Sexual and Non-Sexual Risk-Taking Behaviors Among Youth in Tagbilaran City

Abstract

Youth is a period when individuals engage in exploratory behaviors as part of their self-discovery. During this phase, individuals may wind up doing non-sexual risk-taking behaviors such as smoking, drinking, drug use, suicidal ideation, and sexual risk-taking behaviors like premarital sex, unprotected sex, and multiple sex partners. These behaviors can be detrimental to the overall well-being of individuals. A single case of risk-taking behavior is already an alarming issue since it can cause harm to one's life. This study was conducted to identify the relationship among risk-taking behaviors such as smoking and drinking, drinking and drug use, suicidal ideation and smoking, and sexual and non-sexual risk-taking behaviors. The study utilized a quantitative-correlational method using a standardized questionnaire. Three hundred ninety-eight participants from the different barangays in Tagbilaran City aged 19 to 29 years old were included in the study through random sampling, ensuring that each of the fifteen barangays in Tagbilaran City was well-represented. Data revealed a significant correlation between smoking and drinking, suicidal ideation and smoking, and sexual and non-sexual risk-taking behavior. The interplay of the risky behaviors that the youth engage in is concerning since it may cause problems later in life. Parents, educational institutions, and the local government units play a significant role in mitigating these behaviors.