Adolescent romantic relationships and physical intimacy: Reshaping beliefs and behavior toward responsible sexuality

Date of Publication

2001

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling Psychology Major in Clinical Counseling

Subject Categories

Gender and Sexuality

College

Br. Andrew Gonzalez FSC College of Education

Department/Unit

Counseling and Educational Psychology

Thesis Adviser

Jose Alberto S. Reyes

Defense Panel Chair

Carmelita P. Pabiton

Defense Panel Member

Rose Marie Salazar-Clemena
Naomi R. Ruiz
Barbara Wong Fernandez
Ma. Teresa Villasor

Abstract/Summary

This study aims to uncover beliefs and behaviors that may put adolescents at risk for sexual intimacy with romantic partners and to develop and test the effectiveness of a psycho-educational program designed to reshape those beliefs and behaviors toward responsible sexuality. The initial descriptive phase of the study surveyed 592 senior high school students, aged 15 to 18 years and 100 of their parents. Results showed that parents and adolescents were most concerned about the increased risk for sexual activity and pregnancy among romantically-involved teens, who made up 56 percent of the population. Approximately 12 percent of these teens admitted to having engaged in petting, and 10 percent have already engaged in sexual intercourse. These sexually active teens scored significantly higher on the Remmer's Attitude Scale towards Teen Sex, and espoused permissive beliefs that put them at risk for sexual involvement. These beliefs included: being in love as justifying premarital sex, confidence that contraception eliminates the possibility of pregnancy, and a low value placed on virginity, religious prohibition and parental reactions. During the experimental phase of the study, 80 high school seniors were randomly assigned to a wait-list control group and an experimental group which was exposed to a Workshop Intervention featuring Cognitive Restructuring and Refusal and Resistance Skills Training. At the end of the workshop, post-testing revealed that the experimental group participants developed less permissive attitudes toward premarital sex and displayed more effective refusal behavior skills than their wait-list control counterparts.

Abstract Format

html

Language

English

Format

Print

Accession Number

TG03182

Shelf Location

Archives, The Learning Commons, 12F Henry Sy Sr. Hall

Physical Description

144 leaves, 28 cm.

Keywords

Sex; Behavior disorders in adolescence; Teenagers; High school students

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