PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS AND SEXUAL BEHAVIOR AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS (EDUCATION PROJECT TOPICS AND MATERIALS)
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
- Background of the Study
For several decades, concerns have been mounting about adolescent sexuality and sexual behaviour. These concerns have been intensified by several factors such as increase rates of adolescent birth, increase rates of child bearing outside marriage, high rates of sexually transmitted infections and the risk of exposure to the dreaded Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (Collins:1980; Benjamin, 1996). Sexual behaviour refers to sexual desire, feelings, expression which can take the form of masturbation or sex with a partner, while adolescent sexuality refers to sexual behaviour in adolescents (Gupta, Weiss and Mane, 1996).
As Collins (1980) pointed out, sex seems to dominate the thoughts and actions of modern human beings. It is the central issue of concern among students at all levels of education. It is a dominant theme on radio and television, in magazines, advertisement of all kinds, literature and music. It is also a dominant theme in the theatre, movies, art, politics and the church. Indeed, “that which God created for enjoyment and intimacy has become perverted” (Collins 1980:281).
According to Hauser and Debra (2004), “Early timing of sexual initiation is important for two reasons. First, the younger the age of the first sexual intercourse, the more likely for the experience to be coercive, and forced sexual intercourse is related to long lasting negative effects. Secondly, the younger the age of first sexual intercourse, the greater the risk of unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections.
Abdool and Morar, (1995) opines that effective contraceptive use generally requires planning and preparation prior to having sexual intercourse. This is often a problem for adolescents because young people usually report that their first sexual intercourse “Just happened” and that they were not planning to have sex at that time.
According to him, sexual intercourse requires consistent use of an effective contraceptive method, but this is problematic for adolescents because young adolescents tend to be less deliberative and rational about sexual decisions than older persons, and they also tend to have intercourse more sporadically.
According to Christopher and Cate (1985). The likelihood of sexual behaviour occurring between adolescents may be viewed as determined by the level of emotional investment felt in the relationship and by the occurrence of a sexually instigating situation. Even given a high level of intimacy in a relationship, some specific events, conditions or interactions take place that cause individuals to experience sexual interest, and define sexual behaviour as possible and appropriate in that situation. Expressing concern for negative and attempting to soothe the feelings of stress, anger and unhappiness (relevant to the nurturance of sexual incentive) even more directly conveys a sense of emotional investment in partner.
This study is therefore undertaken against the background of such a pressing warning as the researcher wonders whether secondary school students’ sexual behaviour is related to students’ personal characteristics. In order to ascertain this, the following personal characteristics are isolated for investigation: students’ gender, self-concept and locus of control.
