Gender Differences in Emotional Relationships and Physical Behaviors Among Adolescents in the Philippines

In developing countries, most studies concerning early sexual activity focus on the age at first sex with little focus on the patterns of emotional relationships and sexual behaviors leading up to first sexual intercourse. These patterns could help identify factors that lead to delayed first intercourse and subsequent sexual risk behaviors. Gender differences in precoital behavior could point to important cues about how to prepare boys and girls for impending sexual activity. The precoital activities of 2,051 adolescents ages 17 to 19 in the Philippines are examined using data from the Cebu Longitudinal Health and Nutrition Survey. Only 31% of boys and 20% of girls has ever had sex by age 19, but a majority of the adolescents is engaging in dating, courting, romantic relationships, hand-holding, and kissing. This study found significant gender differences. Male adolescents in the Philippines engage in each emotional relationship and in sexual intercourse at earlier ages than females do. They also progress through these stages at a faster pace than females do. After they begin courting, romantic relationships, and dating, there are several years before they have sex, providing an ideal opportunity to prepare adolescents to ensure they are making informed choices about sexual intercourse. This window of opportunity is longer for females than males. The current analysis also finds that fast pace of emotional relationships is a strong predictor of younger age at first sex among girls, but not among boys. In contrast, males who have few emotional relationships are less likely to have sex at a younger age.