“THE COPING

MECHANISMS OF

GRADE 12 STUDENT

WITH SINGLE PARENT

AT BENITO SOLIVEN

NATIONAL HIGH

SCHOOL SHS”

RESEARCHERS:

JOANNA VHEE A. PACLEBA

KIMBERLY ROZZ LALANTAN

COLLINE DENELLE CASANDING

CHRISTINE TRINIDAD

LIEZEL TUNGPALAN

RICHARD GALAPON

CRIS-IAN BALBIN

(12-SOCRATES)

Chapter 1

Introduction:

Historically, single-parent families were the result of parental death especially when

the world wars began , the males who are promoted to be soldiers will contribute fighting for

their country resulting for some of them to die during the combat , also one factor is divorce in

U.S. and it rapidly increased year by year around19th century (Amato 2000) While In the

Philippines single parent families were the results of arrange marriage (parental love),

separation, and out of marriage births and Imprisonment that many where arrested because of “

fight against drugs” or “tokhang” now a days , growing with an incomplete family is hard and it

affects the improvement of the student.

“Theoretical Perspectives on Single Parenting (Roberts2009) explained and enlightened

the readers on how the attachment theory related to single parenting Roberts explained that lack

of interaction between the children of single-parent families and their parents can result in

attachment issues that can compromise the effectiveness of parenting strategies, and result to an

overwhelming amount of stress on custodial parents as they endeavor to carry out their

parenting responsibilities.

CHAPTER 1

The attachment theory suggests that secure attachment between a parent and child makes

parenting easier and supports parent/child intimacy, which enhances the child's sense of worth. A close

relationship between the single-parent and the child fosters the child's social-emotional development

and decreases behavioral concerns. (http://ezinearticles.com/?Theoretical-Perspectives-on-Single-

Parenting&id=3170219)

Single-parenthood can be defined as when one out of two people who is responsible for

the nurturing and child rearing is not available and the work meant for two people is now

carried out by only one person. According to Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, single-

parenting has been defined as a mother or father who looks after children on their own

without the other partner. Single-parenting can be defined as a situation in which one of the two

individuals involved in the conception of the child is responsible for the upbringing of the child.

"Parental involvement, in almost any form, produces measurable gains in student achievement"

that, the parent should make sure. But, unfortunately some of single parent families fail to perform the

proper guidance in their son/daughter unlike the two parented families/couples.

The researchers conducted the study at Benito Soliven National High School because it is an

educational institution and it tends to give the student a better future and to inspire to mold and

motivate them to be the better version of them self. It is essential to the school for them to formulate

remedies or to practice school activities involving the single parented student to help them cope up.

Statement of the problem:

There have been identified single parented grade 12 student and we the

researchers intend to identify the “coping mechanisms” of each identified grade

12 students with single parent. Single parent faces great responsibilities raising

their child alone and it may cause them to be prone to higher risk, considering the

educational attainment and age of the parent that may affect the student

development in school. This study aims to know the following:

1. What are the problems experienced by the Grade-12 students in their

academic performance and emotional behavior?

2. What are the different coping mechanism of Grade 12 students with single

parent in terms of:

Academic performances

Emotional behavior

Conceptual Framework:

According to Michelle V. Roberts when children raised in single-parent households are left alone

for long periods of time or left in the hands of uninvolved caregivers their academic skills are not being fully

supported. One good example here in the Philippines are the OFW’s they leave their children to their

relatives to go in the other countries for gaining income for the future expenses on the studies of their children,

but sometimes it result to disadvantages. Lack of interaction and it affects the attachment of both parent/child.

Currently now in the Philippines in 2015 there are At least 13.9 million Filipinos are single parents who

carry the burden of raising their family by themselves. The government has given them a support which the

Solo Parents’ Welfare Act of 2000 or Republic Act No. 8972 It provides additional benefits such as 10 percent

discount on children’s clothing materials for all purchases made within two years from the birth of the child;

15 percent discount on baby’s milk and food supplements in the first two years of a child; and 15 percent

discount on all purchases of medicine and other medical supplements or supplies, it helps reduce the problem

of the parents .

The law also addresses the discrimination that children of solo parents often experience from private

schools that would insist on traditional notions of a nuclear family.

STUDENT

Coping

mechanisms

Single parent-

student

relationship

Teacher –

student

relationship

Background

information

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY:

This will provide the local government unit of Benito Soliven the essential information

to create remedies or additional recommendation with the problems the single parent and grade

12 students of Benito Soliven National High School who are experiencing the disadvantages of

being and having single parent.

The outcomes of this study shall be useful to single parents for the grade 12 student of

Benito Soliven SHS, either for recommendation or correction in order to maintain or ensure

high educational achievements for the grade 12 students without bias. Furthermore, the

Department of Education and teachers in Benito Soliven National High School shall benefit

from the study`s findings and recommendations in planning and executing daily educational

activities for the teenagers the grade 12 who are the future drivers of tomorrow`s economy of

the country.

Scope and Delimitation

This study is focused on the coping mechanism of the student with single parent at

Benito Soliven National High School. The data gathering instrument will be administered In

June- August 2017 at Benito Soliven National High School.

Definition of Terms

To ensure accurate and consistent understanding of the study, the following terms are hereby

operationally defined.

1. Single-parent families - The families with children headed by only one parent who is widowed,

Experience harassment and rape during their teens, also teenage pregnancy and cohabitants who soon

separate.

2. Financial hardship- This means that you are not able to make a living with what you are earning, the

families experience inadequate financial resource to prepare for the children’s studies today and soon.

3. Two career families – the mother has her own family side likewise with the father but the only thing that

connects them is their daughter or son.

4. Solo parent act of 2000 - helps the single parent to continue the living even there is financial hardship in

the family which this act lessen the burdens of the single parent and also minimize the consequences to

the student.

5. Illegitimate children - Children born outside marriage that are not legally permitted to have the last name

from its biological father.

6. Parental involvement - The support given by the parents with the life of the child including the guidance

and love they could give.

CHAPTER II

CHAPTER II

Review of the Related Literature

This chapter includes discussion on related foreign and local literature reviewed by the researcher which

provides relevant facts to help the researcher in completing this study.

Foreign Literature

Massachusetts Family Law Advocacy for Low and Moderate Income Litigants, 2nd Edition (2008) states that

when married or unmarried parents separate they shall arrange to whom the child will stay but still both parents are

obliged to give support to the finances and guidance and also the other parent shall visit the child depends on the

arrange span of days. Also in this situation the single parenting occurs that’s why the authority shall decides the

following, what is best for the child, the ability of the parents to communicate with each other, each parent’s

relationship to the child, and where each parent lives and whether the housing conditions are appropriate for the

children’s own good

the law also addressed the differences of married case and unmarried cases which is due to unwanted pregnancy

, raped and others that the mother of a child born has sole legal and sole physical custody of the child unless a judge

orders that the father has custody. The father, on the other hand, has no legal right to see or take the child unless the

mother agrees to let him, or unless he has been legally declared by a judge to be the father of the child and has been

granted visitation rights by a judge. . The civil behavior among separated parents has a direct effect on how child copes

with their situation; this is especially seen in younger children who do not yet understand their familial separation,

requiring both parents to establish a limited friendship to support the upbringing of their child. This reason of why

single parenting exist still affects the children, still for them to understand the causes of single parenting it might help

to explain that it is for his/her own good and rights “ Eagan, Cristina. "Attachment and Divorce: Family

Consequences". Rochester Institute of Technology. Retrieved 14 November 2011.”

Local Literature

According to the revised implementing rules and regulations of republic act no. 9255” (an act allowing

illegitimate children to use the surname of their father, amending for the purpose article 176 of executive order no. 209,

otherwise known as the "family code of the Philippines") (2004). Section 3. Charges and Obligations of the Absolute

Community Art. 94. The absolute community of property shall be liable for: (1) the support of the spouses, their

common children, and legitimate children of either spouse; however, the support of illegitimate children shall be

governed by the provisions of this Code on Support; only if the biological father recognizes the child.

Solo Parents’ Welfare Act of 2000 or Republic Act No. 8972, a welcome relief. This progressive piece of legislation

focuses on the evolving nature of Filipino families, and the need to acknowledge and support alternative versions of

this basic unit of society.

The law also addresses the discrimination that children of solo parents often experience from private schools that

would insist on traditional notions of a nuclear family. Because some private schools require or expect that a student

should have a complete family in order to gain dignity and praised.

Among other benefits, RA 8972 allows single mothers flexible work hours, as long as this does not affect their work

performance. They may also avail themselves of educational benefits from the Department of Education, the

Commission on Higher Education and Tesda (Technical Education and Skills Development Authority).

It helps the mother/fathers to lift the status of living of their families so as to reduce the causes of the disadvantages

experienced by the student that may affect their studies. Also it helps them to try out things that help their son/daughter

to cope up. Single-parent families face greater challenges and are at higher risk of poverty than married couples.

Dependency on a single income and the problems involved in arranging for regular childcare are the most obvious

handicaps facing a single parent. The education level, the age and occupation of the single parent also greatly affects

the development of the child.

Review of Related Studies

This part of the chapter discusses the foreign and local studies to strengthen the stand of the researchers in this study.

Foreign Studies

U.S. Census bureau and the National Assessment of Educational Progress evaluated how the increase in single-parent

households may have affected children's educational achievements. The percentage of children living with single parents increased

substantially in the United States during the second half of the 20th century. According to Child Trends, 2013 only 9% of children

lived with single parents in the 1960s which now increased to a figure that increased to 28% in 2012. (Amato, Paul R., Sarah

Patterson, and Brett Beattie. "Single-Parent Households And Children’S Educational Achievement: A State-Level Analysis." Social

Science Research 53.(2015)

According to the researchers, (Pearlstein 2011),(Popenoe 2009) single parent family is the primary cause of school failure

and problems of delinquency, drug use, teenage pregnancies, poverty, and welfare dependency in American society. Using

multilevel modeling, Pong 1997 and Pong 1998 high proportions of children from single parent families perform very poorly on

math and reading achievement tests in schools.

Also it is believed that a cultural shift towards later marriage has contributed to a rise in never-married motherhood. "It has

been thought that children in these kinds of families are shielded from marital strife, children of never-married mothers show slightly

better academic performance and emotional adjustments than the children of divorced or remarried mothers. But they do not do as

well as children in first marriage families compared with children of two parent reared families" (Berk, 2000, Pg. 577). Although

compared with children of two parent families, these children may experience less attention, difficulties in interactions with other

children, a lack in school performance and behaviors associated with the lack of a male parental influence (Berk 2000)

The demographics of single parenting show a general increase worldwide in children living in single parent homes (Jayson,

Sharon 2009) Single parenting has become a norm in the United States and is a trend found in multiple other countries. The morality

and advisability of single motherhood has long been debated in the US. Single American mothers live in poverty 5 times more often

than married parents. (National Women's Law Center, Poverty & Income among Women & Families, 2000-2013) The topic is less

contentious in Western European countries where all families enjoy more robust state-sponsored social benefits.

The effects of single parenting can also affects the economy that the performance of parent in work and student in school.

Local Studies

According to Philippine statistical authority 2015, In the Philippines there is At least 13.9

million Filipinos are single parents who carry the burden of raising their family by themselves.

Government statistics have shown that solo parents constitute about 14 to 15 percent of the

estimated 94 million Filipinos in 2015, The House approved on third and final reading the

Lopez bill amending the Solo Parent Welfare Act of 2000 (.Zamboanga Rep. Seth Frederick

Jalosjos et,al HB 6184 2000.)

The 14 to 15 solo parents believed to be the OFW’s or else the victims of assault and raped

or else the cohabitants that later separate. They were force to go overseas to have additional

income because of the low salary payment in our country. The solo parents choose to be far

away for the sake of his/her children. In this case student who experience single parenthood are

believed to have poor cognitive outcomes because of the long gaps between the parent and

student.

This gap also may cause the student to have worse emotional outcomes (where these

outcomes include emotional symptoms, conduct problems, hyperactivity, peer relationship

problems and a lack of pro-social behavior).

CHAPTER III

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

Presented in this chapter are the description of the research method we used,

research design, sampling and description of the respondents, data gathering

instrument, data gathering procedures, and data analysis of the results in the

observations of the study.

RESEARCH METHOD

The researchers have used the qualitative method in conducting the

research study. Qualitative Research is used to uncover trends in thought and

opinions, and dive deeper into the problem. Qualitative data collection methods

vary using unstructured or semi-structured techniques. Some common methods

include focus groups (group discussions), individual interviews, and

participation/observations. (Gonzaga 2011)

Qualitative research is the most appropriate because it is a form of inquiry

that analyzes information conveyed through language and behavior in natural

settings. It is used to capture expressive information not conveyed in quantitative

data about beliefs, values, feelings, and motivations that underlie behaviors.

It is appropriate because the researcher wanted to know the coping

mechanisms of the student in terms of academic performance and emotional

behaviors.

Also on what adjustments and remedies can the parent provide when in the

other hand the parent faces hardships in letting the family to survive.

It is refer to be qualitative since it needs prior observations and interviews on

the respondent to see how they respond to the specific topic that involves the solo

parent and the student.

The research seeks the opinions and the strategies how will the single parent

helps their children that‘s why we need to encounter this people personally to

relate with their experience and for us to explain it on this study very well.

The researchers use the following data gathering instrument:

-Interview. A semi structured interview with the question posted in the chapter 1

Also some additional questions to be ask with the students.

-Participant observations in which the participant need to do the activities to relate

with the respondents situation.

RESEARCH LOCALE

The study will be conducted at Benito Soliven National High School Grade

12 Building SHS and also to the place where the student lives. To the reason that the

interviews may get more effective and the researchers may gather actual data or

evidence that may support the topic.

RESEARCH DESIGN

The research employed a case study wherein it evaluates the academic performance

and emotional behavior of the grade 12 students. Case study is a comprehensive,

complete detailed and in depth study and analysis of an individual, group, or

community. Therefore this study is suited to be a case study in which the grade 12

student academic performances and emotional behavior are being assessed. This

study aims to see if single parenting affects their performance and how do the grade

12 students come up with it naturally and how they interact with the other students or

peers that has a complete and happy family.

SAMPLING AND DESCRIPTION OF THE RESPONDENTS

This study prefers to use purposive sampling because it determine

and choose respondent who are imparted to be involved in answering those

questions. Purposive because the number of the population involved is limited

and they are the one who has the experience and knowledge associated with

the topic. Purposive sampling is defined as determining the target population,

those to be involved in the study

The ideal key informants of this study were the grade -12 student of Benito

Soliven National High School Senior High School with single parent and the

coping mechanisms in terms of academic performance and emotional

behavior.

The researchers have identified the students through qualitative observations.

A qualitative observation includes the insights and opinion with the current

situation and the experiences of the correspondent’s.

DATA GATHERING INSTRUMENT

The study is a qualitative research which the data

gathering instrument are interviewing and observations which

the researcher will perform themselves to experience and realize

through themselves the situation of the respondents.

The researchers use the following research methods:

-Interview. A semi structured interview with the question posted

in the chapter 1

Also some additional questions to be ask with the students.

-Participant observations in which the participant needs to do

the activities to relate with the respondent’s situation.

DATA GATHERING PROCEDURES

• A research instrument in a form of interview guide

shall be used in the oral data collection. Selected grade

12 students with single parent are the target

respondents for the interview that requires any details

or objectives upon coping mechanisms in term of

academic performance and emotional behavior.

• In the first phase of interview, the researchers shall

gather and locate all the grade 12 students who respond

to accommodate the interview enacted by the

researchers.

• Interviews and the data gathering procedures shall be held at

Benito Soliven National High School SHS. Interviewees and

key informants must allow taking a short review to the

interview guide so that it helps them to be more prepared to

answer the questions.

• The researcher shall use different devices in the gathering of

oral data. Aside from note-taking and rigid observation,

recording the interviews is also be used to enable the

researcher to concentrate on what was said in the interviews

so that s/he could think about a follow-up question. Camera

and Cellular phones shall be the primary materials to

document the communication between the interviewer and

interviewee in this research

Good luck, Thank

you and God

bless

Us all….!!!

....