Background to the Study
One of the foremost adolescents’ problems these days is their early involvement in different sexual behaviours which could be detrimental to their wellbeing. Human sexual behaviour involves the manner in which humans experience and express their sexuality. Abiodun, Gbadebo and Motunrayo (2013) maintained that human sexuality is generally described as the sum total of manner through which people experience and articulate their sexual sensation. It encompasses physiological make-up as well as socio-cultural, psychological and spiritual aspects of life. It involves engaging in sexual activities which range from hugging, touching, kissing, dating, foreplay, sexual feelings, masturbating, pornographic watching, and romantic relationship to sexual intercourse. Momodu and Imhabekhai (2012) observed that sexuality issues have been one of the most fundamental aspects of human existence, which is directly related to both the physical and psychological well-being of an individual. It reflects the integral joyful part of human with biological, social, physiological, spiritual, ethical and cultural dimensions. It also encompasses concepts such as growth and development, human reproduction, family life, pregnancies, childbirth, parenthood, sexual response, sexual orientation, contraception, abortion, sexual abuse, HIV/AIDs and other sexually transmitted infections. Sexuality can also be seen as the quality of being sexual, the state of being either male or female, sexual desires and their gratifications (Uyi-Osaretin & Okobia, 2010). 2 Momodu (2010) asserted that sexual thoughts, feelings and behaviours present throughout life, are often accentuated during adolescence. Students, most of whom are adolescents are particularly inclined to try out new ideas received from the environment. Today, our environment is not that friendly to students in providing them with the necessary productive ideas needed to promote their health. Rather, it provides them with that which motivates them to take decisions that are detrimental to their health. For example, Uyi-Osaretin and Okobia (2010) lamented that sex, which use to be treated as sacred topic is now being flaunted on billboards, television, magazines, internets, and any where one looks at today. This is not very good for adolescents as they are particularly inclined to try new ideas whether positive or negatives. At this time, the adolescents lack the abilities of life skills to assimilate multiple stimuli from the environment especially the ones from peers and media thereby luring them to experiment risky sexual behaviours. Morhason-Bello, et al (2008) reported that Okpani and Okpani (2000) and Okonofua (2000) maintained that studies within Africa including Nigeria have demonstrated increasing rate of premarital sex and decline in age of sexual debut among adolescents contrary to our moral and cultural values. This act exposes the adolescent to unsafe sexual practices. One of the factors that has recently been linked by researchers such as Okafor (2011); Geckil and Dundar (2011) to adolescent early sexual debut and unprotected sex is self-esteem. In the same vein Alavi (2011) observed that self esteem is one of the most important variables and concepts that has a meaningful influence on addiction, theft and 3 prostitution. Self-esteem simply means individuals’ opinion of their self-worth or ability to feel positive about themselves. It can also be seen as one’s sense of self-worth, self regard, self respect and self integrity. Guidon (2002) defined self esteem as the attitudinal, evaluative component of the self; the affective judgments placed on the selfconcept consisting of feelings of worth and acceptance, which are developed and maintained as a consequence of awareness of competence, sense of achievement, and feedback from the external world. People’s sense of self-esteem influences their attitude about what they can do, how to cope with problems and how to get along with peers or friends (New, 2012; Gerhardt, 2013; and Torres, Fernandez, & Maceira, 1995). Self esteem is of two types, high and low self-esteem. High self-esteem is a quick comfortable feeling of total acceptance and love for oneself as one is. It is respecting oneself as a worthwhile human being and honestly seeing one good and bad quality. People with high self-esteem are assertive, self confident, smart, intelligent, goal oriented and very loving and lovely. They are able to overcome stress, and get adjusted to situations, criticism and unfavorable environment in a favorable manner. On the other hand, low-self-esteem is a feeling of hatred for one’s self. It is when one is not happy with oneself and as such does not have self worth, self respect, and self acceptance. In this case the individual is depressed and moody, feels rejected and unduly cared for. People with low self-esteem react to others with extreme emotion or no emotion. This is one of the reasons why low self-esteem is being linked with increased risk behaviors such as: increased sexual risk behaviours, poor health and depression (Donnellan, Trzesniewski, Robbins, Moffitt & Caspi, 2006). Also, Lejeuz, Simmons, Aklin and Daughters (2004) maintained that low self esteem places the individual at a high risk for 4 taking part in risky behaviours such as risky sexual activities including having unprotected sex and not limiting partners. In contrast, Cole and Slocumb (1995); and Hollar and Snizek (1996) both authors using Rosenberg’s Self Esteem Scale, found in their study that among sample of college students, high self esteem students were more significantly likely to engage in risky form of conventional sexual behaviours than the low self esteem counterparts. The importance of high self esteem in the development of healthy behaviours (especially sexual behaviours) among adolescents cannot be over emphasized because, high self esteem is usually assumed to be protective and predictive of healthy behaviours. This is why Favara (2013) maintained that high self esteem is a “social vaccine” that inoculates people, especially young people against vulnerability to a wide range of social illnesses, while low self-esteem is predictive of negative behaviours such as risky sexual activities, unprotected sex and having multiple sexual partners (Geckil& Dundar, 2011; Simmons, Aklin & Daughters). Low self-esteem is also being linked with increased risk behaviors such as poor health and depression (Darane, 2003; Donnellan, Trzesniewski, Robbins, Moffitt & Caspi, 2006). Also, Lejeuz, Simmons, Aklin and Daughters (2004) maintained that low self esteem places the individual at a high risk for taking part in risky behaviours such as risky sexual activities including having unprotected sex and not limiting partners. Based on the above facts, it is obvious that a significant relationship exist between self-esteem and sexual behaviours among adolescents. What is not clear is the direction of the relationship. Some researchers such as Favara (2013); Lejeuz, Simmons, Aklin and Daughters (2004) are of the opinion that high self-esteem is promotive, 5 predictive and protective of safer sex behaviours while others like Heinrichs, Macknee, Auton-Cuff and Donnel (2009); and Farrell (2013) refute this belief and maintain that high self-esteem is promotive and predictive of unsafe sexual behaviours. in order words low self-esteem is predictive, promotive and protective of safer sex behaviours while HSE is predictive and promotive of unsafe sexual behaviours. This controversy which exists between self esteem and sexual behavior is what actually necessitates this study, especially in school setting such as secondary schools in South-South Geopolitical Zone of Nigeria. Again, several studies such as Moris, Young and Jones (2000); and Christensen (1985) have equally observed that the relationship between self esteem and sexual behaviours is greatly influenced by students’ age, gender, level of education, attitudes, religion, parenting styles, family pattern and parents’ social economic status (SES). For example, Moris, Young and Jones (2000) opined that students’ age, gender, level of education, and attitudes significantly influence the relationship between their self esteem and sexual behaviours. Christensen, (1985) on the other hand maintained that religion did not significantly influence the relationship between self esteem and sexual attitudes and sexual behaviours in his study on self esteem and adolescent sexual attitudes and behaviours in California and New Mexico all in the United States of America. Several studies such as Egbochuku and Ekanem (2008) and Upchurch, Aneshensel, Sucoff and Levy-Storms (1999) have reported adolescent involvement in various sexual behaviours raging from discussion of sex, watching pornographic films, indecent dressing to sexual intercourse. This further buttress the fact that adolescents do not only involve in sexual practices/behaviours but also indulge in forms of sexual risk 6 behaviours that place them at the risk of HIV infection, other sexually transmitted infections and unwanted pregnancies. When this happens, it either makes them to face the problem of being dropped out from the school particularly the female students in the case of unwanted pregnancy or death in the case of deadly sexually transmitted infections (STIs). It is very unfortunate and painful to believe that secondary school students who are supposed to be serious with their studies so as to have a bright future now engage in various sexual behaviours that have the potentials to endanger their health and bright future. Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), (2009) supported this view when it observed that nearly half of the 19 million new STIs, each year are among young people aged 15-24 years. Adolescents do not only involve in penetrative sex or sexual intercourse, but involve in other sexual behaviours such as: hugging, kissing, touching, masturbating, buying and watching pornographic materials, hanging out with opposite sex and discussing sexual issues. This agrees with the study of Igudia and Obasuyi (2011) where fresh university students maintained that they watch pornography, discuss sex and dress sexily. In Nigeria, associations between media, peer influence, family typology, neighborhood influence, ages, gender, level of education, parental socio-economic status, curiosity, sex drive, pleasure, monetary gain, religion and sexual behaviours have been established (Temin et at.,1995; Okpani and Okpani, 2000; Izugbara,2001; & 2010; Aji, et al 2013). But that of self-esteem and sexual behaviours is yet unknown because there is no empirical work existing in this area that is known to the researcher.
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