Physical Intimacy and Sexual Coercion Among Adolescent Intimate Partners in the Philippines

Abstract

This study explores perceptions about intimate relationships including perspectives of pressure and sexual coercion as experienced by unmarried Filipino adolescent males and females aged 15 to 19 years. The study design included an initial qualitative phase containing focus group discussions with adults and adolescents and key informant interviews with professionals, a community survey of 600 female and male adolescents, and in-depth interviews with selected survey respondents. The results indicated that sexual coercion was regarded as common in adolescent intimate relationships. Viewed from a broader perspective, it canoccurat any stage of the intimate process using a combination of methods. Of the 600 adolescent survey respondents, 64% reported whether they have ever practiced or experienced any form of pressure and coercion in their intimate relationships. Of this number, 321 were targets of coercion, whereas 65 admitted that they had perpetrated the coercive act. Among the victims, 42.3% were males and 64.6% were females (p < .0001). The use of verbal pressure to pursue coercive sex was commonly reported. Recommendations were made to facilitate a healthy sexual development among male and female adolescents.