Dirty Little Secrets in the University:
Knowledge and Practices on Sex among the Filipino Youth
Racidon P. Bernarte (corresponding author)
Lorraine D’Arc A. Cardenas, Jana Veronica I. Cornelio,
Alice S. Lontoc and Anjeleeque T. Nucum
rpbernarte@pup.edu.ph
Polytechnic University of the Philippines
Anonas, Santa Mesa, Manila, 1016 Metro Manila
ABSTRACT
This study aimed to gain descriptive-correlational understanding on the knowledge and
practices towards sex of the Filipino youth in a Sectarian and Non-sectarian University and how
this knowledge can affect one’s practice. It utilized the quantitative research paradigm to learn and
understand deeper the concept of sex. Principal data were gather from 400 college students of the
University of Santo Tomas and Far Eastern University. The researchers collected data through the
use of survey questionnaires composed of 55 questions divided into three parts: personal
information, knowledge on sex activities and sexual practices. The respondents were selected
using the non-probability-convenience sampling. A significant relationship was showed in the
result of the study, specifically, a moderate correlation between the student respondents’ level of
knowledge about sex activities and sexual practices. The student respondents from Sectarian and
Non-sectarian University are found to be moderately knowledgeable about the different sex
activities; French kissing being the most recognized and anal sex being the least. Furthermore,
results showed that the most frequently practiced sexual activity is open mouth kissing followed
by masturbation and French kissing while anal sex is the least.
The study revealed that respondents from the Sectarian University are more knowledgeable
about sex activities by .08% compared to that of the respondents from the Non-sectarian. However,
both universities were discovered to have an equal level of sexual practice.
KEYWORDS
Filipino Youth, Sex, Sexual Activities, Sexual Practices, Philippines, Asia
INTRODUCTION
Dr. Jose Rizal (1879) once said, “Youth is the fair hope of the motherland.” But nowadays,
youth’s ideas and interests have changed especially here in the Philippines; from the conservative
type, now the total opposite.
1
UNESCO defined youth as the state of being young; the time between childhood and
adulthood which by licit definition comprises those who are 15 to 30 years old. Youth is best
explain as a period of shift from the dependency of childhood to adulthood’s liberation and
awareness of our interdependence as members of a community. Here in the Philippines, almost
one-third of the country’s population encompasses the youth. Teenagers have a quality of being
in impetuous decisions, youthful vigor and immaturity (Schouwenburg, 2003). It is very alarming
that today, the amount of teenagers engaging in sex is increasing rapidly.
In the Philippines, the 2013 Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality Study (YAFS 4) showed
that 1 in every three individuals aged 15 to 24 years old has involved in premarital sex. When the
second YAFS conducted, the number is increasing by more than 14% from almost two decades
ago. This result renders to about 6.2 million youth who have involved in sexual intercourse before
marriage. YAFS also reported a narrowing gap in the number of males and females who have
affianced in premarital sex. In 1994, 35% of men and 28.7% of women in 2013, from 26.1% of
men and 10.2% of women. The National Capital Region (NCR) and Central Luzon had the premier
occurrence of premarital sex among youth between 40.9% and 39.1%. The Autonomous Region
in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), has the lowest prevalence of 7.7% (Aquino, 2014).
One in every 100 youth has also documented himself/herself and his or her partner having
sex, which is equivalent to about 150,000 young individuals. Four in every 100 tried sex with
someone they barely met online or through text messages and six in every 100 have experienced
phone sex (Aquino, 2014). The increased predominance of sexual activities could also mean that
the youth had new trending activities regarding sex.
The statistics stated and detailed above show how immediately young people are engaging
in sexual activities and how sexually active they are nowadays.
FRAMEWORK
Theoretical Framework
The primary foundation of the study “Knowledge on Sex Activities and its Relation to
Sexual Practices among Students of Sectarian and Nonsectarian University” is the Social Learning
Theory of Albert Bandura (1977). The theory of Bandura highlights the significance of observing
attitudes, behaviors, and emotional reactions of other people. Bandura (1977) stated: Learning
would be difficult if people would just look at the effects of their deed. The majority of human
behavior is learned by observations.
2
Bandura (1977) supposed in a “reciprocal determinism”, this means that a the world causes
person’s behavior and vice versa. On the other hand, behaviorism concludes that one’s the
environment causes one’s behavior. Bandura, who was exploring youngster aggression,
established that this is too simple that manners also create our environment as well. Soon, he
contemplates character as an interaction comprising three distinct mechanisms: behavior, the
environment, and psychosomatic processes.
A model of Social Learning Theory is presented to explain the three components.
Figure 1 Social Learning Theory Model (Bandura, 1977)
The model explains human behavior in terms of incessant reciprocal interaction between
the three elements of behavior the personal, behavioral, and environmental influences. Personal
factors are the cognitive, affective and biological events that happened in a person life that created
his/her way of psychological processes. Behavior is what a person shows a result of his/her
cognitive processes and what he/she learned by observing other people. Similar set of stimulant
may aggravate different responses from different people or the same populace at unalike times. An
environmental factor considers as a person’s everyday world. The world and an individual’s
behavior are interlink.
Social Learning Theory (Bandura, 1977) explains that learning correlates toward the
observation of role models. Like, for example, in school, the teacher is the second mother to the
child that serves as a role model for his/her learning attainment. In everybody’s daily life, the
model for gaining different responses could be the media sources or those with whom you
interrelate. Successful modelling instructs universal system and strategies for dealing with various
situations. Through his study, Bandura (1977) established that the constituent processes
3
fundamental to observational learning. Attention comes first, followed by modelled procedures
such as uniqueness, intricacy, pervasiveness, as well as viewer independence wherein you are
obliged to pay attention to discover new things. Next is retention including counting symbolic
coding, cognitive organization, symbolic rehearsal, motor rehearsal, you have to be able to bear in
mind things you have given awareness. You imitate what you have observed from the
representation in the form of cerebral and verbal images, and convey such triggers that can later
on help you reproduce the model with your behavior. Third is motor Reproduction, including
physical capabilities, self-observation of reproduction, and accuracy of feedback. Translation then
takes place by translating images into actions. You can imitate the behavior in the first instance.
Our abilities develop even when we just imagine ourselves performing, and the last are motivation,
including external, vicarious and self-reinforcement. Unless there is enough motivation, or
reasoning, you will not try replicating the model.
Conceptual Framework
The Social Learning Theory (Bandura, 1977) deals with the significance of reciprocal
determinism and behaviorism. Consequently, it focuses on learning by observation and modelling.
This theory mainly suggests that both environmental and cognitive factors interrelate to individuals
learning and behavior.
The researchers adapted the Social Learning Theory Model (Bandura, 1977) as the
foundation of the study “Knowledge on Sex Activities and its Relation to Sexual Practices among
Students of Sectarian and Non-sectarian University”.
Figure 2 Conceptual Model (Social Learning Theory of Albert Bandura, 1977)
4
The model displays three components: the knowledge on sex activities, sexual practices
and the relationship of sex activities to sexual practices. These three explains the respondents’
behavior from the Sectarian and Non-sectarian University as a continuous reciprocal interaction
between the three components. The knowledge about sex activities is what the respondents know
about sex, either through self-acquired knowledge or by observing others. Sexual practice is a
factor that explains how a person responds to their knowledge about sex activities in a given
situation. The relationship of sex activities to sexual practices will explain if the knowledge of an
individual can influence his/her behavior. The behavior of the respondents toward sex is an
interaction between the three components: knowledge on sex activities, sexual practices and the
relationship of sex activities to sexual practices.
OBJECTIVES
This study sought to find out the profile of the student respondents. Second is to measure
the level of knowledge about sex activities among student respondents of Sectarian and Nonsectarian University. Third is to quantify the sexual practices of the student respondents of
Sectarian and Non-sectarian University. Lastly, to determine the relationship between the student
respondents' knowledge about sex activities and their sexual practices.
METHODOLOGY
To be able to respond to the main problem and objectives, the researchers used the
Quantitative research design paradigm. A descriptive-co relational type of research was used to
determine the relationship between the knowledge and the practices of sex among the Filipino
Youth.
The researchers utilized survey questionnaires in order to gather data from the 400 students;
200 from UST and 200 from FEU, being the respondents of the study. The respondents vary from
male and female and were selected using the non-probability convenience sampling.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Knowledge on Sex Activities
Adolescents or young people are in a primary, middle life phase as they start to unhook
from relatives, and as observed, they are eager to attain independence through dangerous actions
(De Silva, 1998). With the sex, as one of the arrays of perilous behaviors that they engage in, they
are oftentimes categorized as pleasure-seekers and risk- takers (Tingzon, 2014).
5
According to the Fundamentals of Human Sexuality (1975), there are widely contrasting
views concerning the real nature of the sex drive. Also, whether its strength is determined mainly
by physiological or psychological components or both. The information of the individualities and
nature of the human sex drive is in the process of clarification, and this process is unlikely
completed in quite some time to come. One reason, our knowledge is so uncertain, is that it is to
know how and where to begin with the desirable research. The kinds of data needed to confirm or
disprove hypotheses are by nature most difficult to obtain from human subjects (Holt et al., 1975).
Conditions being what they are. However, theories and decisions concerning the nature of
the sex drive have not awaited elaborate research. The pressures of life have made some
assumptions immediately necessary (Holt et al., 1975).
A very common assumption has been that sex drive is “physiological” or “biological” in
nature. Individual differences in sexual strivings explained on the basis of differences in natural
endowments. This assumption has seemed reasonable, for certainly at puberty there is an increased
interest in sex and sexual experiences in both male and female. Reproductive capacities mature at
this time and maturation is accompanied by physiological developments. Glandular activity and
the secretion of certain hormones accompany the pubertal processes, and they are certainly
associated in some way with an increasing interest in and concern with sex (Holt et al., 1975).
Numerous writers have given very explicit expression to the assumption that the strength
of the sex drive is physiologically generating, and that chemical and hormonal secretions directly
determine it. The quotation, that follows, exemplifies this point of view.
Theodore Reik (1945) writes:
....the crude sex- drive is a biological need which represents the instinct and conditioned by
chemical changes within the organism. The urge is dependent on inner secretions, and its aim is
the relieving of a physical tension....
The crude sex- urge is easily satisfied and is entirely incapable of being sublimated. If it is
strongly excited, it need, in its urgency, an immediate release.
Kinsey’s work, whether or not he intended it to have that effect, has done a great deal to
fix the idea that the sex drive is very markedly a function of age and physical vigor. The data,
which have contributed to this view are those concerned with total sexual outlet. These data are in
Chapters 6 and 7 of Sexual Behavior in the Human Male (1975). In these chapters, Dr. Kinsey
(1975) is concerned with the frequency of “sexual outlets.” He finds that, quantitatively speaking,
the highest frequency of experiencing orgasm is between ages of 16 and 20. These data have been
interpreted by many persons to mean that the male sex drive is strongest during the teen years. In
6
speaking of Kinsey’s data, writes: “We learned that the peak of the sexual power of the male is in
adolescence and from that time on gradually declines.”
In the following quotation, Dr. Robert L. Dickinson (1940) went beyond those references
that imply that the sex drive is a unitary physical force. He spoke of “endowment, capacity, and
drive,” and he tied the three very closely to physiological conditions. In his last sentence, however,
Dr. Dickinson (1940) indicated his awareness that other than physical factors may have bearing
on the intensity of the sex drive.
The strain upon emotional balance probably is in proportion to the functional vigor of the
particular pair of glands, male and female, and its resistance to suppression. The new knowledge
of our internal chemistry and the hormones or “excitants” makes it quite clear why there may be
enormous differences in sex endowment, capacity and drive for different people. Thus, reveals a
status that basis is upon physical factors instead of representing, as we had supposed, a matter of
morals in resisting or in yielding to temptation. Here again, a new orientation is in order
(Dickinson, 1940).
There are only few case histories and physical examinations that can enable us to determine
what part of a sex urge or excessive stress is the result of regular or seasonal cycles of hormone
production. In addition is what part is activating by mental preoccupations with simulative ideas
of by exposure to influences calculated to a render alert and active function of the sex organs
(Dickinson, 1940).
Some anthropological studies have reported that the urgency of sexual needs in some
societies seems to be no match for the urgency in most of our modern civilizations. The
anthropologists refer in particular to societies that have allowed and accepted a free-and-easy
access of the sexes to each other from puberty on (Dickinson, 1940).
Herani (1975) stated that we could, of course, refer metaphorically to “sexual hunger.”
Nevertheless, sex is not an activity necessary to sustain life, except in the broad sense of species'
preservation. In fact, there is no agreed on evidence that abstinence from sexual activity is even
necessary detrimental to health. Humans and other animals engage in sex because it is pleasurable
(Herani, 1975). Herani (1975) also said that sex contributes to self-esteem. Each of us needs a deep
and firmly rooted conviction of personal worth. Although no one can hope to be universally loved
and admired, we must receive some appreciation from “significant people” and from ourselves.
An important factor of one’s self-esteem is his sexual standing in his own eyes, as well as in the
eyes of others. The roles of sex in self-esteem vary among individuals, groups and some sexual
attributes have more widespread significance than others (Herani, 1975).
Sexuality is clearly an important component of one’s self-concept or sense of identity.
Awareness of sexual differentiation precedes that of all other social contributes in the child. The
child knows the self-boy or girl long before it learns to associate the self with national, ethnic,
religious and other cultural groupings (Herani, 1975).
7
Finally, sex figures prominently in individual’s moral or spiritual identity. At least in
Western cultures it is used as a moral yardstick more consistently than any other form of behavior,
at both the personal and public level (Herani, 1975).
According to Herani (1975), knowledge of sexual realities is indispensable to sexual
fulfillment and honesty. There must be a willingness to recognize biological facts, including
practical knowledge of the reproductive organs and their functions. More important is acceptance
of sexual feelings as legitimate physiological and psychological manifestations, rather than as
afflictions that must be exorcised or only grudgingly tolerated (Herani, 1975).
Sexuality is not a wild horse that must be tamed and then exercised periodically. It is
potential with which we possess and which must be developed and nourished. It is as important to
have concern about fulfilling our sexual capabilities as about fulfilling our intellectual or artistic
capabilities (Herani, 1975).
Ultimately, sex must make sense in the context of one’s overall life. At certain periods,
sexual pressure is overwhelming, and sometimes we go to great length for its sake. But these
instances are unusual and transitory and give way to more prosaic but steady sexual needs (Herani,
1975).
Furthermore, the study conducted by the researchers revealed that the overall knowledge
of the youth in sex activities has a weighted mean of 3.46, corresponding to a verbal interpretation,
moderately knowledgeable.
Table 1. Knowledge on Sex Activities among student- respondents
Sex Activities
Sectarian
Nonsectarian
Masturbation
Knowledgeable
(3.86)
Knowledgeable
(3.60)
Knowledgeable
(3.76)
Moderately
Knowledgeable
(3.50)
Moderately
Knowledgeable
(3.11)
Moderately
Knowledgeable
(3.06)
Knowledgeable
(3.62)
Fingering
Phone Sex
Cyber Sex
Visual
Pornography
Moderately
Knowledgeable
(3.19)
Moderately
Knowledgeable
(3.15)
Knowledgeable
(3.71)
8
Open-Mouth
Kissing
French Kissing
Necking
Petting
Fondling
Oral Sex
Anal Sex
Coitus
Overall*
Knowledgeable
(3.72)
Knowledgeable
(3.89)
Knowledgeable
(3.72)
Moderately
Knowledgeable
(3.51)
Moderately
Knowledgeable
(3.40)
Knowledgeable
(3.53)
Moderately
Knowledgeable
(2.78)
Moderately
Knowledgeable
(3.49)
Moderately
Knowledgeable
(3.50)
Knowledgeable
(3.75)
Knowledgeable
(3.85)
Knowledgeable
(3.70)
Moderately
Knowledgeable
(3.36)
Moderately
Knowledgeable
(3.33)
Moderately
Knowledgeable
(3.44)
Moderately
Knowledgeable
(2.67)
Moderately
Knowledgeable
(3.30)
Moderately
Knowledgeable
(3.42)
Out of the thirteen sex activities, French kissing got the top place having the highest grand
weighted mean of 3.87 which means that the respondents are knowledgeable about it. Last spot
9
goes to anal sex having the least grand weighted mean of 2.72 which means that the respondents’
knowledge about anal sex is moderately knowledgeable.
An epic poem called Mahabharata in India, written about 1000 BCE, is said to be the first
to describe romantic kissing. Historians believe that long ago, passionate kissing was unfamiliar
with the rest of the world until it was conveyed to Europe by Alexander the Great (Jim Forsyth,
2012).
In 1312, Pope Clement V ordered that is kissing practiced to fornicate was to be considered
a mortal sin. But it was when European missionaries whiffed to Africa, Asia, and Oceania during
the 19th Century that popularized kissing in places that found kissing abhorrent. Bryan said, “They
conceded kissing as well as the bread of life to many of these people” (Jim Forsyth, 2012).
Jeffrey Sumber, a Chicago relationship counselor, believed that kissing nowadays takes on
many meanings. He writes “kissing is a communication of bodies. It is the conduit between our
words and our actions” (Jim Forsyth, 2012).
It is during the 19th century when “French kissing” began appearing in conversations
according Tara Block. In the early 20th century, it became well known when it first seen in the
book of World War I Private Lindner's Letters: Censored and Uncensored of 1918. On the book,
he wrote “I have decided to become a linguist who can read French fluently and to speak it
wretchedly. Also, to speak German constructively but not to deliver it at all. I am compelling
Luxembourg, which is an excellent merger of the two, a sort of liaison between tongues. (Not to
be confused with French kissing.)". According to (Block, 2013) it should be British and American
soldiers of World War 1 that we must give credits. French kiss was the name given when those
soldiers showed their wives what they learned from the amorous country of France.
On the other hand, results stated above also shows that respondents have the lowest
knowledge of anal sex. According to David J. Ley, Ph.D. in Women, Who Stray (2011) anal sex,
is not an actual sex said by the surprisingly large numbers of people. Anal sex is viewed as less
cherished, less devoted, and less significant, than vaginal sex by some researchers according to as
many as 19% of college students.
Men reported positive effects of executing anal sex with a female partner. But, more than
half of the girls who experienced unpleasantly anal sex said they would not engage with it a second
time around (Ley, 2011).
Oral sex was considered taboo as an isolated situation to human creation in the past
decades. But today, most people engaged in that it has become ubiquitous however still rare and
remains as an intense fantasy. Another taboo in sex is being broken anal sex. Couples, who had
engaged in anal sex, said that there’s still specialness in doing it because of its rarity (Ley, 2011).
10
Sexual Practices
Teenagers have a quality of being in rash decisions, youthful vigor and immaturity
(Schouwenburg, 2003). People believe that kissing is a universal sexual activity among sexual or
romantic partner. The truth is a lot of couples nowadays discover that anal intercourse is
pleasurable. Also, it gives excitement and variation to their normal sex life. Several young malefemale couples choose anal sex to avoid the risk of pregnancy. (England, et.al, 2008).
Many accept the notion that most young individuals are sexually active. In reality, recent
studies have revealed that adolescents are becoming sexually active at a late age than in the past
years. Recent studies have shown that the result of peer pressure, curiosity and lack of knowledge
of teenagers are the main factors for unprotected and risky sexual behavior. A study stated that the
larger threat for unplanned sexual intercourse, brutality, and exposure to HIV seen among the teens
who are taking alcohol or other drugs. Also, adolescence is believed to be a season that peers
opinions are necessary. Many adolescents want to have an “image” even if it will take drastic
measures to attain. Much of what adolescents know about sexuality, they learn from the media.
The media portray sex as something fun and offer the imprint that “everybody’s doing it”. This
misperception can lead to incautiousness and hasty decisions of teens. It provides teens with
limitless access to information on sex and can encounter numerous people willing to talk about
sex. While viewing for information on sex, teens feel the security because they are unidentified.
(England et.al, 2008).
Premarital sex is ubiquitous nowadays, but there was a period when pre-marital sex was
not the standard practice and most of what existed was among nearly wed couples. As students
typically use the term “hookup,” it happens when two pupils, who have met each other often at a
party, engage in sex. Sex can be whatever thing from merely making out to intercourse. There is
neither anticipated nor excluded relationship in a hookup. A piece of research from an online
survey indicates that about 40% of connections demand sex. Also, about 15% include oral sex,
and the rest involve “making out” or touching (England et al. 2008).
Many adults are uncomfortable and in denial with the eminence of teen sexuality. But in
the United States, nearly nine million teens had engaged in sex; 46% of all high school students,
62% came from seniors. It is important for adults to address adolescent sexuality realistically.
Also, it is important to recognize the factors that significantly affect young people’s behavior.
Those factors are socioeconomic status, race or ethnicity, family structure, educational aspirations
and life experiences (England et al. 2008).
Young people in developed countries begin to experience sex at a similar age. Adolescent
sexual development is of value for the process of identity formation in involving with romantic
and social relationships. Moreover, the study conducted by the researchers determined that open
11
mouth kissing is most practiced sex activity while anal sex being the least sexual practice among
the student respondents.
Table 2. Sexual Practices among student- respondents
Sex Activities
Sectarian
Masturbation
Moderately Knowledgeable
(2.60)
Fingering
Not Knowledgeable
(1.44)
Phone Sex
Not Knowledgeable
(1.36)
Cyber Sex
Not Knowledgeable
(1.26)
Visual Pornography
Less Knowledgeable
(2.36)
Open-Mouth Kissing
Less Knowledgeable
(2.49)
French Kissing
Less Knowledgeable
(2.44)
Necking
Less Knowledgeable
(2.30)
Petting
Less Knowledgeable
(2.13)
Fondling
Less Knowledgeable
(2.06)
Oral Sex
Less Knowledgeable
(1.70)
Anal Sex
Not Knowledgeable
(1.25)
Coitus
Less Knowledgeable
(1.73)
Overall*
Less Knowledgeable
(1.93)
Nonsectarian
Less Knowledgeable
(2.28)
Not Knowledgeable
(1.50)
Not Knowledgeable
(1.38)
Not Knowledgeable
(1.30)
Less Knowledgeable
(2.21)
Less Knowledgeable
(2.46)
Less Knowledgeable
(2.44)
Less Knowledgeable
(2.26)
Less Knowledgeable
(2.13)
Less Knowledgeable
(2.11)
Less Knowledgeable
(1.85)
Not Knowledgeable
(1.30)
Less Knowledgeable
(1.85)
Less Knowledgeable
(1.93)
The table above presents the different sexual practices that are measured by how frequent
(always, often, sometimes, rarely and never) the respondents engage. The most frequently
practiced sexual activity is open-mouth kissing with the weighted mean of 2.47, and its
corresponding verbal interpretation is rarely. The two second most frequent sexual practices are
French kissing and masturbation, both with the weighted mean of 2.44 and correspond as rarely.
12
In line with the results stated above, Riter (2011) identified that the British survey reported
young teens ranging from 18 to 24 years old are making out almost eleven times each week. Five
percent out of 45 people are having time for over thirty-one kisses each week. People consider
kissing as a universal sexual activity among sexual or romantic partner.
According to Mercola (2013), with the average lifetime, people spend 20,160 minutes
kissing burning up to 5 calories per minute with each kiss. He said that kissing does not only feel
good but is also good for an individual because it diminishes stress and releases epinephrine into
the blood. This epinephrine can make the heart pump faster which signals a reduction of LDL
cholesterol. However, the result of the survey said that French kissing and masturbation are also
the most desired sexual practices among teenagers. Umali (2005) stated that according to a study
by the UP Communication Research Department, French kissing and masturbation are favorite
sexual practices among undergraduate students age 16 to 20 years old. Both sexes surveyed;
French kissing was at the topmost sexual activity for females, with 49% saying they had engaged
in it. Self-masturbation was on top of the list with 89%, followed by French kissing with 68% for
males.
Another study proved that the masturbation and French kissing are most common practices.
In America, abstinence is one of their standards that some couples practice that forbids coitus
before marriage for both men and women. This standard has several subtypes, some of which allow
masturbation, others that allow only kissing (Regnerus, 2010).
On the contrary, the least practiced sexual activity is anal sex with the weighted mean of
1.27, and its corresponding verbal interpretation is never. Also, it can be observed from the table
above that cyber sex has 0.01 significant difference in the least practiced sexual activity which is
anal sex.
A study from UP College of Mass Communication proved that anal sex is the least
practiced behavior among teenagers regarding sexual practices. Umali (2005) stated that according
to a study conducted by UP Communication Research Department, only 7 percent or 25
respondents said they had anal sex. According to Chang (2010) who stated that only those 90% of
men who have sex with men and 5% to 10% of sexually active women engage in receptive anal
intercourse that leads to STIs.
The result of the survey shows that cybersex is second to the least practice sexual activities.
An article from Abouthealth.com indicated why cybersex is one of their least preferred sexual
activities. Harold (2006) says that their study shows 26 out of the percentage of girls, and 10% of
the boys perceived their experiences to online sex are undesirable.
Schneider (2007) stated that according to the findings of their study, people engaging in
cybersex said that it is destructive to the relationship alike with other sexual activities. Cybersex
addiction results to 22.3% of separation or divorce and leading to severe leaving of couples.
13
Another study proved that the masturbation and French kissing are most common practices.
In America, abstinence is one of their standards that some couples practice that forbids coitus
before marriage for both men and women. This standard has several subtypes, some of which allow
masturbation, others that allow only kissing (Regnerus, 2010).
On the contrary, the least practiced sexual activity is anal sex with the weighted mean of
1.27, and its corresponding verbal interpretation is never. Also, it can be observed from the table
above that cyber sex has 0.01 significant difference between the least practiced sexual activity
which is anal sex.
A study from UP College of Mass Communication proved that anal sex is the least
practiced behavior among teenagers regarding sexual practices. According to a survey conducted
by the Communication Research Department of the UP, only 7% admitted to having had anal sex
(Umali, 2005).
Also, according to Chang (2010) who stated that only those 90% of men who have sex with
men and 5% to 10% of sexually active women engage in receptive anal intercourse. He stated that
there are numerous health risks when performing anal sex such as STIs.
The result of the survey shows that cybersex is second to the least practice sexual activities.
An article from Abouthealth.com exposed why cybersex is one of the least preferred sexual
activities. Schneider (2007) stated that according to the findings of their study, people engaging in
cybersex said that cyber sex was almost as perilous to the relationship as the different sexual
activities.
Relationship of Knowledge on Sex Activities to Sex Practices
The concept that learning is linked with observation of role models based on the so-called
“Social Learning Theory” (Bandura, 1977). Given an example, in an educational setup, teachers
are the student’s role models. In everyday living, media sources and the people you deal with could
be the role models. Different situations need general rules and strategies, as the effective modeling
impacts. Bandura (1977), through his research, found the element processes essentially in learning
that are attention, retention, motor reproduction, and motivation.
Table 3 Relation of the Respondents’ Knowledge on Sex Activities to Sexual Practices
Sex Activities and Its Relation
to Sexual Practices:
Spearman
rho
P-value
(Sig.*)
Decision
Conclusion
Masturbation
0.312
.000
Reject
Ho
Significant:
Positively Moderate
Correlation
14
Fingering
0.234
.000
Reject
Ho
Phone Sex
0.298
.000
Reject
Ho
Cyber Sex
0.193
.000
Reject
Ho
Visual Pornography
0.426
.000
Reject
Ho
Open-Mouth Kissing
0.388
.000
Reject
Ho
French Kissing
0.414
.000
Reject
Ho
Necking
0.442
.000
Reject
Ho
Petting
0.444
.000
Reject
Ho
Fondling
0.447
.000
Reject
Ho
Oral Sex
0.322
.000
Reject
Ho
Anal Sex
0.19
.000
Reject
Ho
Coitus
0.379
.000
Reject
Ho
Overall*
0.459
.000
Reject
Ho
Significant:
Positively
Weak
Correlation
Significant:
Positively Moderate
Correlation
Significant:
Positively
Weak
Correlation
Significant:
Positively Moderate
Correlation
Significant:
Positively Moderate
Correlation
Significant:
Positively Moderate
Correlation
Significant:
Positively Moderate
Correlation
Significant:
Positively Moderate
Correlation
Significant:
Positively Moderate
Correlation
Significant:
Positively Moderate
Correlation
Significant:
Positively
Weak
Correlation
Significant:
Positively Moderate
Correlation
Significant:
Positively Moderate
Correlation
To determine whether there exists a relationship or not between the youth’s knowledge on
sex and their sexual practices, the Spearman rho Correlation was used. The null hypothesis is
rejected when P-value is less than or equal to the level of significance (alpha=0.05). With the result
in the study, P-values for all sex activities are less than 0.05. Thus, the researchers reject the null
15
hypotheses. Therefore, a significant relationship exists. Specifically, a moderate correlation exists
between knowledge on sex activities and sexual practices.
The Social Learning Theory of Bandura (1977) supports the relationship of the
respondents’ knowledge on sex activities and sexual practices. Consequently, accentuates the
significance of observing and modelling emotional aspects and responses of others.
Human sexual activity has many phases. Physically, it denotes the generative mechanism,
including the basic biological drive that exists in all types of living things. Also, it includes all
forms of sexual interaction. Emotional aspects include intense personal bonds and emotions
generated between sexual partners by a particular sexual activity. Physical issues, on the other
hand, range purely from medical considerations to concerns about the physiological or even
psychological and sociological aspects of human behavior.
In the Philippines, the normative behavior, when it comes to any sexual interaction, is
conventional only inside marriage, even though premarital and extramarital sex is known to be a
universal act. Some sexual activities are unlawful universally or in some parts of the world, while
some consider it against the norms of a society. Some other countries say that “Filipino” is a better
adjective than “Catholic or Christian” since the Philippines is known to be a conservative nation;
therefore, sex outside marriage is considered an immoral act. Nowadays, the Philippines grew a
rapidly increasing rate among teens engaging in sex. An implication that the youth’s beliefs and
traditions on sex are greatly shifting due to the influence of the parents, peers, the changing society
or even the religion of an individual. In addition, the full range of the internet allows the youth
quickly to access the new trends of sexual activities. Innocent teenagers are sometimes blind in the
norms of society; the reason sex education is in need these days.
Aside from having a high percentage of premarital sex, Filipino youth today are also more
sexually adventurous. They are open to new sexual activities. Cities in the Philippines have the
higher rate of premarital sex than those in rural areas. Provinces still hold the conservative notion
of sex. Unfortunately, due to this fact, many consequences of the increase in sexual activity among
youth are a high rate of teenage pregnancies and other sexual diseases.
Early sexual practices may no longer be unplanned experiences for the youngsters.
Decisions about to engaging in sexual practices are powerfully bound to the social context with
peers having a vital role in creating a sense of normative behavior. The process of sexual practice
in both positive and negative ways is believed to be an effect of peer pressure. Postponing the
onset of sexual participation must focus on cohort norms as well as an individual's perceptions and
behaviors. Knowledge of how the social environment contributes to the sexual risk- taking will
help clarify how such circumstances can modify the interest of preventing these practices.
16
CONCLUSION
Nowadays, one of the utmost fascinating questions is “Why do humans engage in different
sexual activities?” Teenage year is a chapter in life when a man or woman becomes curious about
sex. Youth is bewildered and confused about the meaning of sex, resulting for them to begin
engaging in sex at an early age. Being able to come up with a study on the knowledge on sex and
sexual activities of students from both universities increased our awareness on basic sex. Thus,
gave us the foundation to discover the broader side of their knowledge and behavior towards sex
among the Filipino youth at present time.
LITERATURE CITED
Aquino, Josefina N. (2014). Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality Study.
http://www.drdf.org.ph/yafs4
Bandura, A. (1977). Social Learning Theory. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Block, Tara (2013). Origin of French Kiss.
http://www.yourtango.com/2013188093/pucker-origin-french-kiss
Chang Louise (2010). Anal sex safety and healthy concern.
http://www.webmd.com/sex/anal-sex-health-concerns
Danker, F. W. et al. (2004).A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. Chicago, IL: University of
Chicago.
De Silva, Gerry (1998). The Structuration of the Sexual Habitus of Youth Culture: An
Exploratory Study of Some of the Sexual Dimensions of Youth Culture of the College of Social
Sciences and Philosophy.
http://www.scielo.br/pdf
Dickinson, Robert L. (1940). Qualifications for Marriage Counseling. New York Times.
https://books.google.com.ph
Ellison, C.G, Levin J.S. The Religion Health Connection, Evidence, Theory, and Future
Directions.Health Education Behavior. 2008: 25 p. 700-720.
http://www.naswdc.org/practice/adolescent_health/ah0202.asp
England, et.al. (2008). Teens Advisor.
http://www.teensadvisor.com/teen-dating/oral-male.html
17
Forsyth, Jim (2012). Valentines Day Kisses.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/13/valentines-day-kisses_n_1273464.html
Harold, L. (2006). Cybersex.
www.sciencedaily.com
Hassan, R. Women in Islam: Qur’anic Ideals versus Muslim Realities. Planned Parenthood
Challenges. 2005: 2:5-9.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18821463
Herani, K. (1975). Fundamental of Human Sexuality. New York.
Holland, I., Ramazanoglu, C., Sharpe, S., Thomson, R. Deconstructing Virginity – Young
People’s Accounts of First Sex. Sex Relation Theory. 2004: 15; 221-232.
http://www.everydayhealth.com/sexual-health/masturbation.aspx
Holland, J. (2008). The Male in the Head: Young People, Heterosexuality, and Power. London:
Tufnell Press.
Holt, Rinehart and Winston (1975). Fundamentals of Human Sexuality. U.S.A: Bank of Books.
Jackson, Wayne. (2004). Biblical Ethics and Modern Science. Stockton, CA: Courier
Publications.
Kaiser Family Foundation. Decision-Making about Sex: Sex Smarts. 2004b.
http://www.highlandernews.org
Kaiser Family Foundation. Factsheet on Teen Sexual Activity. 2004c.
http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/pornography-censorship/
Kittel, Gerhard, ed. (2004). Theological Lexicon of the New Testament.Vol. 2. Grand Rapids, MI:
Eerdmans.
Ley, David J. Ph.D (2011).Women Who Stray
http://www.psychologytoday.com
Marston, C, & King, E. Factors that Shape Young People’s Sexual Behavior: A Systematic
Review. Lancet. 2006: 368; 1581-1586.
https://books.google.com.ph/
Mercola, Joseph(2013). What’s in a kiss? More than you realize.
http://articles.mercola.com
Regnerus, M. D. (2007). Forbidden Fruit – Sex and Religion in the lives of American Teenagers.
New York: Oxford University Press. 2007.
18
Regnerus, Mark D., and Uecker, Jeremy. (2010). Premarital Sex in America. New York: Oxford
University Press.
Reik, Theodor. Psychology of sex relations. New York: Farrar and Rinehart, 1945, pp. 243
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Riter, Sherry (2011). Kissing- Wet, Open mouth, Tongue kisses, and Happy Marriages.
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/140667188331047855/
Schneider, R. (2007). Sex Addiction.
http://www.recoveryranch.com
Schouwenburg, P.F. (2003). The VoiceMaster. Voice prosthesis for the laryngectomized patient.
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Tingzon, Julienne Marie (2014). Changes in Sexual Risk-Taking Behavior Among Filipino
Youth. Scribd Inc.
http://www.scribd.com/Changes-in-Sexual-Risk-Taking-Behavior-Among-Filipino-Youth
Umali, Violeda (2005). Conservative Sexual Behavior. Living in the Philippines.
http://www.livinginthephilippines.com
19