VIOLENCE experienced at home and exclusion experienced in school can have a huge impact on adolescents’ education, well-being, and future opportunities, according to studies presented during the second session of the forum ‘Ugnayan: The Journey of Filipino Adolescents Across Past, Present, and Future.’
In a recent forum organized by government think tank Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) and the United Nations Population Fund, with support from the Australian government, the session examined how childhood and adolescent experiences shape long-term development outcomes.
Based on the Longitudinal Cohort Study of the Filipino Child (LCSFC), PIDS researchers found that children exposed to parental violence were significantly less likely to stay in school, while adolescents with diverse sexual orientations faced higher risks of domestic violence and bullying.
The study draws on data from the LCSFC, which follows about 5,000 Filipino children from age 10 in 2016 until they reach young adulthood in 2030, allowing researchers to examine how early experiences influence later transitions in education, health, employment, and family formation.
In expounding the discussions, PIDS senior research fellow Dr. Valerie Gilbert Ulep said experiences accumulated during childhood and adolescence influence present circumstances and future life outcomes. He said that ‘our future does not start today. It starts with our past.’
Family conditions, childhood safety, and early school experiences, he noted, shape educational attainment, well-being and ultimately, human capital formation.
Research findings
THE first study focused on risks within the home and their implications for children’s learning trajectories. According to PIDS senior research specialist Lyle Casas, 39.5 percent of children had experienced either physical or emotional violence from a parent at age 10.
Children exposed to parental violence had 57-percent lower odds of being enrolled in school by age 14, even after accounting for child, household, and earlier educational characteristics. Girls appeared particularly vulnerable, with exposure associated with 66 percent lower odds of matriculation, compared with 48 percent among boys.
‘Prior exposure to parental violence was associated with substantially lower odds of school enrollment years later,’ Casas said.
The second study examined experiences of violence differing among adolescents with diverse sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression (SOGIE). Presenting findings from a forthcoming PIDS discussion paper, Technical Specialist Aaron Manuel reported that adolescents with diverse sexual orientations had 1.7 times higher odds of experiencing domestic violence, as well as twice the odds of being bullied compared with peers, even after accounting for household, socioeconomic, and health-related factors.
‘Being lesbian, gay, bisexual, pansexual, asexual, or queer significantly increases the odds of violence among Filipino adolescents,’ Manuel explained. ‘Exposure to violence shapes the trajectory of an entire life.’
According to Manuel, violence contributes to depression, anxiety, suicidal behavior, absenteeism, poor academic performance, and school dropout, ultimately affecting future employment and earning potential.
Stakeholders sound off
UNICEF Education Specialist Nicholas Tenazas emphasized that violence can create barriers to learning and development early in life, reinforcing the importance of timely interventions and supportive environments.
Meanwhile, UNFPA Gender and Gender-Based Violence Officer Jeanette Dulawan emphasized the long-term implications of adolescent experiences. She said: ‘What happens to children and adolescents today shapes who they become tomorrow.’
The Australian Embassy’s Second Secretary Claire Bowyer said Australia is committed to the endeavor, noting that research helps governments and development partners design inclusive interventions that improve learning, well-being, and life outcomes for young people.
For Dr. Ulep, the studies underscore the need to act before disadvantages become entrenched: ‘Children who grow up in supportive, safe, and nurturing environments are more likely to stay in school, build social connections, develop confidence, and acquire the skills needed to thrive.’