INFLUENCE WESTERN CULTURE TO CAMBODIAN YOUTHS

Cambodians socio-economy was changed from socialist to capitalist in the 1989. As almost Cambodian people (96.9%) follow the Buddhist practice (Census 2008), but why Cambodian young people celebrate Valentine’s Day which is coming from Western culture recent years?

A new Valentine’s Day phenomenon were explore related to love and sexual relationship among young couples in Phnom Penh aged 15-24 years old on Valentine’s Day 2008. The qualitative results showed that more than half of the interviewees in the study were happy to engage in sex on that day and at least a few of them lost their virginity. Although most reported using condoms, several instances of coercion were also reported. There seems to be a lack of parental understanding about their children’s sexual activity and a corresponding lack of open communication. (Soprach, 2009)

The quantitative descriptive study 458 young people were interviewed in a two week prior Valentine’s Day in Phnom Penh in 2009. The quantitative results showed that 12.4 percent of young people will be able to have sex upcoming Valentine’s Day. Alarmingly, 66 percent of males planned to have sex with their partners regardless of consent. (Soprach, 2010)

Interventions should be continued and targeted young people and their parents before and on Valentine’s Day.