Violence experienced at home and exclusion encountered in school could have lasting consequences on Filipino adolescents’ education, well-being, as well as future opportunities, according to studies presented by state-run think tank Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS).

The findings were presented during the second session of the forum “Ugnayan: The Journey of Filipino Adolescents Across Past, Present, and Future,” organized by PIDS and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), with support from the Australian government.

Drawing on data from the Longitudinal Cohort Study of the Filipino Child (LCSFC), PIDS researchers found that children exposed to parental violence faced poorer educational outcomes, while adolescents with diverse sexual orientations faced higher risks of domestic violence and bullying.

LCSFC 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.

PIDS senior research fellow Valerie Gilbert Ulep said childhood and adolescent experiences influence present circumstances as well as future life outcomes.

“Our future does not start today. It starts with our past,” Ulep said.

He added that family conditions, childhood safety, as well as early school experiences shape educational attainment, well-being, and ultimately human capital formation.

One study examined risks within the home and their implications for children’s education.

PIDS senior research specialist Lyle Casas reported that 39.5 percent of children had experienced either physical or emotional violence from a parent at age 10.

The study found that 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 school enrollment, compared with 48 percent among boys.

“Prior exposure to parental violence was associated with substantially lower odds of school enrollment years later,” Casas said.

Another study examined how experiences of violence differ among adolescents with diverse sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression (SOGIE).

Presenting findings from a forthcoming PIDS discussion paper, technical specialist Aaron Manuel said adolescents with diverse sexual orientations had 1.7 times higher odds of experiencing domestic violence and twice the odds of being bullied than their peers, even after accounting for household, socioeconomic, as well as health-related factors.

“Being lesbian, gay, bisexual, pansexual, asexual, or queer significantly increases the odds of violence among Filipino adolescents,” Manuel said.

According to Manuel, violence contributes to depression, anxiety, suicidal behavior, absenteeism, poor academic performance, and school dropout, ultimately affecting future employment as well as earning potential.

“Exposure to violence shapes the trajectory of an entire life,” he added.

UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) education specialist Nicholas Tenazas said violence can create barriers to learning and development early in life, reinforcing the importance of timely interventions as well as supportive environments.

UNFPA gender and gender-based violence officer Jeanette Dulawan likewise emphasized the long-term implications of adolescent experiences.

“What happens to children and adolescents today shapes who they become tomorrow,” Dulawan said.

Australian Embassy second secretary Claire Bowyer reaffirmed Australia’s support for evidence generation, saying research helps governments and development partners design inclusive interventions that improve learning, well-being, as well as life outcomes for young people.

For Ulep, the findings 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,” he said.