The aim of this study is to identify the emergence of dating phenomenon, love affair and their relationship with social anxiety amongst the students in secondary schools. Two hundred and forty students were chosen from eight different schools in Johor Bahru district for this study. The cluster on cluster sampling technique was applied and questionnaires on dating, love affair, sex and social anxiety for adolescents were used in this study. The alpha croncbach for both items are 0.7207 and 0.9690 accordingly. The results from the study have shown that the students perceptions towards love affair and social anxiety problem are at moderate levels while the most dominant love style among the students is ‘pragmatic love style’. There are significant differences between students who involve in dating in relation to races and standard of living, sex in relation to gender and love affair in relation to races. On the other hand, there are no significant differences among the other factors being studied such as sex and social anxiety in relation to races and in between love affair, dating, sex and social anxiety in relation to the location of their hometown

Suari, Asiah

Yahaya, Azizi

English

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia Institutional Repository

THE RELATIONSHIP  BETWEEN DATING, LOVE AND SOCIAL ANXIETY PROBLEMS AMONG THE SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS   Azizi bin Hj Yahaya Asiah Binti Suari  Faculty of Education University Technology Malaysia,  Skudai, Johor Malaysia       ABSTRACT: The aim of this study is to identify the emergence of dating phenomenon, love affair and their relationship with social anxiety amongst the students in secondary schools. Two hundred and forty students were chosen from eight different schools in Johor Bahru district for this study. The cluster on cluster sampling technique was applied and questionnaires on dating, love affair, sex and social anxiety for adolescents were used in this study. The alpha croncbach for both items are 0.7207 and 0.9690 accordingly. The results from the study have shown that the students perceptions towards love affair and social anxiety problem are at moderate levels while the most dominant love style among the students is ‘pragmatic love style’.  There are significant differences between students who involve in dating in relation to races and standard of living, sex in relation to gender and love affair in relation to races.  On the other hand, there are no significant differences among the other factors being studied such as sex and social anxiety in relation to races and in between love affair, dating, sex and social anxiety in relation to the location of their hometown.  Keyword: dating phenomenon, love affair, social anxiety, students  INTRODUCTION Dating is defined as a form of interaction focused on two people towards beneficial activities to parties and encouraged future interaction, emotional commitment and lastly sexual intimacy (Sugarman & Hotaling, 1989) Hope and Heinburg (1990) in their research concluded dating is differing from interaction, normal interaction, because the former needs commitment from both parties/persons. In order to develop romantic relationship, one has to brush up his or her interpersonal competency Referring to Gransee J.M (2000) dating is also a form of recreational, entertainment, social status, self ego needs and opportunities to sexual gratification. Increase one`s status among colleagues. It is a first step in introduction process to know a person much better, up close and personal. Dating is a serious mean to find compatible partner in life. Sorenson (1973) in Gerow J.R (1993) the biggest scaled research in America,57% of women and 72% of men had sexual intercourse after few dates and love. The finding is consistent with other findings such as Coles and Strokes, 1985; Hofferth. It also showed the percentage of girl adolescent doubled since 1970 in sexual activities, as young as 15 years old. Increased in sexual activities means increased in unwanted pregnancy among girl. Kisker (1985) half million babies from girl were born as young as 15 years old.Abortion, 400,000 cases every year. Findings from researches have shown among other causes, negative perception from individuals. They found to avoid intimacy with the other person because they think their date invitations will be rejected. Bellack and Morrinson, (1982) say that they (adolescent) behaved that way due to physical inadequacies and lacking social skills. School alone could not resolve these problems. Mass media and western cultures and gaining popularity among our lives, and we are practicing them on regular basics especially among adolescent. Students and their love phenomenon, sex before marriage and social problems will be learned, analized and find the methods to resolve these problems, a lot to be done.  METHODOLOGY   Population and samples  Population from four students was chosen from several high schools in Johor.  Total of 473,182 boys and 291 girls has been selected. Research samples of 240 form four students from students from several school in Johor Bahru. Random samples on group has been used.30 students from each school random selected in the process, as respondents.82 questions related to love, dating, love behavioral styles, social problems, sex and interrelation program had been answered by respondents. Data was analyzed based on SPSS program.  FINDINGS  Dispersion level factors of love relationship, dating social problems and interrelation program among high school student.  A total of 201 respondents (83.8%) have medium perception toward love relations. 182 respondents (75.8%) have medium perception towards dating outside and inside school ground. 117 (48.8%) agrees intervention program is at medium level.  Table 1: Level Factors  ITEM NUMBERS PERCENTEGE LEVEL Love Relationship 201 83.8% Average Dating 182 75.8% Average Social Worries 186 77.5% Average Interaction Program 117 48.8% Average   Dispersion Level of Love Patterns Among high school students.  Findings from questionnaires on love behavioral patterns, was introduced by John Alan Lee (1977) 149 respondents (62.1%) average level on pragmatic love with min 3.58, very dominant practice.174 respondents (72.5%) average level on own love with min 3.06, second dominant practice, Altruistic love (non-selfish love) is practiced by 167 respondents (69.9%) with min 2.90 is number three on the list. 156 respondents prefer friendly love with min 2.82, at average level which made up of 65%. 122 respondents (50.8%) practiced romantic love, still average level with min 2.56 Monkey Love (not serious love) is practiced by 122 respondents/students, at average level, with min of 2.55; it is the lowest level on styles of love.  Table 2: Love Style among high school students  LOVE STYLE NUMBER PERCENTEGE TAHAP MIN LEVEL a. Pragmatic love 149 62.1% Average 3.58 1 brown love 174 72.5% Average 3.06 2 c.Altruistic love  167 69.6% Average 2.90 3 d.Friendly love 156 65.0% Average 2.82 4 e. Romantic Love 122 50.8% Average  2.56 5 f. not serous love 140 58.3% Average 2.55 6  Analytic Difference According To Races.  Hypothesis test was run according to racemes social status and location of students. Findings from the hypothesis test shows that very little different if not significant between dating and love relation, therefore the hypothesis is rejected. Whereas hypothesis is rejected. Whereas hypothesis on sexual behavior and social worries among race is significantly larger.   Table 3: Analytical Difference According To Race Hypothesis (No Difference between races...) Degree of Significant Accepted/Rejected Love relationship according to race  0.002 Rejected Dating according to race 0.004 Rejected Sex activities or sex behavioral 0.130 Accepted Social problems worries  0.065 Accepted   Analytic Difference According to Sex  No difference between love relationship, dating and social worries according to sex, bigger value degree of significant from alpha value. Therefore the hypothesis is accepted and concluded there not much difference.  Table 4: Analytic Difference According to Sex Hypothesis (No difference between...) Degree of significant  Accepted/Rejected Love relationship according to sex 0.530 Accepted Dating according to sex 0.805 Accepted Sexual behavioral activities according to sex 0.001 Rejected Social dilemma or worry according to sex 0.071 Accepted  Analytic Difference According to Social Status  No significant different between love relationship, sexual activities and social problems according to social status.  Table 5: Analytic Difference According to Social Status Hypothesis (No difference between...) Degree of significant Accepted/rejected Love relationship according to social status 0.054 Accepted Dating according to social status 0.005 Rejected Sexual activities according to social status 0.116 Accepted Social problem worries according to social status 0.278 Accepted  Analytic Difference According to Location. No degree of significant when it comes to location. Table 6: Analytic Difference According to location Hypothesis (No difference between...) Degree of significant  Accepted/Rejected Love relationship according to location 0.722 Accepted Dating according to location 0.673 Accepted Sexual activities according location 0.239 Accepted Social problem worries according location 0.440 Accepted DISCUSSION  Discussion on the findings of the phenomenon of Dating, Love relationship, Sex activities and the relation with social problems worries among high school students. Overall perception of high school students towards love relationship is average based on min value of 3.20. Different with Bukowski (1993) reported that adolescent between 11 to 13 years old choose their own sex (44%) and 21% group of student preferred their own sex are the ages 14 to 15 years old. Findings of Bagwell et.al (2001) students were more focused on their homework. Normally students have their own gender friend before moving to have love relationship with girl. Relationship with their parents influenced their preference to find a suitable friend. Alden et.al (1995) reported adolescents who live with their parents or single parent or grandmother has faster love relationship with different gender. But those who have attention and love from their parents excel in their academic performance, make friends with same gender and late engaging love relationship. Overall perception of high school students towards the need of dating inside and outside school is average based on min value of 2.77  Hansen et.al (1992) reported there is no significant difference on adolescents towards is no significant difference on adolescents towards dating inside or outside school. Western adolescent tend to interact with different gender and dating as well. They told that they were at ease with interaction and dating because they like it, its fun and increase the social skills. Furman, W&Wehner supported the findings and realized choosing friends among adolescents occur between 14 and 15 years old. They started dating along these aged and above. Those who don’t have dating make have low self esteem and communication skills problem. Overall social worriness problem among students to get partners from their school is average based on min value 3.54.This means high school rarely have social worriness problems to get partners. Those students can be concluded emotionless such fear, reluctant to choose and getting partners. This supported what Bagwell et.al (2001) who found out that western adolescents love to interact with different gender because it`s fun and opportunity to have sex. Hansen et.al (1987) reports that those groups which have little interaction have less social skills. Therefore less development in social skills and interpersonal skills. Brother (1984) believes that person should choose opposite psychological attributes. Choose partner with excellent social skills. Findings show those with anxieties to get partner are average level.  Overall view on all the intervention programmes conducted by school authority on social relations between boys and girls at high schools shows that their perception towards interaction programmes is average. This was supported by Pribell (1989) started that is important for school to conduct such interaction and prevention. He also started 33.9% respondents were involved in love relation. Harrison et.al (2000) found out that adolescent who were raised by single parent or extended family has academic problems and social problem. They were faster to be involved in love relation and sexual activities. Interraction programmed can help adolescent from engaging themselves in negative problems such as pregnancy and abortion. Researchers has formulated several factors personal factor, surrounding factor and demogratic factor also considered, found out that teenage girl who live in town or city area are more involved in sexual activities compared to teenage boys. Teenage boys who live in the outside town or city have social worriness more than teenage girl.   COLCLUSION  Among others are: 1) Findings show that is proven there is significant difference between students who date according to race, love relation between races with students who have date according to social status.  2) Findings show love relation at average level among high school average love relation within school and outside school.  3) The need of dating is also at average level.75.8% at average level of dating. Only 5.4 are seriously dating.  4) Finding shows pragmatic love is dominant students rational in choosing their partner and engaging in love relation.  5) Interaction programmed have less impact on students, at average level.48.8% claimed these programmed do little than prevention.  SUGGESTION According to suggestion, researcher would like to suggest to KPM, J PN, and PPD, headmasters, teachers and parents: 1) Due to the findings of love relation, dating, sexual activities and social problems worrines level is average ,the KPM should take up these step of prevention such as seminar,workshop,and courses related to the love phenomenon problems facing by high school students.  2) Parents and teachers have to interference intelligently to educate and to motivate students to do the right think. They must appreciate their children effort. Government should be more attentive in solving student’s problems in a wider picture.  3) Sex education should be introduced through informal activates such as social intergration, reading and interaction. 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Greenwich, CT:  JAI Press.  Zelnik, M. & Kantner, M.H.(1980). “Sexual Dysfunction.” In M.M. Antony & D.H.Barlow (Eds.). Handbook of Assessment and Treatment Planning for Psychological Disorders. NY: Guilford.   Acknowledgement  Researcher would like convey appreciation to MOHE for giving the opportunity to conduct researche  on FRGS vote  78144. My appreciation also goes to RMC, UTM Skudai for the splendid cooperation by giving good guidance to ensure that the topic of this research is accepted by MOHE. Thank you very much.  

The relationship between dating, love and social anxiety problems among the secondary school students

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