POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES

CHAPTER I

THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

Introduction

Since the start of the new decade, Filipino had changed their attitudes in sexual

activities. The gradual shift of perspective from conservative one to much more open

which is specifically observable in the population of Filipino adolescence. In 2018,

Dr. Ogena elaborate the findings of 2013 Young Adult Fertility & Sexuality

(YAFSS4) Study where it was found out that since 1994, there has been a rise in the

proportion of 18-24 old youth having sex before the age of 18. This kind of study

aims to provide updated information on a broad framework of adolescent sexuality

and reproductive health issues, their antecedents, and manifestations that are useful

in the design of interventions to safeguard the health and welfare of Filipino youth.

(Demographic Research and Development Foundation & University of the

Philippines Population Institute, 2014)

Adolescence is a dynamically evolving theoretical construct informed through

physiologic, psychosocial, temporal and cultural lenses. This critical developmental

period is conventionally understood as the years between the onset of puberty and

the establishment of social independence (Steinberg, 2014). This period among

Filipinos is best defined by the local terms, pagbibinata and pagdadalaga. Whereas

(Ujano-Batangan,M.T.D.,2012) characterizes that as the process of becoming and a

 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES

stage of blossoming, from childhood to adulthood, a process that is believed to be

replete with challenges cent red not only around the definition of one’s self, but also

on establishing one’s perspectives and values regarding the different domains of

one’s sexuality.

University of the Philippines Population Institute in cooperation with the

Demographic Research and Development Foundation (2013) reported that an

increasing trend in the pre-marital sex activities among adolescent filipino ages

between 19-24. Moreover, the same study noted that for the first time, non-romantic

regular sexual relationships were documented. In the language if the youth, this is

called “FUBU” (short for fuck buddy or friends with benefits and hook-up).

Meanwhile, (Cruz, 2016) described the findings of 2013 Young Adult Fertility and

Sexuality Study as with the advancement and better access to information and

communication technology in the country led to new forms of sexual behavior.

To be able to further the understanding of the shift of cultural and psychosocial

perspective in sexual activities trend in Filipino adolescent, the researchers chose to

focus and encapsulate there study on the factors that determines the prevalence of the

non-romantic sexually relationship specifically FUBU relationship among college

students in public university in the Manila.

Fubu is defined as a behavior in which partners engage in physically intimate

behaviors (e.g., kissing, oral sex, sexual intercourse) without explicit expectation of
 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES

future romantic commitment. Studies such those of Lac, & Kenney, 2014; Owen,

Fincham, & Moore, 2011; Owen et al., 2010) shown that in U.S. college student

samples, lifetime prevalence rates for hooking up range from 56% to 86% , with over

half of all students reporting hooking up within the past year. While ). Few have

reported having engaged in casual or “one-night stand” sex (19.2%) in a study

conducted by (De Jose, E., 2013) among college students in the a large public

university in Manila. In order to arrived at their findings, the researchers used

modified Hook-up motives questionnaire which , designed to assess the various

reasons for hooking up by graduate students headed by (S.R., Kenney, A., Lac et al.,

2014).

Statement of the Problem

This study determines the motivation of college students of the Polytechnic

University of the Philippines, Sta. Mesa, Manila to practice non-romantic sexual

relationship and with certainty to answer the following questions:

1. What is the profile of the respondents in terms of the following

1.1 Age

1.2 Sex

1.3 Frequency of practicing non-romantic sexual relationship

2. How often do you feel that being in non-romantic sexual relationship is

because personal motives

 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES

2.1. Enhancement Motives

2.2. Coping Motives

3. .How often do you feel that being in non-romantic sexual relationship is

because societal motives?

3.1. Conformity Motives

3.2. Social-sexual Motives

3.3. Social-relationship seeking Motives

Hypothesis

This study is anchored on the hypotheses that practice of non-romantic sexual

relationship was caused by personal,enviromental and subsequently behavior

motives among the college students of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines,

Sta. Mesa, Manila.

Significant of the Study

This study that aims to investigate the motives of being in a non-romantic serual

relationships among college students of the the Polytechnic University of the

Philippines, Sta. Mesa, Manila, hereof will be of the great benefit to the following:

Respondents - the findings of the study will bring awareness to the possible negative

effect of practicing non- romantic sexual relationship.

 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES

School administrator- the results of the paper could give information that is useful

for crafting programs that will alleviate the consequences of the negative effects of

non-romantic sexual relationship (e.g. dropout due to early pregnancy)

Mental health and health allied practicioner- will help them understand the causes of

adverse effects of non- romantic sexual relationship (e.g STDs, and mental and

emotional distress).

Government- this paper will aid the government in providing data that will be useful

in realizing public policies that will lessen the prevalence of adverse effects caused

by non- romantic sexual relationship specially among the Filipino adolescents.

Future researchers - this study could be a cursor to researchers interested to explore

the non-romantic sexual relationship among college students and other playing

factors such variation among demographics.

Scope and Limitations

This study determines the motivation of college students of the Polytechnic

University of the Philippines, Sta. Mesa, Manila to practice non-romantic sexual

relationship, wherein it covers the profile of the respondents in terms of age, sex,

frequency of being non-romantic sexual activities/ relationship.

In order to determine the frequency of non-romantic sexual motives, the researcher

used a multidimensional and logically sound measure for assessing five statistically

distinct motivation to be in the aforementioned type of relationship . Whereas, the

 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES

researchers modified the Hook-up Motives Questionnaire in order to adjust and

appropriate the construct in the context of Filipino culture.

This study is limited to 100 college students who are enrolled in the Polytechnic

University of the Philippines, ages between 18-24 and regardless of sexual

orientation. The number of sample was assumed to be representative of the

population, thus will yield statistical sound results.

Theoretical Framework

Across the body of literature most of the studies are atheoretical in approach, meaning

they are only guided by empirical observation.For example (A.,Suryoputro, N., Ford

& S., Shaluhiyah,2010 ) found that although most of the public health and sexual &

reproductive health studies in Indonesia have applied theories such as health belief

model, reasoned action and social learning, they are not explicitly mentioned. While

D . Miller, 2010 argued in his essay, ”The social sciences too have benefited from

keen observation with little theoretical underpinning. Erving Goffman’s classic

ethnographic studies of asylums and the presentation of self in everyday life have

laid bare patterns of social interaction – yet they are based on little a priori theory.”
 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES

However, in this study the researhers chose to use a theory as guiding concept in

order to come up with the findings. The Social Cognitive Theory proposed by Albert

Bandura which says that Social Cognitive Theory is founded on an agentic

conception of human development, adaption, and change. To be an agent is to

influence the course of events by one's actions. Social cognitive theory subscribes to

a causal structure grounded in triadic reciprocal causation. In this triadic

codetermination, human functioning is a product of the interplay of intrapersonal

influences, the behavior individuals engage in, and the environmental forces that

impinge on theme. Because intrapersonal influences are a part of the determining

conditions in this triadic interplay, people have a hand in shaping events and the

course their lives take ( A., Bandura, 2013)(A.,Suryoputro, N., Ford & S.,

Shaluhiyah,2010 ) reiterated that Learning theories attempt to explain how people

think and what factors determine their behaviour. Social Learning Theory is a

category of learning theories which is grounded in the belief that human behaviour is

determined by a three-way relationship between cognitive factors, 12 environmental

influences, and behaviour. The major concepts of social learning theory rest on a

series of assumptions about humans and human behavior. Mostly, theorists and

researchers assume that people are social beings in that they pay at-tention to the

environment around them. An important addition to this assumption is that people

react to the environment or respond to stim-uli in the environment. This vital

 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES

assumption means that sexual behaviors can be taught. (R.L.,Fielder and

M.P.,Carey,2010) argued that Social-cognitive theory provides a more general

framework for understanding how the social environment shapes behavior. This

approach recognizes the powerful role that modeling and vicarious learning play in

the formation of behavior patterns. For many young people, the most salient model

of an intimate relationship is their parents’ relationship. In addition, the immediate

social environment of the college campus (represented by social norms) and the

larger cultural context, transmitted through mass media, would also be expected to

shape sexual behavior.

Personal factors - are knowledge, feelings and attitude about non-romantic sexual

relationships

Environmental factors-Research suggests an important role for the social context of

hookup behavior (Holman & Sillars, 2012), but few studies have assessed potential

risk factors from the environmental system. College students have inflated perceived

norms about peers’ sexual behavior, including hookups (Holman & Sillars,

2012; Lambert et al., 2003), and perceived norms are associated with personal sexual

behavior (Lewis, Lee, Patrick, & Fossos, 2007). Only two studies have explored

social norms as a correlate or predictor of hookups, with mixed findings (Barriger &

Vélez-Blasini, 2013; Fielder & Carey, 2010a). Related to norms, a high level of social

comparison orientation, or the degree to which one compares his or her behavior with
 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES

others’ behavior, is also hypothesized to be a risk factor for hooking up. Lastly, the

situational context (e.g., others hooking up) may also increase risk for hookup

behavior by providing models of risk behavior and increasing personal and social

vulnerability (Downing-Matibag & Geisinger, 2009). Situational triggers for

hookups were a multivariate predictor of oral and vaginal sex hookup behavior in a

recent longitudinal study (Fielder & Carey, 2010a)

Behavioral factors - Two of the most consistent risk factors for hooking up are

previous hookup behavior and alcohol use (Fielder & Carey, 2010a; Owen et al.,

2011). Previous hookup behavior provides a personal model for future behavior

(Ouellette & Wood, 1998), and alcohol use increases contextual vulnerability for

hookups to occur (Fielder & Carey, 2010b; Holman & Sillars, 2012; Vander Ven &

Beck, 2009). At least six studies have found positive correlations between alcohol

use and hooking up (Barriger & Vélez-Blasini, 2013; Gute & Eshbaugh,

2008; Olmstead et al., 2012; Owen & Fincham, 2011; Owen et al., 2010)

Conceptual Framework

PERSONAL BEHAVIORAL ENVIRONMENTAL

FACTORS FACTORS FACTORS
4. Positive 8. Past
attitudes relationship 1. Sexual norms
5. Coping 9. Sexual lifestyle
style 10. Non-sexual 2. Peer pressure
6. Attachment behavior
style -smoking 3. Social models
7. Self -esteem -drinking alchohol
 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES

Committingnon-romantic sexual
activities/ relationship

Fig. 1 The Conceptual of Factors that determines being in a Non-romantic sexual

activities/relationship.

This study conceptualized the determining factors of being and or committing a Non-

romantic sexual relationship among college students of the Polytechnic University of

the Philippines, Sta. Mesa, Manila. This framework as illustrated in Fig. 1 will be the

paradigm of the study. Wherein, it intertwines with the Social Cognitive Theory of

Albert Bandura that has distinct but unequally affective factors- Personal, behavioral,
 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES

and environmental factors. In personal, attitudes, beliefs, attachment and coping

style were included. While in the behavioral aspect, it involves factors like past

relationship, sexual lifestyle and non-sexual behaviors ( e.g. smoking, alcohol use).

And, in the environmental, sexual norms, peer pressures and social models are the

factors included.

The above mentioned are the input variables together with the demographic data

gathered using self-report questionnaire. The obtained data are further evaluated

through the use of appropriate statistical techniques. In the end, whatever may be the

result it will be used as the backbone of the recommendation of the researchers, which

is to inform the all the stakeholders especially those of the Filipino youth.

CHAPTER II

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES

Non romantic sexual relationship

Sexual Hookups
 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES

Hookups are brief uncommitted sexual encounters between individuals who are not

romantic partners or dating each other. Sexual hookups have emerged from a more

general social shift that took place during the last century. Hookups began to become

more frequent in the 1920s, with the upsurge of automobiles and novel entertainment,

such as movie theaters. Instead of courting at home under a parent's watchful eye,

young adults left the home and were able to explore their sexuality more freely

(American Psychological Association 2013)

By the 1960s, young adults became even more sexually liberated, with the rise of

feminism, widespread availability of birth control and growth of sex-in tegrated

college party events. Today, sexual behavior outside of traditional committed

romantic pair-bonds has become increasingly typical and socially acceptable (Bogle,

2007, 2008). Influencing this shift in sexuality is a popular culture. The media have

become a source of sex education, filled with inaccurate portrayals of sexuality

(Kunkel et al., 2005). The themes of books, plots of movies and television shows,

and lyrics of numerous songs all demonstrate a permissive sexuality among

consumers. The media suggest that uncommitted sex, or hookups, can be both

physically and emotionally enjoyable and occur without "strings." The 2009 film

"Hooking Up," for example, details the chaotic romantic and sexual lives of

adolescent characters. Another film, "No Strings Attached," released in 2011,

features two friends negotiating a sexual, yet nonromantic, component of their

 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES

relationship. Popular pro-hookup same-sex representations have also emerged in

television series like "Queer as Folk" and "The L-Word."

Definition according to Association of Casual Sexual Relationships and

Experiences (CSRE's)

The association of casual sexual relationships and experiences (CSREs),

defined as sexual contact occurring outside of a romantic or dating relationship, with

psychological well-being has garnered great interest in recent years (e.g., Fielder &

Carey, 2010; Fielder, Walsh, Carey, & Carey, 2013; Grello, Welsh, & Harper, 2006;

Owen, Fincham, & Moore, 2011; Owen & Fincham, 2011a; 2011b). Despite some

evidence supporting concerns about negative outcomes associated with CSREs,

findings remain inconsistent. Psychological outcomes have mainly been investigated

among college students and rarely among adolescents.

Research on hookups did not begin to appear until 2000 (Stinson, 2010). A number

of scholars have suggested that hooking up differs from casual sex and that it has

emerged as a new culture among college students (Aubrey & Smith, 2011; Bogle,

2008; Heldman & Wade, 2010; Holman & Sillars, 2012; Reiber & Garcia, 2010).

Several differences are noteworthy. First, hooking up and casual sex have been

defined differently. Casual sex is often defined as meeting a partner and having

sexual intercourse that same day, having sexual intercourse with a partner once and
 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES

only once, or having sexual intercourse without emotional commitment (Herold,

Maticka-Tyndale, & Mewhinney, 1998; Weaver & Herold, 2000). In contrast, the

term hookup is used to refer to a variety of sexual behaviors (i.e., broader than just

vaginal sex), and hookup partners usually know each other (e.g., friends) and may

hook up on multiple occasions (Fielder & Carey, 2010b). A second difference is the

high prevalence (i.e., 70-80%) of hookup behavior; hooking up is done openly

(Garcia & Reiber, 2008) and appears to be a normative experience for young people

attending college today (Garcia et al., 2012; Stinson, 2010). A third difference is the

accompanying desire to delay or avoid romantic relationships among emerging adults

(Heldman & Wade, 2010) in favor of focus on self-development during the college

years (Hamilton & Armstrong, 2009). Thus, although hooking up and casual sex both

entail a lack of commitment, they appear to be distinct. Casual sex can be considered

a form of hooking up.

Emergence of Hookup Culture

Hookup culture is simply the newest stage in the evolution of sexual norms and

behavior in America. Its roots lie in the early city life of the 1920s, the first time in

U.S. history that young people routinely socialized in mixed-sex groups beyond the

supervision of chaperones. This created intense media interest in “youth culture,” as

college attendance became accessible to large swaths of the American population.

After a couple hundred years of conflict with higher education administrators,

 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES

fraternity men starting setting the social tone. Their way of experiencing college life

– irreverent, raucous, and fun-oriented – was suddenly the way to experience college.

Attending college was linked to the idea of being young and carefree. The Great

Depression and World War II put the brakes on such revelry. Young women initiated

“going steady” – monogamous, long-term dating – as a response to the loss of young

men to war. Yet going steady, a kind of “premature monogamy,” was both new and

short-lived as an ideal for young people. By the 1960s, young people wanted to

remain unattached; and meanwhile gay men in urban enclaves were experimenting

with a culture revolving around “hookups.” The dangers of AIDs infection slowed

down the process by which casual sexual encounters spread into the mainstream for

young people, but this process proceeded nonetheless. In 1978, the popularity of the

movie Animal House ratcheted up expectations for college fun. Beer and liquor

companies took advantage of the moment, spending millions in the 1980s to convince

students that drinking was a mainstay of college life. Starting in 1984, when the U.S.

government financially pressured the states to raise the legal drinking age from 18 to

21, control over campus parties was thrown increasingly into the hands of men who

occupied large, private fraternity residences in which they could flagrantly break

liquor laws. Fraternities again came to dominate the campus social scene. Until today,

this remains true on many campuses, but many other factors also reinforce hookup

sexual norms on college campuses – including media portrayals of college life, rising
 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES

individualism, and a halfway transition toward women’s equality. Social and sexual

norms originally embodied in fraternities now reign supreme on college campuses

(Scholars Strategy Network 2017).

The first year of college marks an important developmental time, as emerging adults

transition from more structured social environments (i.e., high school) to settings

characterized by less parental monitoring, increased flexibility of schedules, a wider

range of social opportunities, and greater access to same-age peers as well as easier

access to alcohol and other drugs (Fromme, Corbin, & Kruse, 2008).

Sexual exploration among emerging adults increasingly occurs outside of traditional

courtship relationships (i.e., dating) in encounters called “hookups” (Claxton & van

Dulmen, 2013). The term hookup lacks a single, universal definition, but there

appears to be consensus among young people and scholars that hookups are sexual

interactions that occur outside of committed romantic relationships (cf. Claxton &

van Dulmen, 2013; Garcia, Reiber, Massey, & Merriweather, 2012; Heldman &

Wade, 2010; Lewis, Atkins, Blayney, Dent, & Kaysen, 2012a; Paul & Hayes, 2002;

Stinson, 2010). Hookups involve a wide range of sexual behaviors (e.g., kissing to

vaginal sex) between partners who are not dating or in a romantic relationship, and

the interaction does not imply an impending romantic commitment (Epstein, Calzo,

Smiler, & Ward, 2009; Holman & Sillars, 2012; Lewis et al., 2012a; Paul & Hayes,

outcome)
 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES

This study explores the relationships among hooking up behaviors, psychological

distress, and a broad range of negative effects of hooking up in both male and female

college students. Hooking up has been defined as a casual consensual sexual

encounter (e.g., kissing, oral sex, vaginal intercourse) between non-romantic partners

(Bogle, 2008; Garcia & Reiber, 2008; Owen, Rhoades, Stanley, & Fincham, 2010;

Paul & Hayes, 2002).

Sexual Regret in connection to Mental Well-being

Casual sex is associated with psychological distress, including anxiety and

depression, as well as low self-esteem and reduced life satisfaction (Bersamin et al.,

2014). Research specifically examining hooking up suggests that having engaged in

a hookup (Fielder, Walsh, Carey, & Carey, 2014) and number of hookup partners

(Grello, Welsh, & Harper, 2006) are related to greater symptoms of depression.

Further, those who have more negative hookup experiences or greater sexual regret

are more likely to report poor psychological well-being (Grello et al., 2006; Owen &

Fincham, 2011; Owen et al., 2010).

Health Risks
 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES

High-risk sexual activities, such as unprotected sex and inebriated sex, are common

themes in students’ self-reports of their hooking up experiences (Holman & Sillars,

2012); however, students are sometimes unaware of these risks. Students’ reports of

condom use during hookups are relatively low (Fielder & Carey, 2010b; Lewis et al.,

2012). hooking up is related to having multiple, concurrent partners (Paik, 2010),

further increasing sexual health risk. Given these findings, it is not surprising that

engaging in more hookups is associated with a greater likelihood of STIs (Fielder et

al., 2014). Sexual behavior may involve risk for physical and mental health. Physical

health consequences include unintended pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections

(STIs), and sexual assault. Unintended pregnancies are relatively rare on most college

campuses (Scholly et al., 2005) due to the widespread availability of hormonal

contraceptives. STIs (Rimsza, 2005) and sexual assaults (Messman-Moore, Ward, &

Brown, in press) appear to be more common, but still have received relatively limited

investigation, especially in the hookup context. (Predictors and Consequences of

Sexual “Hookups” among College Students: A Short-Term Prospective Study Robyn

L. Fielder, M.S.1 and Michael P. Carey, Ph.D.1,2 1Center for Health and Behavior,

Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York) Hookups might also be expected to have

mental health consequences, which are easier to investigate. According to traditional

“sociocultural expectations” (Paul, 2006, p. 146), men are lauded for sexual prowess

and experience, whereas women are shamed for these. This “doubl standard” means
 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES

that women are more likely to feel guilty or anxious if they engage in casual sex

(Herold & Mewhinney, 1993; Lottes, 1993).

Quantitative result of Scale

34.8% of students reported having unprotected sex during a hookup. The most

commonly reported negative hooking up outcomes included regret over a specific

partner (45.0%), feeling sexually unsatisfied (39.0%), regret that a hookup went too

far (35.3%), and embarrassment (35.1%). This finding could suggest that females are

more likely than males to experience negative consequences when they do hook up.

In turn, negative hook-up experiences may further exacerbate distress and lead to

more risky hookup behaviors. Prospective studies would provide a useful avenue to

clarify the relationship between hookup behaviors and mental health outcomes.

EMERGENCE

Filipinos rank first in using apps to keep track of their sex lives. According to a recent

survey by the Kinsey Institute, we rely on our smartphones even for sex. Something

curious happened a couple of months ago. For the entire month of June 2017, the

Clue Period Tracker app together with the Kinsey Institute, the world’s premier

research organization for human sexuality and relationships, conducted an

 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES

international Sex and Tech survey. They published their results through an

infographic titled Technology and Modern Sexuality: Results from Clue and

Kinsey’s International Sex Survey. This survey explored “how people internationally

incorporate and rely on technology in their sex lives, dating habits, and sexual

education.” The survey was translated into 15 different languages and collected over

140,000 responses from 198 countries.

Filipinos, sex, and sex apps

According to their collected data, out of 198 nationalities, Filipinos were the ones

who used apps to keep track of their sex lives the most. Believe it or not, we made

up to 52% of this statistic.“This suggests that people are relying on technology for

the more external features of sexual encounters, like regularity and number of

partners, but may not be as willing to involve tech in the more private aspects of the

experience, like bodily and health facets,” said Amanda Gesselman, research scientist

at the Kinsey Institute. From participants aged 18 to 20 years old, nine percent use

dating apps to find short-term or long-term serious relationships versus the seven

percent who use them for casual flings and sexting.

Partying/Alcohols

Sexual relationships that lack commitment often go hand in hand with the use of

alcohol as part of a ‘‘party’’ social scene (Davies & Windle, 2000; Fielder & Carey,

2010). The underage use of alcohol is extremely common in the United States: Three
 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES

fourths of 12th graders have used alcohol on at least one occasion, and one fourth of

10th and 12th graders consumed at least five drinks in a row in the previous 2 weeks

(Johnston, O’Malley, Bachman, & Schulenberg, 2006). Using propensity score

matching, Acworth, de Roos, and Katayama (2012) found that adolescents who had

used alcohol or marijuana in the previous 30 days were more likely to have had sexual

intercourse, and sexual intercourse without protection, in the past year than those who

did not. Although a casual sexual partnership may seem alluring, alcohol has played

a large role in college students’ worst hookup experiences. Common emotions

include regret, discomfort, confusion, and embarrassment (Paul et al., 2008). One

reason for this severance between expectations and the actual emotional impact is

that youths may hold ambivalent attitudes about whether or not they would like for

sexual activity to occur. Adolescents who both desire and do not desire sexual activity

to occur are more likely to engage in it while under the influence of alcohol, when

their sense of selfcontrol is unstable and context-driven (Suvivuo, Tossavainen, &

Kontula, 2008). That is, alcohol creates an opportunity through which sexual

advancement and negotiation are facilitated.

Sexual Regret in connection to Mental Well-being

Casual sex is associated with psychological distress, including anxiety and

depression, as well as low self-esteem and reduced life satisfaction (Bersamin et al.,
 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES

2014). Research specifically examining hooking up suggests that having engaged in

a hookup (Fielder, Walsh, Carey, & Carey, 2014) and number of hookup partners

(Grello, Welsh, & Harper, 2006) are related to greater symptoms of depression.

Further, those who have more negative hookup experiences or greater sexual regret

are more likely to report poor psychological well-being (Grello et al., 2006; Owen &

Fincham, 2011; Owen et al., 2010).

Health Risks

High-risk sexual activities, such as unprotected sex and inebriated sex, are common

themes in students’ self-reports of their hooking up experiences (Holman & Sillars,

2012); however, students are sometimes unaware of these risks. Students’ reports of

condom use during hookups are relatively low (Fielder & Carey, 2010b; Lewis et al.,

2012). hooking up is related to having multiple, concurrent partners (Paik, 2010),

further increasing sexual health risk. Given these findings, it is not surprising that

engaging in more hookups is associated with a greater likelihood of STIs (Fielder et

al., 2014). Sexual behavior may involve risk for physical and mental health. Physical

health consequences include unintended pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections

(STIs), and sexual assault. Unintended pregnancies are relatively rare on most college

campuses (Scholly et al., 2005) due to the widespread availability of hormonal

contraceptives. STIs (Rimsza, 2005) and sexual assaults (Messman-Moore, Ward, &

Brown, in press) appear to be more common, but still have received relatively limited
 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES

investigation, especially in the hookup context. (Predictors and Consequences of

Sexual “Hookups” among College Students: A Short-Term Prospective Study Robyn

L. Fielder, M.S.1 and Michael P. Carey, Ph.D.1,2 1Center for Health and Behavior,

Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York) Hookups might also be expected to have

mental health consequences, which are easier to investigate. According to traditional

“sociocultural expectations” (Paul, 2006, p. 146), men are lauded for sexual prowess

and experience, whereas women are shamed for these. This “double standard” means

that women are more likely to feel guilty or anxious if they engage in casual sex

(Herold & Mewhinney, 1993; Lottes, 1993).

Quantitative result of Scale

34.8% of students reported having unprotected sex during a hookup. The most

commonly reported negative hooking up outcomes included regret over a specific

partner (45.0%), feeling sexually unsatisfied (39.0%), regret that a hookup went too

far (35.3%), and embarrassment (35.1%). This finding could suggest that females are

more likely than males to experience negative consequences when they do hook up.

In turn, negative hook-up experiences may further exacerbate distress and lead to

more risky hookup behaviors. Prospective studies would provide a useful avenue to

clarify the relationship between hookup behaviors and mental health outcomes.

Operationalizing Hookups
 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES

Hookups may include any sexual behavior in a seemingly uncommitted context.

Nearly all hookups involve kissing; 98% of undergraduate respondents in one study

reported kissing within a hookup (Fielder & Carey, 2010a). Other behaviors are less

ubiquitous. In another study, a combined 81% of undergraduate respondents engaged

in some form of hookup behavior, with 58% having engaged in sexual touching

above the waist and 53% below the waist, 36% performed oral sex, 35% received

oral sex, and 34% engaged in sexual intercourse in the context of a hookup (Reiber

& Garcia, 2010). Research has found minimal gender differences in terms of hookup

behaviors. The term hookup focuses on the uncommitted nature of a sexual encounter

rather than focus on what behaviors “count.” The ambiguity of this term may allow

individuals to adaptively manipulate others’ perceptions of their sexual behavior.

Operational definitions of hookups differ among researchers. Hookups may be

characterized as a form of “casual sex” or “uncommitted sexual encounter.” Hatfield,

Hutchison, Bensman, Young, and Rapson (in press) define casual sex as “outside of

a ‘formal’ relationship (dating, marriage, etc.), without a ‘traditional’ reason (such as

love, procreation, or commitment) for doing so” (p. 3). Paul, McManus, and Hayes

(2000) omitted the possibility of hooking up with previous partners or friends, by

defining a hookup as “a sexual encounter, usually only lasting one night, between

two people who are strangers or brief acquaintances. Some physical interaction is

typical but may or may not include sexual intercourse” (p. 79). Using a broad
 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES

situational definition, Garcia and Reiber (2008) told participants “a hook-up is a

sexual encounter between people who are not dating or in a relationship, and where

a more traditional romantic relationship is NOT an explicit condition of the

encounter” (p. 196). Lewis, Granato, Blayney, Lostutter, and Kilmer (2011) used a

more behaviorally specific definition, in which hooking up was defined as a “event

where you were physically intimate (any of the following: kissing, touching, oral sex,

vaginal sex, anal sex) with someone whom you were not dating or in a romantic

relationship with at the time and in which you understood there was no mutual

expectation of a romantic commitment” (p. 4). Glenn and Marquardt (2001) used an

explicitly heteronormative definition for participants: a hook-up is “when a girl and

a guy get together for a physical encounter and don’t necessarily expect anything

further” (p. 82).

Filipino adolescent sexual behaviors

According to the study of De Jesus in 2023, cohort of adolescents, 15–24 years old,

attending a large state university in Manila, Philippines (N = 1,412). Results 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

 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES

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 STIs or HIV. The

study also examined the correlates and predictors of sexual behaviors of a cohort of

students. Fourteen variables served as independent/predictive factors in the analyses.

The dependent variable was their scores on self-report sexual behaviors measured on

a Likert Scale. Six of the predictive factors (gender, sexual preference, age, school

allowance, monthly family income, and attitude towards sex) were significantly

correlated with sexual behavior. Stepwise regression analyses identified only four

factors-attitude towards sex, monthly family income, gender, and sexual preference-

as significant predictors of sexual behaviors. This composite term explains 16.1% of

the total variance, with the overall equation significant at p < .001. Implications for

adolescent sexuality and reproductive health programs and future research were

noted.

Synthesis

CHAPTER 3

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
 POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES

In this chapter, the researchers discussed the design and the procedure undertaken

during the conduct of the study.

Research method used

This study made use of descriptive research method which is designed for the re