PERCEPTION TOWARDS SEXUAL ENGAGEMENT OF SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the perception of senior high school students towards sexual engagement. This study utilized descriptive – comparative research design. The Youth Sexual Intention Questionnaire (YSI-Q which composed of four constructs, namely (1) Sexual intention (2) Attitude towards premarital sex (3) Social norms and (4) Self-efficacy) was administered to 284 senior high school students in Sta. Cruz National High School. The result has an 83.45% response rate (n=237). Independent T-test was used to measure the difference between sex, track and students’ perception towards sexual engagement. Senior high school students have predominantly low extent of perception towards sexual engagement. Independent T-test analysis revealed that there is a significant difference between the sex of the students and their perception towards sexual engagement with p-value of 0.00 at 0.05. In addition, students’ track and their perception towards sexual engagement found out to have significant difference with p-value of 0.00 at 0.05. Findings can be utilized by school administrators, guidance facilitators and educators to come up with symposiums and intensive lectures to parents and students about topics like sex and its consequences. Likewise, further studies with inclusion of family status as variable in determining students’ perception towards sexual engagement were recommended.