DETERMINANTS OF ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIP DECISIONS AMONG FEMALE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN SELECTED SCHOOLS IN GHANA

Abstract

Romantic relationships among Senior High School students have become a classical scholarly discussion theme lately. Despite its gross multi-dimensional effects on female students mainly, literature is limited on the critical determinants of related factors at the high school level. This research (therefore) aimed at understanding the causal factors of this burgeoning societal problem to control its current alarming trends. The researcher purposively and conveniently gathered data from 285 selected female high school students in the Cape Coast Metropolis, through questionnaires and a semi-structured interview guide. Four clusters of schools were studied in all: (3) three mixed and one single-sex school. After using chi-square and multiple linear regression statistical tools to analyse the data, findings revealed that 82% of students in mixed schools and only 20% in single-sex schools were in relationships. Teachers (1.8%) and school counsellors (4.9%) were also the least contacted student sources for decision-making information, whereas parents (41.1%) and peers (29.5%) were the most sought-after information sources due to the trust and confidence the respondents had in them. The researcher further observed that students' wrongly chosen  data sources were detrimental to their psychosocial and academic lives. Parents were thus requested to seize every opportunity to discuss emerging romantic relationship issues with their daughters, to prevent them from taking problematic decisions as a result of consulting wrong sources that could eventually jeopardize their bright futures. Especially in mixed schools, it is recommended that counsellors equally endeavor to win the trust of students through efficient rapport establishment to ease discussions regarding any relevant emergent issues affecting their lives. Based on the research findings, it is essential for stakeholders in mixed schools particularly, to adopt a more aggressive and open-door policy to better inform students regarding their romantic relationship concerns. Keywords: Romantic Relationship, Information Sources, School Type.