Internal Realities of Filipino Middle-Aged, Never-Married Men

Abstract

This current study contributes to the literature regarding middle-aged, never-married men in the Philippines, particularly their socio-demographic and psychographic characteristics, attitudes and opinions regarding old bachelorhood and bachelors in general, and their internal realities. One hundred and seventy middle-aged, never-married men were purposively selected from the National Capital Region (NCR), Iloilo, Davao City, and Sultan Kudarat.. A pre-tested survey questionnaires including a 50-itemed Likert scale, Sentence Completion Tests, and open ended questions were utilized in the study. These were followed by indepth interviews with selected cases. Frequency counts and percentages were used for the most part. To test for significant differences between older and younger bachelors, and between those with current and without current partners, t-test or chi-square were used for the appropriate data. The middle-aged, never married men-respondents have a generally neutral attitude toward bachelors and old bachelorhood with regard to domains of personality, emotional maturity, sexual preference, and quality of life. Furthermore, there was a significant difference in the middle-aged, never married men's attitudes toward old bachelorhood between those aged 35-50 years old and 51-65 years old. Similar results were found when bachelors who have a current intimate partner, and those who do not have, were compared. Financial incapability was the major factor that affected the men's decision to remain single. The respondents considered themselves as responsible, emotionally stable, and shy and withdrawn.