Filipino LGBTQ+ Emerging Adults’ Conceptualization of Romantic Relationships

Authors

  • Louis Miguel Cardona University of the Philippines Los Baños
  • Inero Ancho University of the Philippines Los Baños
  • Helga Vergara University of the Philippines Los Baños
  • Teri-Marie Laude University of the Philippines Los Baños
  • Rufo Gil Albor University of the Philippines Los Baños
  • Daisy Pelegrina University of the Philippines Los Baños
  • Phrygian Almeda University of the Philippines Los Baños

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37329/ijms.v3i1.3953

Keywords:

Emerging Adulthood, LGBTQ , Modern Love, Romantic Relationships

Abstract

This study investigates the narratives of contemporary romance among Filipino LGBTQ+ emerging adults, emphasizing their lived experiences, modern influences, and cultural determinants that form their relationships. A qualitative phenomenological design was employed to conduct semi-structured interviews with eight participants from a state institution in Laguna, Philippines. The findings indicated that romantic connections are crucial in identity exploration and self-affirmation. Participants characterized love as a collaboration founded on reciprocal respect, emotional intimacy, and equality, contesting established conventions and heteronormative standards. Digital platforms facilitated connections and provided safe spaces for users; nevertheless, they also engendered obstacles, including false expectations and superficial interactions. Cultural influences, including familial expectations and Catholic ideals, were substantial, offering both obstacles and avenues for growth and authenticity. This study offers insights into the interplay between identity, culture, and love; but, its limited sample size and concentration on a particular university restrict its generalizability. Future research ought to investigate many contexts, encompassing rural regions and a wider array of socioeconomic demographics, while analyzing the changing influence of technology on LGBTQ+ relationships. This study emphasizes the resilience of Filipino LGBTQ+ emerging adults and advocates for inclusive legislation and community assistance to foster acceptance and equality.

References

Arnett, J. J. (2007). Emerging Adulthood: What Is It, And What Is It Good For?. Child Development Perspectives, 1(2), 68-73.

Arnett, J. J., Žukauskienė, R., & Sugimura, K. (2014). The New Life Stage Of Emerging Adulthood At Ages 18-29 Years: Implications For Mental Health. The Lancet Psychiatry, 1(7), 569-576.

Bregman, H. R., Malik, N. M., Page, M. J. L., Makynen, E., & Lindahl, K. M. (2013). Identity Profiles In Lesbian, Gay, And Bisexual Youth: The Role Of Family Influences. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 42(3), 417-430.

Cardinal, K. (2014). Homosexual Identity Formation in a Heternormative World. Proceedings of GREAT Day, 2013(1), 5.

Church, C. (1994). Catechism of the Catholic Church. Vatikan: Libreria Editrice Vaticana.

DeHaan, S., Kuper, L. E., Magee, J. C., Bigelow, L., & Mustanski, B. S. (2013). The Interplay Between Online And Offline Explorations Of Identity, Relationships, And Sex: A Mixed-Methods Study With LGBT Youth. Journal of Sex Research, 50(5), 421-434.

Frost, D. M. (2013). Stigma And Intimacy In Same-Sex Relationships: A Narrative Approach. Qualitative Psychology, 1, 49-61.

Galloway, L., Engstrom, E., & Emmers-Sommer, T. M. (2015). Does Movie Viewing Cultivate Young People’s Unrealistic Expectations About Love And Marriage?. Marriage & Family Review, 51(8), 687-712.

Hank, K., & Wetzel, M. (2018). Same-sex Relationship Experiences And Expectations Regarding Partnership And Parenthood. Demographic Research, 39(25), 701-718.

Hobbs, M., Owen, S., & Gerber, L. (2016). Liquid Love? Dating Apps, Sex, Relationships And The Digital Transformation Of Intimacy. Journal of Sociology, 53(2), 271-284.

Kansky, J. (2018). What’s Love Got To Do With It? Romantic Relationships And Well-Being. Handbook of Well-being, 1-24.

Katz-Wise, S. L., & Hyde, J. S. (2014). Sexual Fluidity And Related Attitudes And Beliefs Among Young Adults With A Same-Gender Orientation. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 44(5), 1459-1470.

Macapagal, K., Greene, G. J., Rivera, Z., & Mustanski, B. (2015). The Best Is Always Yet To Come: Relationship Stages And Processes Among Young LGBT couples. Journal of Family Psychology, 29(3), 309-320.

Petrosyan, A. (2023). Countries With The Largest Digital Populations In The World As Of January 2023. Statista.

Puckett, J. A., Horne, S. G., Herbitter, C., Maroney, M. R., & Levitt, H. M. (2016). Differences Across Contexts. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 41(1), 8-19.

Reese, P. (2023). Young People Are Having Less Sex Than Their Parents Did At Their Age. Researchers Explore Why. KFF Health News.

Shulman, S., & Connolly, J. (2013). The Challenge Of Romantic Relationships In Emerging Adulthood. Emerging Adulthood, 1(1), 27-39.

Storey, J., & McDonald, K. (2014). Media Love: Intimacy In Mediatized Worlds. Mediatized Worlds: Culture and Society in a Media Age. London: Palgrave Macmillan UK.

Tamir, D. I., & Hughes, B. L. (2018). Social Rewards: From Basic Social Building Blocks To Complex Social Behavior. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 13(6), 700-717.

Tomasello, M., & Vaish, A. (2013). Origins Of Human Cooperation And Morality. Annual Review of Psychology, 64(1), 231-255.

Vogel, E. A., Rose, J. P., Roberts, L. R., & Eckles, K. (2014). Social Comparison, Social Media, And Self-Esteem. Psychology of Popular Media Culture, 3(4), 206-222.

Downloads

Published

05-02-2025

How to Cite

Cardona, L. M. ., Ancho, I., Vergara, H. ., Laude, T.-M. ., Albor, R. G. ., Pelegrina, D. ., & Almeda, P. . (2025). Filipino LGBTQ+ Emerging Adults’ Conceptualization of Romantic Relationships . International Journal of Multidisciplinary Sciences, 3(1), 49–70. https://doi.org/10.37329/ijms.v3i1.3953

Issue

Vol. 3 No. 1 (2025): Article in Press

Section

Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2025 Louis Miguel Cardona, Inero Ancho, Helga Vergara, Teri-Marie Laude, Rufo Gil Albor, Daisy Pelegrina, Phrygian Almeda

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Authors who publish with International Journal of Multidisciplinary Sciences agree to the following terms: Authors retain copyright and grant the International Journal of Multidisciplinary Sciences right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY-SA 4.0) that allows others to share (copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format) and adapt (remix, transform, and build upon the material) the work for any purpose, even commercially with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in International Journal of Multidisciplinary Sciences. Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in International Journal of Multidisciplinary Sciences. Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).