THE IMPACT OF STUDENT INVOLVEMENT IN PREMARITAL SEX ON THEIR ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE SUDY
Premarital sexual conduct among students appears to be a fact that should not be overlooked. Premarital sexual activity among students are on the rise in most African schools, according to many research (Miyakado & Timothy; 2014). Premarital sexual conduct refers to sexual acts carried out by unmarried people, and it is considered taboo in certain societies and a sin in many religions. Premarital sexual behavior is influenced by a variety of circumstances, according to several research. Peer pressure, familial background, socioeconomic level, religiousness, age, exposure to pornographic materials/mass media, internet exposure, and drug misuse are only a few of these influences. (Adeola 2014 )
According to studies, sexual relationships between students are on the rise and are frequent in most African institutions. The tendency is slowly shifting, but the number of student-adolescents or youths participating in sexual relationships is increasing, which can lead to social, health, and academic issues. Unplanned pregnancies, low academic performance, and finally school dropouts have all been linked to students' sexual behavior (Mlyakado, 2013). Studies in Nigeria, on the other hand, have not looked at the consequences of sexual relationships on students' academic achievement. The majority of past Tanzanian research has focused on characteristics that influence academic achievement in general. Instructors' ineptitude, students' lack motivation, teachers' bad morale, students' degree of sexual activity, and other factors were researched, as outlined in Timothy (2010). Evidence from different nations may aid in understanding the current association between sexual relationships among students and academic success. A number of studies in the United States have found that youths who do not engage in sexual activity are more likely to graduate from high school and attend college than their sexually active classmates (Idoko, Muyiwa Agoha, 2015).
Unplanned or premarital pregnancies, sexually transmitted illnesses such as HIV/AIDS, and poor academic performance are some of the issues that students who engage in sexual activity are likely to face (Stephen & Stephen, 2016). This study, on the other hand, focused on the link between premarital sexual behavior and academic success. Achieving good academic performance is a key goal for every educational institution aiming to provide high-quality education. It's also worth noting that pupils attend school to improve their academic performance. It is at this time when adolescent students go through a pivotal period in their lives, including academic and professional decisions. On the other side, most adolescent students begin to explore with their sexual fantasies around the same period, potentially jeopardizing their academic success.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Culturally, sex is supposed to be preserved till marriage, but it has been observed that premarital sexual behaviour has remained persistent and prevalence in this contemporary time due to various contributing factors and has had negative influences on the life of the students involved. The loss of conventional values is most visible in the domain of sexuality. Acceptance of premarital sex in a loving relationship has been a huge shift. According to Zekaria & Tsegaye (2017), culture in Nigeria no longer has a hold on the youth since our society appears to be afflicted by degraded moral standards and values, eroding the sense of right and wrong. This appears to effect young people, especially adolescents, more than any other demographic, as seen by acceptance of sex before marriage, homosexual conduct, lesbianism, abortion, drug addiction, and indecent attire. Aside from the responsibility attributed to parents for their neglect, some individuals believe that teenagers are naturally vulnerable to normal sex desire, which is inflamed by the influence of permissive Western society communicated through sexual stimuli provided by the mass media. Babatunde (2019) stated that sexually explicit films introduce young kids to adult concerns when they are "impressionable." Others believe that the use of pornographic materials, as well as understanding and usage of contraceptives, particularly the condom, has greatly contributed to teenage engagement in sexual activities.
Despite the fact that multiple studies have predicted student involvement in premarital sex, the researcher revealed that premarital sexual connections, whether among students or with those outside the school, had a detrimental impact on students' academic performance. Therefore is upon this premise that this study seeks to examine the impact of student involvement in premarital sex on their academic performance.
1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The main objective of the study is to find the impact of student involvement in premarital sex on their academic performance.. The following specified objectives will guide the study:
i. To identify the kinds of premarital sexual relationship among the students
ii. To examine the causes of premarital sexual relationship among the students
iii. To ascertain ways premarital sex affects the academic performance of students.
iv. To identify the possible means of curbing this menace among the students so as to enhance and improve their academic development and performance in school.
1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
The following questions will guide the researcher and help to achieve the specified objectives:
i. What kinds of premarital sexual relationship exist among the students?
ii. What are the causes of premarital sexual relationships among the students?
iii. In what ways does premarital sex affect the educational development and performances of secondary school students?
iv. What are the possible ways of curbing premarital sexual relationship among the students?
1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The result of this research work will be useful to the government. Because it will make the government to discover the consequences of premarital sexual relationships on the educational development of the youths and the role it needs to play to curb this menace in our society. The students themselves will benefit from this research work as it will enable them to identify the problems associated with premarital sexual relationships with particular reference to their educational development. It will also benefit parents, because it will point out the areas through which the parents have been influencing premarital sexual relationships among the youths and the quota they need to contribute to resolving the problem. The teachers will also gain from this research work as they are the tutors of the Nigerian youths. It will also show their own roles in curbing premarital sex among the youths they are teaching through guidance and counselling services.
1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
The scope of the study borders on the impact of student involvement in premarital sex on their academic performance. The study will further discuss kinds of premarital sexual relationship among the students the causes of premarital sexual relationship among the students, ways premarital sex affects the academic performance of students and identify the possible means of curbing this menace among the students so as to enhance and improve their academic development and performance in school. The study is however delimited to selected secondary schools in Yenegoa metropolis in Bayelsa State.
1.7 LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
Like in every human endeavour, the researchers encountered slight constraints while carrying out the study. The significant constraint was the scanty literature on the subject owing that it is a new discourse thus the researcher incurred more financial expenses and much time was required in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature, or information and in the process of data collection, which is why the researcher resorted to a limited choice of sample size covering only education selected secondary schools in Jalingo local government in Taraba State. Thus findings of this study cannot be used for generalization for other secondary school in other States within Nigeria. Additionally, the researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work will impede maximum devotion to the research. Howbeit, despite the constraint encountered during the research, all factors were downplayed in other to give the best and make the research successful.
1.8 DEFINITION OF TERMS
Effect: a change which is a result or consequence of an action or other cause.
Sexual Relationship: a relationship involving sexual intimacy
Secondary school: in between basic school and college
Academic performance: the extent to which a student, teacher or institution has achieved their short or long-term educational goals.
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