CHAPTER 1 (2ND DRAFT)

CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

RATIONALE

            During adolescence, teens become interested and involved in dating because of the desire to belong with others. As a result, it is clear that over the time, romantic relationships gain in importance. Adolescents crave to have an intimate romantic relationship to where love is given and received without restriction. It is according to the need to belong theory by which individuals have the urge to connect with others in enduring, close relationships. Furthermore, the theory states that humans “share” the same need to be a part or connected with other individuals, and claims that all individuals may live life better if they are connected. Myers (2010) supported the need to belong theory by asserting that people who find a person complimenting their needs to whom they can share their problems, makes them more acknowledgeable. Belongingness is supported by close, intimate relationship which tends to be healthier and happier.

Because of this need to belong, we can see nowadays that most university students have synchronized their time in both academic and romantic aspect. Engaging themselves in this romantic relationship enables them to feel that someone cares for them, shows affection to them, loves them, etc. In fact, Furman (2002) reported that romantic relationships become more and more significant to adolescents in their social world as they also develop from puberty towards late adolescence in which it shows how prevalent is romantic relationship among adolescents.

Moreover, some students on the University of the Philippines Cebu College have also involved themselves in a romantic relationship. Having been in an institution which promotes honor and excellence among its students gave them a great challenge to maintain a good academic performance. Considering that each professor has higher expectations on the students, an increase of workloads which includes projects, school papers, reports and challenging exams were given. Therefore, being college students of UP Cebu College gives them more responsibility and it requires a great amount of time and attention.

In addition, Myers (2010) said that relationships also consume much of the life of university students. It is proven in the study of Mehl & Pennebaker (2003) conducted to 11 students (using Electronically Activated Recorder for each participant) of the University of Texas at Austin, that 28 percent of the students’ waking hours were spent just by talking to their romantic partners and it did not include the time they spent in listening to their romantic partners. Another study (Steinhauer & Holson, 2008) cited by Myers (2010) found that an average American 13-18 years old sent or received 1,742 test messages per month. Most often these young texters have been involved in romantic relationships.

Research conducted by Campbell & Oliver(1994) found benefits in having a romantic relationship such as companionship, feeling of happiness or elation, exclusivity, feeling loved or loving another, intimacy, self-growth and self-understanding, and more positive self-esteem. These benefits found in a romantic relationship are said to be the cause of motivation of the students in pursuing their studies.

However, Campbell & Oliver (1994) also pointed out some costs which are found in a romantic relationship, namely: stress and worry about the relationship, social and nonsocial sacrifices, increased dependence on the partner, fights, time and effort investment, and feeling worse about the self which are said to be the causes of anxiety of the students.

Having been in these situations, UP Cebu students who are in a relationship may be faced with the challenge in maintaining a good academic performance as “Iskolars ng Bayan”. UP students have greater responsibility to do well in their studies since it is the nation which subsidized most of its students to provide them a quality education.

Consequently, a question on the effect of romantic relationship among the students involved, whether they can manage their time efficiently or not still remains. Moreover, determining the vital role of motivation and anxiety in the life of the romantic partners and how they affect their academic performance still remain a problem.

In order to answer these problems, this study was aimed to determine the effects of romantic relationship on the academic performance of UP BS Computer Science 2 students who are involved in a romantic relationship. In this, status of time management was investigated as well as the levels of motivation and anxiety of the students. Lastly, this study aimed to determine if there is a relationship between the time management, levels of motivation and anxiety and the academic performance of the students.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The main thrust of the study was to determine the effect of romantic relationships to the academic performance of male and female BS Computer Science 2 students of the University of the Philippines Cebu College (A.Y. 2011-2012, First Sem) who were involved in a romantic relationship during the academic year 2010-2011.

Specifically, this study seeks to answer the following questions:

1.    What is the profile of the respondents in terms of:

a.    gender,

b.    general weighted average in the A.Y 2010-2011 1^st  sem,

c.    general weighted average in the A.Y. 2010-2011 2^nd sem?

2.    What is the status of time management of the respondents:

a.     in studying,

b.    with their partner?

3.    What is the level of anxiety of the respondents in playing their role as a student?

4.    What is the level of motivation of the respondents in playing their role as a student?

5.    Is there a significant relationship between the academic performance and time management of the respondents?

6.    Is there a significant correlation between academic performance and :

a. levels of anxiety,

b. levels of motivation?

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

            The main objective of the study is to determine the effects of romantic relationship on the academic performance of UP Cebu College BS Computer Science 2 (A.Y. 2011-2012, First Sem) male and female students who were involved in a romantic relationship during the academic year 2010-2011.

            In order to answer the main problem, the study has the following specific objectives:

1.  To determine the profile of the respondents in terms of:

·         gender,

·         general weighted average in the A.Y. 2010-2011 first sem,

·         general weighted average in the A.Y. 2010-2011 second sem.

2.  To determine the status of the time management of the respondents:

·         in studying,

·         with their partner.

3. To determine the levels of motivation of the respondents in playing their role          

    as a student.

           4. To determine the level of anxiety of the respondents in playing their role as a 

     student.

 5. To determine whether there is a significant correlation between time 

     management of the respondents and their academic performance.

6. To determine whether there is a significant correlation between the levels of 

     motivation/anxiety of the respondents and their academic performance.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

            This study aims to determine the effects of romantic relationship on the academic performance of BS Computer Science 2 students of academic year 2011-2012. This will also find out how the UP BS Computer Science 2 students manage their time in which study and romantic side is involved. Additionally, it determines the levels of motivation and anxiety of the respondents.

            This study highlights the effect of time management, motivation and anxiety level of students who are involved in romantic relationship on their academic performance. The result of this study would alarm the student and raise their awareness on the effects of romantic relationship to the academic performance of a student especially on its negative effects. These concluded data would also make the students who are involved in romantic relationship assess their time management between romantic and academic aspects.

            Findings of this study would also raise the awareness of the parents of the students who are synchronizing their time in both academic and romantic side. These findings could benefit them so that they could guide their children on how to balance time wisely, and as parents, they are tasked to motivate their children to prioritize their study and set-aside/minimize factors of romantic relationship(i.e., more frequent interaction with the partner) which can affect the academic performance of their children.

For the teachers, the information that they would get in this study would help them guide and give proper attention to their students who are involved in romantic relationship so that teachers could also help in increasing the academic performance of their students not just by teaching them lessons on the course/subjects they handled.