Sexuality Education and Counselling—Insights from a Survey of Peer Influence on Adolescent University Students’ Sexuality
[1]
Nsisong A. Udoh, Department of Educational Foundations, Guidance and Counselling, University of Uyo, Uyo, Nigeria.
[2]
Imoh B. Ekott, Department of Educational Foundations, Guidance and Counselling, University of Uyo, Uyo, Nigeria.
This article is an attempt to alert sexuality educators and counsellors to the viability of peer association as machinery for propagating sexual ideals and mores. The study reported here examined the influence of peers on the sexuality of adolescents in public universities. The study utilised the ex post facto survey design; a randomised sample of 1,580 adolescent students; and the Tertiary Institution Students’ Sexuality Questionnaire to answer the question: How do peer groups influence the sexuality of adolescent students in public universities in Akwa Ibom State? Analysis of the data collected showed that peers have a persuasive influence on the sexuality of adolescent students in the public universities surveyed. Based on the dynamics of peer influence discussed from the findings, the researchers recommended among other things that peer counselling and peer education on sexuality should be designed and utilised in programmes of sexuality education. This will allow peers to positively influence peers to adopt healthy pro-social sexual mores and ideals and thus forestall sexual maladjustment among adolescents in public universities.
Sex, Sexuality, Adolescence, Adolescents, University Students, Sex Education, Peer Counselling, Peer Education, Peer Influence, Peer Group
[1]
Buss, D., & Schmitt, D. (1993). Sexual Strategies Theory: An Evolutionary Perspective of Human Mating. Psychological Review, 100: 204-232.
[2]
Chauhan, S.S. (2007). Principles and Techniques of Guidance. New Delhi. Vikas Publishing House.
[3]
Dewey, P. (2008). Social Influence in Perception retrieved from http://www. museumstuff.com/learn/topics/Muzafer_Sherif
[4]
Enoh, A.O. (2012). A Handbook on Sexuality, Reproductive Health and HIV/AIDS Education. Clear Lines Publication.
[5]
Gorgen, R., Yansane, M., Marx, M., &Millimounou, D. (1998). Sexual Behaviour and Attitudes Among Unmarried Urban Youths in Guinea. International Family Planning Perspectives 24(2): 65-71.
[6]
King, S. M, Iacono, W. G, McGue, M. (2004), Childhood externalizing and internalizing psychopathology in the prediction of early substance use. Addiction, 99(12):1548-1559.
[7]
Kotchick, B. A, Shaffer, A, Forehand, R, Miller, K. S. (2001), Adolescent sexual risk behavior: A multi-system perspective. Clinical Psychology Review, 21(4):493-519.
[8]
Little, C. B. & Rankin, A. (2001), Why do they start it? Explaining reported early-teen sexual activity. Sociological Forum, 16 (4): 703-729.
[9]
Martin, A, Ruchkin, V, Caminis, A, Vermeiren, R, Henrich, C. C, Schwab-Stone, M. (2005) Early to bed: A study of adaptation among sexually active urban adolescent girls younger than age sixteen. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry, 44(4):358-367.
[10]
Potard C, Courtois R, & Rusch E. (2008).The Influence of Peers on Risky Sexual Behaviour during Adolescence.European Journal of Contraceptives and Reproductive Health Care, 13(3): 264-70. doi: 10.1080/ 13625180802273530.
[11]
Schmitt, D.P., Shackelford, T.K., & Buss, D. (2001). Are Men really more Oriented toward Short-term Mating than Women? Psychology, Evolution & Gender, 3: 211-239. doi: 10. 1080/14616660110119331
[12]
Strasburger, V. C., & Wilson, B. J. (2008).Children, Adolescents, and the Media.(2nd Ed.) Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
[13]
Welsh, D. P, Grello, C. M, Harper, M. S. (2003) When Love Hurts: Depression and Adolescent Romantic Relationships. In Adolescent Romantic Relations and Sexual Behavior: Theory, Research, and Practical Implications. Edited by Florsheim P. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
[14]
Whitbeck, L. B, Yoder, K. A, Hoyt, D. R, Conger, P. D (1999), Early adolescent sexual activity: A developmental study. Journal of Marriage and the Family , 61:934-946.
[15]
Yeh, M.Y. (2006). Factors associated with alcohol consumption, problem drinking, and related consequences among high school students in Taiwan, Journal of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, 60, 46-54,
