log-odds ratios and a nested contingency table model to
investigate homogeneity bias in adolescent friendship choice along the dimension of
sexual behavior. Females, both black and white, tend to name friends whose sexual
behavior is like their own even when grade, other more visible deviant behaviors, and a
composite index of deviance proneness is taken into account. In contrast, neither
sexual intercourse nor any other deviant behavior considered in this analysis is a
significant factor in accounting for male adolescent friendship structure. They suggest
that the differential reputational consequences for males and females who have
intercourse may account for the observed difference by sex in the friendship choice-
sexual behavior relationship.

Independently, significant factors for premarital sex among boys were

pornography viewing, lack of confidence to resist peer pressure, perception that more
than one half of their friends had engaged in, permissiveness regarding premarital sex,
involvement in gang, drinking, smoking, and living in low-cost. For girls, additional
factors were previous sexual abuse and dropping out of school, and stronger
associations were found for lack of confidence to resist peer and permissiveness
regarding premarital sex. Exposure to persons with HIV/AIDS or sexually transmitted
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infections in the media was negatively associated with sex for boys and girls (Wong,
Chan, Koh, Tan, Lim, Emmanuel, & Bishop, 2009).

Younger and foreign-born teens, with lower parent education, with older

friendship networks, and attending a school that spans multiple grades, had greater
odds of having a first sexual experience with an older partner than with a similar-aged
partner. Hispanics and pre-menarche females had lower odds of having an older sexual
partner than of abstaining from sexual intercourse. In contrast, older age, lower parent
education, non-intact family structure, less connection to and more communication
with parents, substance use or having peers who used substances, and having older
peers were associated with increased odds of having sex with an older partner,
compared with not engaging in sexual intercourse. Manlove, Ryan, and Franzetta (2007)
concluded that their findings underscore the importance of educating teens about the
risks associated with dating and sexual relationships with older partners, and of
educating parents to be especially attentive to the age composition of their teens’ circle
of friends. Their research had implications for families and program providers, by
identifying target risk groups in need of potential prevention efforts.

In the study of Regassa and Kedir (2011), respondents were asked if they ever
had sexual intercourse with an individual of the opposite sex. Among all respondents,
207 (34.2%) reported to have had previous history of sexual experience. This aggregate
result is slightly inconsistent with previous study at Jimma University where 39.9%
students had had sexual experience in the past (Kassaye, 2005). However, the finding is
consistent with the KAPB assessment on AAU students by AAI some four years ago
where the result was 34.9%. The frequency distribution result revealed that the number
of students who were sexually engaged was much smaller than those who were not. As
a result, 399 (65.8%) of the respondents had no sexual experience. Disaggregated by
sex, 22.4 percent of males had had sex compared to 11.7 percent of females. The mean
and median age at first sex debut was 17.8 and 18.0 years respectively. This study
finding is almost consistent with other study results of the previous studies conducted
in Dire Dawa and AAU where the mean and median age at first sexual intercourse was
17.9 and 18.0 years respectively (Saba, 2009; Yordanos, 2008). However, the median
age at first sexual debut of this study is greater almost by two years than the national
survey result of Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey (2005) which is 16.1 years.
The respondents were asked of their sexual activity for the last six months in view of
knowing whether they were sexually active or not. Accordingly, about one-fifth 144
(23.8%) were found to be sexually active. Of these, 90 (14.9%) were males, and 54
(8.9%) females. Among those who had sex in the last 6 months, 41 (28.5%) had sex
once a month, 30 (20.8%) twice a month, 29 (20.1%) once a week, 17 (11.8%) twice a
week, and 27 (18.8%) other than these period had sex. In relation to the number of
sexual partners, 90 (62.5%) of them reported they had one sexual partner, 18 (12.5%)
had two, 15 (10.4%) had three, and 21 (14.6%) had more than three partners. As a
whole, the average number of sexual partners was found to be one. The result
however, needs to be interpreted with caution for at least two reasons. First, the
 13

finding is not in harmony with finding of the focused group discussions (FGDs) of both
sexes. In the FGDs, there was a consensus among participants that almost everybody is
sexually active. There is also strong agreement among participants of both sexes that
double dating, more bluntly “promiscuity”, is the campus norm. Since the FGD
participants talked about other people, and not about themselves, there is likelihood
for them to provide trustworthy information, and not a socially desirable response. Out
of sexually active respondents, 103 (71.5 %) used condoms. Of those who used
condoms, 68 (47.21%) were males while the rest 35 (24.3%) were females. However,
among 41 (28.5%) respondents, 15.3 % males and 13.2% females reported that they
had not used condoms in the past 6 months of sexual encounter. This indicates that
some of the respondents were still at high risk of contracting HIV/AIDS due to unsafe
sexual practice. Meanwhile, 21 (14.6%) of the respondent who had sex in the past 6
months, 15 (10.43%) and 6 (4.17%) females and males respectively, mentioned that
they had sex in exchange for money or gifts respectively.

Sexual Attitudes and Sexual Behavioral Dynamics

Longitudinal analyses of Brown and L'Engle (2009) showed that early exposure
of males to sexually explicit content (i.e., pornography and erotica) in adult magazines,
X-rated movies, and the Internet predicted less progressive gender role attitudes, more
permissive sexual norms, sexual harassment perpetration, and having oral sex and
sexual intercourse two years later. Early exposure for females predicted subsequently
less progressive gender role attitudes and having oral sex and sexual intercourse. 

Lo and Wei (2005) examined use of Internet pornography by adolescents in

Taiwan and the relationships between exposure to Internet pornography and the sexual
attitudes and behavior of surveyed teens. Results show that about 38% of the sample
had some exposure to Internet pornography. Further, this exposure was associated
with greater acceptance of sexual permissiveness and the greater likelihood of engaging
in sexually permissive behavior. Most important, this exposure showed sustained
relationships with sexually permissive attitudes and behavior when it was examined
simultaneously with exposure to traditional pornography, general media use, and
demographics.

Moreover, mass media play an important role in the socialization of youth.

Given its expanding nature and accessibility, the Internet may be at the forefront of this
education. However, the extent of the Internet's impact on adolescent sexual attitudes
and behaviors is not yet known. A total of 433 adolescents completed an anonymous
survey at a health center in New York City. The cross-sectional survey assessed Internet
accessibility, exposure to sexually explicit Web sites (SEWs), sexual behaviors, and
sexually permissive attitudes. Of the participants, 96% had Internet access, and 55.4%
reported ever visiting a SEW. Logistic regression analyses revealed that adolescents
exposed to SEWs were more likely to have multiple lifetime sexual partners (OR=1.8,
CI=1.2, 2.9), to have had more than one sexual partner in the last 3 months (OR=1.8,
 14

CI=1.1, 3.1), to have used alcohol or other substances at last sexual encounter (OR=2.8,
CI=1.5, 5.2), and to have engaged in anal sex (OR=2.0, CI=1.2, 3.4). Adolescents who
visit SEWs display higher sexual permissiveness scores compared with those who have
never been exposed (2.3 vs. 1.9, p ≤ .001), indicating a more permissive attitude.
Exposure to Internet pornography has potential implications for adolescent sexual
relationships, such as number of partners and substance use. SEWs can serve an
educational purpose and create an opportunity for adults to engage adolescents in
discussions about sexual health and consumption of Internet material. Longitudinal
research is needed to evaluate how exposure to SEWs influences youth attitudes and
sexual behaviors (Braun-Courville & Rojas, 2009).

In addition to the earthly delights of the flesh — the thrill of physically touching
and being touched by another warm body, the mounting excitement toward sexual
release, the climactic ecstasy of  orgasm, and the pulsating, peaceful afterglow of
relaxation following orgasm — human sexuality also serves both a psychological
and spiritual purpose (Bailey, Vasey, Diamond, Breedlove, Vilain, & Epprecht, 2016).

A study by White, Terry, and Hogg (1994) assessed the utility of revisions to the
theories of reasoned action/planned behavior in the context of HIV‐preventive
behaviors. Revisions to the models incorporated the addition of group norm (behavioral
norm and group attitude) to the non-native component of the reasoned action model
and the distinction among three aspects (self‐efficacy, perceived behavioral control,
and planning) of the control component of the theory of planned behavior.
Respondents were 211 sexually experienced heterosexual undergraduates. The study
employed a longitudinal design, with the proposed predictors of performing the
behaviors under consideration (using a condom every time you have sexual intercourse
during the next month and discussing whether to use a condom with any new partners
during the next month) assessed prior to the measures of reported behavior. Consistent
with expectations, group norm emerged as a distinctive predictor (in addition to
attitude and subjective norm) of intentions to practice both safer sex behaviors. The
data also revealed some support for the distinction among the different measures of
control.

Goodson, McCormick, and Evans (2001) examined specific behaviors and

outcome expectations and expectancies (or attitudes) of a sample of 506
undergraduate students at a public university in Texas. Data were collected through a
self-administered questionnaire, designed and pretested by the authors. Main results
revealed that most students in the sample were infrequent and relatively new users of
the Internet. Forty-three percent (43.5%) of students had sometime accessed sexually
explicit materials through the Internet, but the practice was not very common. Only
2.9% said they accessed these materials “frequently.” Male students were significantly
more likely to have accessed the Internet for viewing sexually explicit materials and to
claim curiosity about sex as their motivation for this behavior. Women were
significantly more likely to have experienced sexual harassment while online. In terms
 15

of attitudes, this sample did not appear to value highly or exhibit strong beliefs about
the potential outcomes associated with accessing the Internet for sexually explicit
materials.

Theoretical and Conceptual Frameworks of the Study

This research study is anchored on the cognitive dissonance theory of Festinger

and the ABC model of attitudes to explain sexual attitude and sexual behavior.

The cognitive dissonance theory states that there is a tendency for individuals to
seek consistency among their cognitions; that is, beliefs or opinions. When there is a
contradiction between attitudes and behaviors also known as dissonance, something
must change to eliminate the dissonance. Cognitive dissonance plays an important role
in many important judgments, decisions, and evaluations people face daily. People have
an inner need to guarantee that their beliefs and behaviors are consistent. Inconsistent
or conflicting beliefs lead to dissonance, which people struggle to avoid at all costs.
Cognitive dissonance can be seen as an antecedent condition which leads to activity
oriented toward dissonance reduction, just as hunger leads toward activity oriented
toward hunger reduction. The degree of dissonance people experience can depend on
many different factors usually depending on the person, including how highly they
value a specific belief and the extent to which their beliefs are conflicting. Cognitive
dissonance can arise in many areas of one's life, but it is principally clear in situations
where an individual's behavior conflicts with beliefs that are important to one's self-
identity (Festinger, 1962).

The ABC model of attitudes shows that the attitude structure can be described
in terms of three components: affective component (involves a person’s feelings or
emotions about the attitude object); behavioral component (the way the attitude one
has influences how one acts or behaves); and mental component (involves a person’s
belief / knowledge about an attitude object). One of the underlying assumptions about
the link between attitudes and behavior is that of consistency. This means that people
often or usually expect the behavior of a person to be consistent with the attitudes that
they hold (principle of consistency). This principle reflects the idea that people are
rational and attempt to behave rationally at all times and that their behaviors should be
consistent with their attitudes. Whilst this principle may be a sound one, it is clear that
people do not always follow it, sometimes behaving in seemingly quite illogical ways;
for example, having unsafe sexual activities and knowing that it leads to sexually
transmitted infections (McLeod, 2014). The strength with which an attitude is held is
often a good predictor of behavior. The stronger the attitude, the more likely it should
affect behavior. Attitude strength involves importance or personal relevance and
knowledge. Importance or personal relevance refers to how significant the attitude is
for people and relates to self-interest, social identification and value. If an attitude has a
high self-interest for a person, it is going to be extremely important. As a consequence,
the attitude will have a very strong influence upon a person's behavior. By contrast, an
 16

attitude will not be important to a person if it does not relate in any way to his/her life.
The knowledge aspect of attitude strength covers how much a person knows about the
attitude object. People are generally more knowledgeable about topics that interest
them and are likely to hold strong attitudes (positive or negative) as a consequence.
Attitudes based on direct experience are more strongly held and influence behavior
more than attitudes formed indirectly. A teen-ager who is exposed to peers who
practice sexual activities and who sees pornographic materials will likely have positive
attitude towards sexual activity and will practice it.

Figure 1 presents the conceptual framework of the study. The independent

variable of the study is sexual attitude and is defined by McLeod (2014) as "a relatively
enduring organization of beliefs, feelings, and behavioral tendencies towards sexual
activity”. In this study, sexual attitude is the brief sexual attitude of the students based
on the factors of permissiveness, birth control, communion and instrumentality. The
dependent variable in this study is sexual behavioral dynamic and is described by
Levine, Steinke, Bakaeen, Bozkurt, Cheitlin, Conti, ... and Lindau (2012) as an important
component of partners for quality of life for men and women. In this study, sexual
behavioral dynamic is used as the love-making activity, love-making experience, and
sexual frequency. The influence of sexual attitude on sexual behavioral dynamic maybe
mediated by some variables, namely, age, daily allowance, number of friends, and type
of friends.

Independent Variable Dependent Variable

Sexual Attitudes: Sexual Behavioral
Dynamics:
• Permissiveness
• Birth control • Love-making
• Communion activity
• Instrumentality Mediating Variables • Love-making
• Age experience
• Daily allowance • Sexual
• Number of friends frequency
• Type of friends

Figure 1. Conceptual framework of the study.

METHOD

The researcher used a descriptive correlational research design using a survey

technique to fulfill the objectives set in this study. Cohen, West, and Aiken (2014)
defined correlation as a statistical tool to measure the association of two or more
quantitative variables. Survey research encompasses any measurement procedures that
involve asking questions of respondents. A "survey" can be anything form a short
 17

paper-and-pencil feedback form to an intensive one-on-one in-depth interview (Alreck

& Settle, 1994). In this study, descriptive correlational study was adapted to determine
the relationship between sexual attitudes and sexual behavioral dynamics of SHS
students in Davao City.

The proposed respondents of the study were the SHS students of selected
private schools in Davao City, namely: Ateneo de Davao University (AdDU), Brokenshire
College (BC), Davao Doctors College (DDC), Holy Cross of Davao College (HCDC), and
University of Immaculate Concepcion (UIC) using a purposive sampling method.
Unfortunately, only one of the five schools finally participated in this study, which name
is to be kept strictly confidential as part of the agreement with the school’s principal
and vice principal in order to protect the school’s image and student safety. The
school’s SHS principal and selected class advisors determined what strand or class
participated in this study which was one class from both grades 11 and 12.

The researcher used an instrument with three Parts. Part 1 is the researcher-
constructed instrument which is the demographic profile of the respondents, such as
age, daily allowance, number of friends, and type of friends. Part 2 is from a published
tool entitled "Brief Sexual Attitudes Scale" (BSAS) by Hendrick, Hendrick, and Reich
(2006). BSAS is designed to measure the respondent's attitudes towards sex composed
of four subscales: permissiveness, birth control, communion, and instrumentality. The
23 items are rated on a five-point Likert scale that ranges from strongly agree to
strongly disagree. Results indicated that the BSAS is a reliable and valid measure of the
four sexual attitudes and has strong psychometric properties. It should be effective and
efficient for both research and clinical uses. Part 3 is also a researcher-made
questionnaire entitled “Sexual Behavioral Dynamics” which consists of three questions
designed to assess the frequency of sexual activities within the current year, love-
making activities, and love-making experiences. This modified instrument underwent
pilot testing as well as reliability testing and validation process by faculty members in
different fields identified by the research professor.

The researcher conducted the study after following the institutional protocol by
first asking permission through letters from Offices of the Dean of Humanities, Social
Science and Communication, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Institutional
Research and Student Life Services. After that, a letter of intent for the conduct of the
research was given for approval to the principals of the selected private schools in
Davao City. Upon approval, the researcher scheduled a visit to the selected schools to
distribute copies of the informed consent to the class advisers for dissemination politely
instructing them to send these to the parents through their students. Another visit was
scheduled to collect the signed informed consents. Students with consent were given
the instruments by the adviser and researcher to answer, which they all answered at a
private location agreed upon by the researcher and the school principal. The researcher
gave the respondents the freedom to terminate or withdraw before or during the
conduct of the study. Collection by the researcher of instruments was done right after
 18

the conduct of the survey. Debriefing and reimbursements were done after. In this
study, the researcher ensured that the information gathered remained confidential
without deviating ethical protocol.

Frequency distribution was utilized by the researcher to determine the

demographic profile of respondents in terms of age, daily allowance, number of friends,
and type of friends; and sexual behavioral dynamics in terms of love-making activities,
love-making experiences, and sexual frequency. Mean was utilized to determine the
level of attitudes of the respondents in terms of permissiveness, birth control,
communion and instrumentality. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used to determine
the significant difference of the sexual attitudes of respondents when grouped
according to their profile and to determine the significant relationship between
attitudes and sexual behavioral dynamics. Frequency distribution is a tabular
arrangement of the data by using categories or classes and their corresponding
frequencies (Broto, 2006). Mean or average is the sum of the values of the variables
divided by the number of observations. ANOVA is used to test hypotheses about the
differences between two or more means (Creswell, 2002). The Likert Scale below was
used to give description to the data.

Likert Scale for Interpreting the Level of Sexual Attitudes

Rate Range of Means Description Interpretation

4 3.25 - 4.00 Strongly Agree The respondent strongly agrees

3 2.51 - 3.25
2 1.75 - 2.50
1 1.00 - 1.74
with the statement.
Agree The respondent agrees with
the statement.
Disagree The respondent strongly disagrees
with the statement.
Strongly Disagree The respondent strongly disagrees
with the statement.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

This section presents the results of the statistical analysis. A detailed discussion
follows the presentation of the results to provide meaning and implications to
numerical data.

Demographic Profile of the Respondents

Table 1 presents the demographic profile of the respondents. This data provides
a comprehensive background of the senior high school (SHS) students involved in the
study. This is necessary to understand the attitude and behavior of the SHS students
based on their characteristics.
 19

Table 1. Demographic Profile of the Respondents

Demographic f Percent Demographic f Percent

Profile Profile

Age (years) Number of Friends

17 11 27.50 0 1 2.50
18 19 47.50 1– 5 8 20.00
19 8 20.00 6 – 10 7 17.50
20 1 2.50 11 – 15 3 7.50
21 1 2.50 16 or more 21 52.50
Total 40 100.00 Total 40 100.00

Daily Allowance Type of Friends

PhP 100 or less 13 32.50 Casual 8 20.00
PhP 101 – 200 15 37.50 Trusted 23 57.50
PhP 201 – 300 7 17.50 Available 9 22.50
PhP 301 – 400 1 2.50 Total 40 100.00
PhP 401 – 500 0 0.00
PhP 501 or more 4 10.00
Total 40 100.00

Table 1 shows that of the sampled population, most of the SHS students are
aged 19 with 47.50 percent, followed by aged 17 with 27.50 percent while on the other
extreme, 2.50 percent were aged 20 and 21.

As for daily allowance, 37.50 percent of the sampled population has 101-200
pesos, followed by 100 pesos or less with 32.50 percent while on the other end, nobody
has 401-500 pesos.

As for the number of friends, 52.50 percent of the sampled population has 16 or
more friends while on the other hand, 2.50 percent has no friend.

As for the type of friends, 57.50 percent of the sampled population has trusted
friends while on the other ends, 20.00 percent has casual friends.

Level of Brief Sexual Attitudes of the SHS Students

Table 2 presents the analysis on the brief sexual attitudes of the SHS students. In
general, their attitudes can be described as strongly agreeable (M=3.91). This means
that the instrument’s statements describe the sexual attitudes of the students very
accurately.
 20

Table 2. Level of Brief Sexual Attitudes of the Respondents

Brief Sexual Mean SD Description Interpretation

Attitudes

Permissiveness 1.89 0.27 Disagree The statement does not

describe the sexual attitudes
of the SHS at all.
Birth control 3.33 0.01 Strongly Agree The statement describes the
sexual attitudes of the SHS
very accurately.
Communion 3.13 0.10 Agree The statement describes the
sexual attitudes of the SHS
for most part.
Instrumentality 2.78 0.14 Agree The statement describes the
sexual attitudes of the SHS
for most part.
Total 3.91 0.13 Strongly Agree The statement describes
the sexual attitudes of the
SHS very accurately.

Table 2 shows that of the four areas of the brief sexual attitudes, birth control
was the most agreeable among the respondents with a mean of 3.33 and a standard
deviation of 0.01 while the least agreeable is permissiveness with a mean of 1.89 and a
standard deviation of 0.27. The implication to the result is most likely due to
responsibility, awareness and natural knowledge to students in sex education topics or
seminars.

Results from a study conducted by Manlove, Ryan, and Franzetta (2007) showed
that teen-agers who had waited a longer time between the start of a relationship and
first sex engagement with a partner used contraception before first having sex. In
addition, Mueller, Gavin, and Kulkarni (2002) discovered in their study that formal sex
education may effectively reduce adolescent sexual risk behaviors when provided
before sexual initiation, while sex education was found to be particularly important for
subgroups that are traditionally at high risk for early initiation of sex and for contracting
sexually transmitted diseases. On a study on permissiveness conducted by Zuo, Lou,
Gao, Cheng, Niu, and Zabin (2012), male respondents in each city held more permissive
attitudes towards premarital sex than did females with both boys and girls expressing
greater permissiveness to male premarital sexual behaviors.

Sexual Behavioral Dynamics of the SHS Students

Table 3 presents the sexual behavioral dynamics of the SHS students in terms of
love-making activities, love-making experiences, and sexual frequency.
 21

Table 3. Sexual Behavioral Dynamics of the SHS Students

Sexual Behavioral Dynamics f Percent
1. How far have gone in love-making activities?
1st Base 12 30.00
2nd Base 2 5.00
3rd Base 3 7.50
4th Base 14 35.00
N/A 9 22.50
Total 40 100.00

2. Have you ever experienced love-making?

Yes 19 47.50
No 21 52.50
Total 40 100.00

3. How many times have you had intercourse with?

Daily 1 2.50
Weekly 5 12.50
Monthly 8 20.00
Yearly 2 5.00
Quarterly 2 5.00
N/A 22 55.00
Total 40 100.00

Table 3 shows the results of the sexual behavioral dynamics of the respondents.
As for the first statement “How far have you gone in love-making?”, 4 th base
(experienced sexual intercourse) was the highest with a percentage of 35% and the
second was 1st base (kissing) with a percentage of 30%. As for the second statement
“Have you ever experienced love-making?”, 47.5% of the respondents responded with
the answer yes while 52.5% responded no to experiencing love-making. For the last
statement “How many times have you had intercourse with?”, 55% gave an answer of
N/A (not experienced love-making) followed by monthly with 20%.

First intercourse is perceived as the fulfillment of young love, motivated by peer

pressure to keep their boyfriends and at the same time as a “challenge” to parental
authority or a gross transgression of a religious or social taboo (Leyson, 2001).
According to a 2009 survey, students in grades 9 through 12 were less likely to report
sexual intercourse with at least one person compared with students surveyed in
2003. The survey indicated that 46% of students had sexual intercourse with at least
one person (Tulloch and Kaufman, 2013). While a small majority answered 2nd and 3rd
bases, there were still those that answer “N/A” meaning they have not yet experienced
any form of sexual interaction that reaches any of the sexual behavioral dynamics
bases. The second area of concern showed a fifty-fifty response from the respondents
 22

with half of the respondents answering yes to having experienced sexual intercourse
and the other half answering no, which means that sexual attitudes and behavior differ
from one group of Filipino youth to another (Leyson, 2001).

Test of Difference on the Sexual Attitudes and Profiles of the SHS Students

Table 4 presents the results of the test of difference when the level of sexual
attitudes of the SHS students was analyzed by type of friends, daily allowance, age, and
number of friends. It also presents the F-computed value, the F-tabular value, degrees
of freedom, and the decision whether to reject or do not reject the null hypotheses.

Table 4. Test of Difference on the Sexual Attitudes and Profiles of the Respondents
Factors SS df MS F Sig. Decision
Type of Friends 87.52 2 43.76 6.23 3.23 Reject Null
Daily Allowance 442.25 2 221.22 16.11 3.23 Reject Null
Age 486.86 1 486.86 18.67 4.26 Reject Null
No. of Friends 35.25 1 35.25 1.98 4.26 Fail to Reject Null

Based on table 4, three of the profiles: type of friends (F-computed value = 6.23,
F-tabulated value = 3.23), daily allowance (F-computed value = 16.11, F-tabulated value
= 3.23) and age (F-computed value = 18.67, F-tabulated value = 4.26) were significantly
different since their F-computed values were greater than their F-tabulate values at
0.05 level of significance. This means that there is a significant difference in the SHS
students’ sexual attitudes when analyzed and categorized by type of friends, daily
allowance, and age.

Bleakley, Hennessy, Fishbein, and Jordan (2009) showed that the most
frequently reported sources of sexual information of adolescents were friends,
teachers, mothers, and media. Regression analyses indicated that learning about sex
from parents, grandparents, and religious leaders was associated with beliefs likely to
delay sex; friends, cousins, and media were associated with beliefs that increase the
likelihood of having sexual intercourse. In addition, Moore and Rosenthal (1991)
showed that adolescents perceived their parents as non‐liberal in their sexual attitudes
and relatively unlikely to discuss sex or precautions with them. Parents were viewed as
more accepting of their sons' sexual behaviours than of their daughters'. Adolescents
believed that peers were more likely to discuss sexuality and precautions than parents,
and were more liberal in their sexual attitudes. Adolescent sexual risk‐taking was
related to the perceived attitudes of significant others in ways which varied across
gender and type of relationship. In addition, adolescents who reported sexual activity
had high levels of reputation based popularity but not likeability among peers;
however, sex with more partners were associated with lower levels of popularity
(Prinstein, Meade, & Cohen, 2003).
 23

Zabin, Hirsch, Smith, and Hardy (1984) found that 83 percent of sexually
experienced adolescents cite a best age for first intercourse that is older than the age at
which they themselves experienced that event, and 43 percent of them report a best
age for first coitus older than their current age. In addition, 88 percent of young women
who have had a baby say the best age at which to have a first birth is older than the age
at which they first became mothers. Also, Belgrave, Van Oss Marin, and Chambers
(2000) revealed that older girls were expected to have more risky sexual attitudes than
younger girls, and girls from 1- rather than 2-parent households were expected to have
more risky sexual attitudes. They concluded that age and behavioral self-esteem were
significant predictors, with younger teens and teens with higher behavioral self-esteem
having less risky sexual attitudes. Moreover, Regassa and Kedir (2011) reported few
adolescents having had previous history of sexual experience which is slightly
inconsistent with previous study at Jimma University by Kassaye (2005) in which
students had had sexual experience in the past.

The mean and median age at first sex debut was 17.8 and 18.0 years
respectively. This study finding is almost consistent with other study results of the
previous studies conducted in Dire Dawa and AAU where the mean and median age at
first sexual intercourse was 17.9 and 18.0 years respectively (Saba, 2009; Yordanos,
2008). However, the median age at first sexual debut of this study is greater almost by
two years than the national survey result of Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey
(2005) which is 16.1 years.

In contrast, the number of friends as profile (F-computed value=1.98,

F-tabulated value=4.26) was not significantly different since the F-computed value is
lesser than the F-tabulated value. This means that there is no significant difference in
the SHS students’ sexual attitudes when analyzed and categorized by number of friends

Daugherty and Burger (1984) found out that general attitudes of female
students about sexuality and sexual behaviors were correlated with the perceived
attitudes of peers, rather than those of parents and church. In addition, DiIorio, Kelley,
and Hockenberry-Eaton (1999) concluded that early adolescence (13–15 years old) is
characterized by more sex-based discussions with mothers than friends or fathers.
Daughters and sons discuss different topics with their fathers, although discussion by
both genders with fathers is limited. If an adolescent talks more with the mother about
sexual issues than with friends, he/she is less likely to initiate sexual intercourse and
more likely to have conservative values. But Sieving, Eisenberg, Pettingell, and Skay
(2006) discovered that the higher the proportion of a youth's friends who were sexually
experienced, the greater the odds of sexual debut. They also added thatbthe odds also
were elevated among youths who believed that they would gain their friends' respect
by having sex. Adolescents who reported sexual activity had high levels of reputation
 24

based popularity but not likeability among peers; however, sex with more partners
were associated with lower levels of popularity (Prinstein, Meade, & Cohen, 2003).

Test of Relationship Between Sexual Attitudes and Sexual Behavioral Dynamics of the
SHS Student

Table 5 presents the results of the test of relationship between sexual attitudes
and sexual behavioral dynamics of the SHS students. It also presents the F-computed
value, the F-tabular value, degrees of freedom, interaction effect, and the decision
whether to reject or do not reject the null hypotheses.

Table 5. Test of Relationship Between Sexual Attitudes and Sexual Behavioral Dynamics
of the SHS Students
Factors SS df MS F Sig. Decision
Sexual Attitudes 12.73 15 0.85 0.36 2.11 Fail to Reject Null
Sexual Behavior 22.87 4 50.72 21.6 3.05 Reject Null
Interaction 66.86 60 1.11 0.47 1.75 Fail to Reject Null
Within 289.62 139 2.35

Based on table 5, the F-value of interaction between sexual attitudes and sexual
behavioral dynamics (0.47) is lesser than the F-tabular value (1.75) at 0.05 level of
significance with 60 and 139 degrees of freedom; thus, the test rejects the null
hypothesis. This means that there is an interaction effect between the sexual attitudes
and sexual behavioral dynamics of the SHS students.

Consistent with expectations, attitude and subjective norm (in addition to group
norm) emerged as a distinctive predictor of intentions to practice both safer sex
behaviors. The data also revealed some support for the distinction among the different
measures of control. The Youth Adult Sexuality Survey (Zablan, 1994) revealed that
about 18% accepted premarital sex, although a majority of 80% still believed it was a sin
and morally unacceptable. According to Braun-Courville and Rojas (2009), exposure to
internet pornography has potential implications for adolescent sexual relationships,
such as number of partners and substance use. In another study conducted by Treboux
and Busch-Rossnagel (1990) on contraceptive use among adolescent teens and social
network influences, they hypothesized that the social network influences of parents
and peers would affect the contraceptive knowledge and premarital sexual attitudes of
adolescents. In turn, knowledge and attitudes were expected to influence sexual
behavior and contraceptive use. Moreover, a study by White, Terry, and Hogg (1994) is
consistent with expectations in which attitude influences intentions to practice safer sex
behaviors. But the study of Goodson, McCormick, and Evans (2001) did not appear to
value highly or exhibit strong beliefs about the potential outcomes associated with
accessing the Internet for sexually explicit materials.
 25

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Senior high school (SHS) students in Davao City show positive attitude towards
sexand mostly are favorable to the use of birth control. There are more SHS students
who engage in sexual intercourse, and most of them do it on a monthly basis.
Moreover, demographic profiles such as type of friends, age, and daily allowance show
significant difference to the sexual attitudes of the SHS students but the number of
friends does not show. Lastly, the sexual attitudes and sexual behaviors of the SHS
students show no interaction effect with each other.

Offices in charge of the wefare of students in an institution should take

advantage of the SHS students’ positive attitude towards sex. This is an advantageous
starting point for monitoring their sexual behaviors since there are already students
who engage in sexual intercourse. It is also a good baseline in designing programs that
are geared towards reproductive health , especially those who are sexually active.
Further, academic institutions should reach out to the SHS students who need
intervention, foster good communication and comfort between parents and
adolescents about sexual issues like teen pregnancy, abortion, sexually transmitted
diseases, and sex crimes.

REFERENCES

Abma, J. C., Dawson, B. S., Martinez, G. M., & Mosher, W. D. (2004). Teenagers in the
United States; sexual activity, contraceptive use, and childbearing, 2002.

Alreck, P. L., & Settle, R. B. (1994). The survey research handbook. McGraw-Hill.

Astin, S., Redston, P., & Campbell, A. (2003). Sex differences in social representations of
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 30

APPENDICES

Appendix A - Letter to Validators

31
32
 33

Appendix B - Research Assessment Instrument Validation Sheet

34
35
 36

Appendix C - Research Instrument

The researcher is a student of Holy Cross of Davao College taking up BS Psychology and
is currently conducting a study entitled Sexual Attitudes of Senior High School Students.
With this, may I request you to answer the questions in this questionnaire to the best of
your knowledge. If you have some queries, please refer them to the instrument
facilitator. Thank you for your time, energy and support. God bless you all.

Part 1: DEMOGRAPHICS:

Age: _____

Daily Allowance: ____ PhP 100 or less

____ PhP 101 - PhP 200
____ PhP 201 - PhP 300
____ PhP 301 - PhP 400
____ PhP 401 - PhP 500
____ PhP 501 or more

Number of Friends: ____ None

____ 1 - 5
____ 6 - 10
____ 11 - 15
____ 16 or more

Type of Friends: ____ Casual

____ Trusted
____ Available (hanging out with whoever is free)

Part 2 -BRIEF SEXUAL ATTITUDES SCALE

Listed below are several statements that reflect different attitudes about toward
sexual activity. For each statement, fill in the response on the answer sheet that
indicates how much you agree or disagree with that statement. Some of the items refer
to a specific sexual relationship, while others refer to general attitudes and beliefs
about making love. Whenever possible, answer the questions with your current partner
in mind. If you are not currently dating anyone, answer the questions with your most
recent partner in mind. If you have never had a sexual relationship, answer in terms of
what you think your responses would most likely be.
 37

For each statement are four (4) possible responses:

Scale Description Interpretation

The statement describes your sexual attitude very
4 SA = Strongly Agree
accurately.
The statement describes your sexual attitude for most
3 A =Agree
part.
The statement does not describe your sexual attitude for
2 D = Disagree
most part.
The statement does not describe your sexual attitude at
1 SD = Strongly Disagree
all.

4 3 2 1
Statements
(SA) (A) (D) (SD)
1. I do not need to be committed to a person to make love with
him/her.
2. I believe casual love making is acceptable.
3. I would like to have make love with many partners.
4. I consider one-night stands are sometimes very enjoyable.
5. It is acceptable to have ongoing sexual relationships with more
than one partner at a time.
6. I view love making as a simple exchange of favors if both agree to
it.
7. I agree that the best love making is with no strings attached.

Statements 4 3 2 1
(SA) (A) (D) (SD)
8. I believe that life would have fewer problems if people could make
love more freely.
9. It is possible to enjoy love making with a person and not like that
person very much.
10. I believe love making to be a good stress reliever.
11. I believe that using birth control and other contraceptives
 38

(Condoms, Lubricant, and etc.) is part of responsibility in love making.

12. I believe that birth control as part of safe love making, is a shared
responsibility of both partners.
13. I consider "love making" as the closest form of communication
between two persons.
14. I believe love making among couples deeply in love, is an ultimate
act of human interaction.
15. I believe that "love making " is not simply the act, but the merging
of two souls.
16. Love making is a very important part of life.
17. I believe love making is an intensive and overwhelming
experience.
18. I believe "love making" can be experienced at its best when
relaxed and natural to better enjoy yourself.
19. "Love making" is selfless and or shared experience of enjoyment.

20. The main purpose of making love is to enjoy oneself.

21. "Love making" is primarily physical.
22. "Love making" is mostly a bodily function, like eating.

Adapted from: Hendrick, Hendrick& Reich(2006). Journal of Sex Research, 43, 76-86.)
Note. The BSAS includes the instructions shown at the top. The items are given in the
order shown. The BSAS is usually part of a battery test with items numbered
consecutively. For purposes of analyses, we have A=1 and E=5. (The scoring may be
reversed, so that A = strongly disagree, etc.). A participant receives four subscale scores,
based on the mean score for a particular subscale (i.e., we add up the 10 items on
Permissiveness and divide by 10). An overall scale score is really not useful.

Items Scoring Key

1-10 Permissiveness
11-12 Birth Control
13-16 Communion
17-22 Instrumentality

Part 3 - SEXUAL BEHAVIORAL DYNAMICS

 39

This part is designed to assess your sexual behavioral dynamics such as relational status
and sexual experience, and the frequency of sexual activity. Keep in mind that all
information that you will answer in this test will be kept confidential and will be only
used for research purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________

1. How far have you gone in love making activities?

____ 1st Base (Kissing)
____ 2nd Base (Touching of upper parts of the body)
____ 3rd Base (Touching of lower parts of the body)
____ 4th Base (Sexual intercourse)

2. Have you ever experienced Love Making?

____ Yes
____ No

3. How many times have you had intercourse with? (Whether it being with random
partners or with the same partner, example, Boyfriend, Girlfriend or Buddy)
____ daily
____ weekly
____ monthly
____ quarterly
____ yearly

Appendix D - Informed Consent

 40

Appendix E – Letter to Gather Data

41
42
43
 44

Appendix F - Data Analysis

 45

Demographic Profiles of the Respondents

Sexual Attitude Levels of the Respondents Based on the Brief Sexual Attitudes Scale
 46

Sexual Behavioral Dynamics of The Respondents

Appendix G - Matrix of Corrections


Teacher Comments
(Chapter 3 &4)
Sir Kim Sanico • N/A
Dr. Fabiania • Properly define and explain
the results for each table.
• Use RRL’s that are more
recent, if possible.
• Spelling
• Define the conclusions
more clearly, make it by
part and relate it to the
research objectives.
• Make the recommendations
more recommending for the
community.
Dr. Macunlay • Properly define and explain
the results for each table.
• Make the recommendations
more recommending for the
community.
CURRICULUM VITAE
47
Revisions
• N/A
• Results for each table
were more properly
defined and explained.
• RRL’s were double
checked and have been
changed.
• Spelling for words were
all checked.
• Conclusions was
defined more properly
and by part. It also
relates more with the
studys objectives.
• Recommendations were
adjusted and related
more to the community
for their benifit.
• Results for each table
were more properly
defined and explained.
• Recommendations were
adjusted and related
more to the community
for their benifit.
 48

Name: Elton Edward Baranaskas

Address: Malvar Street, Davao City
Birthday: August 7, 1994
Birth Place: Bloomsburg Pennsylvania, USA
Contact number: 09568108521

EDUCATIONAL HISTORY

Elementary:
St Columba Private School (1999 – 2003) (preschool l –Grade 3)
Notre Dame of Midsayap College, ETD (2005 – 2006) (Grade 4 – Grade 6)

High School:
Notre Dame of Midsayap College, HS (2009 – 2010)

College:
Holy Cross Of Davao College Inc. (BS Psychology) (2013-present)

SEMINARS & TRAININGS

 On Job Training at the “Holy Cross of Davao College Guidance Office,

Testing and Counsling Area” (2018-2019)

 On Job Training at “Suther Land Global Sevices, Davao City” (2018-

2019)

 On Training at Rainbow Intervention Center For Autism Foundation,

INC