AROMANTIC ORIENTATION SCALE JUST DROPPED IN THE PHILIPPINES
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Breaking Ground in Psychology: iACADEMY Student Develops First Aromanticism Orientation Scale in the Philippines In an academic milestone for both Philippine psychology and all gender representation, Samantha Colleen D. Flores, a Psychology student of iACADEMY, has successfully developed and validated the first-ever Aromanticism Orientation Scale through her undergraduate capstone project. Guided by her adviser, Ms. Madeleine Batac, MS, RPm, Chairperson for Psychology at iACADEMY, this pioneering study sheds light on a romantic orientation rarely explored in local or global literature. Aromanticism, or the experience of little to no romantic attraction, has long been misunderstood or overlooked. Flores’ research takes a groundbreaking step by creating a scientific tool that captures the lived experiences of aromantic Filipino young adults. Through an Exploratory-sequential mixed-method design, the study combined in-depth qualitative interviews with quantitative analysis, ultimately constructing a validated instrument called the Aromanticism Self-Report Questionnaire. The study revealed five key factors that define the aromantic experience: Indifference to Romance, Questioning Romance, Insignificance of Romantic Relationships, Frustrations with Amatonormativity, and Non-Romantic Attraction. These findings were supported by excellent model fit and strong reliability, with an RMSEA (Root Mean Square Error of Approximation) of 0.015 and a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.962, underscoring the scale’s academic rigor. Beyond developing an instrument, Flores also proposed the “Behavior of Aromantics Theory,” offering new ground for psychological and cultural discourse in the Philippines. Chairperson Batac emphasized the study’s importance, noting that it not only advances scientific understanding but also gives visibility to a marginalized community. Flores herself hopes the research will encourage more nuanced explorations of love, identity, and attraction among Filipinos of all ages. This game-changing work reinforces iACADEMY’s reputation as a hub for bold, socially relevant research, true to its Beyond Better identity. By amplifying unheard voices, Flores’ capstone proves how young scholars can lead conversations that reshape both academia and society.
