Social and Cultural Dimensions of Adolescent Sexual Relationships in Thailand

Abstract

Social and cultural dimensions in Thailand are considered to have specific and sensitive characteristics compared with those in western countries. Recently however, social and cultural dimensions in Thailand have changed significantly if compared with the past and these changes have included sexual issues. The purpose of this research is to study attitudes towards sexual culture, and ways to handle sexual issues, among Thai adolescents, by applying theoretical concepts on social structure and culture, concepts on adolescent attitudes towards sexual relationships, and concepts on adolescent sexual behaviors as the study approach. This research is considered as a Quantitative Research using Accidental Sampling, Survey Research Methods and Questionnaires as data collecting tools. The sample group of this research consisted of first to fourth year students in undergraduate programs totaling 672 students. The research findings revealed that Thai adolescents believed that talking about sexual issues was not acceptable, especially among women, because the values and culture of Thai society considered sexual issues to be a private matter, which should not be talked about openly. Even at family level, appropriate sex education was not given to children. They believed that living together without getting married was something normal. With regard to ways to handle sexual issues, it was found that most adolescents believed that not talking to the opposite sex about sexual matters, staying away from temptation and alcohol, dressing in modest and not too revealing clothing, and not staying with the opposite sex out of sight of other people will help to reduce sexual desire. They also believed that families were their best advisors about sexual issues. However, most adolescents therefore sought sexual knowledge and experience for themselves or from their friends, who tended to give them incorrect information. These adolescents consequently gained an inaccurate understanding of and attitude towards sexual matters; several members of the sample group turned out to have later social problems including early sexual activity, unplanned pregnancy or abortion, for example.