Familial, Educational and Economic Values and Experiences of Single Parents in Capiz

FAMILIAL, EDUCATIONAL, AND ECONOMIC VALUES
AND EXPERIENCES OF SINGLE PARENTS IN CAPIZ
A DISSERTATION
PRESENTED TO
THE FACULTY OF THE GRADUATE SCHOOL
COLEGIO DELA PURISIMA CONCEPCION
ROXAS CITY
IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS
FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
IN EDUCATIONAL MANAGEMENT
BY
OLIVE JOY G. ABING
JANUARY 2010
APPROVAL SHEET
This dissertation, entitled FAMILIAL, EDUCATIONAL AND ECONOMIC

VALUES AND EXPERIENCES OF SINGLE PARENTS IN CAPIZ prepared and
submitted by OLIVE JOY G. ABING in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the
degree of DOCTOR IN PHILOSOPHY (PhD), is hereby recommended for acceptance
and approval for oral examination.
FELISA P. JAVIER, Ed. D.

Adviser
Approved by the Committee on Oral Examination with a grade of PASSED on

January, 2010.
JOCELYN A. ALBA, Ph. D.

Chairman
REV. FR. REYNALDO A. VILLANOY, PH.D. SALVIO E. LLANERA, Ed.

D.
Member Member
INMACULADA O. OCBINA, Ph.D. ENGR. JOEL C. VILLARUZ PH.D.

Member Member
VIRGINIA P. RESURRECCION, Ph.D., CESO 111

CHED Representative
Accepted and approved in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of
Doctor in Philosophy (PH.D.).
FELISA P. JAVIER, Ed. D.

Dean, Graduate School
___________________
Date
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
ii
This endeavour had been frequented with both joyous and bitter experiences
which made the researcher realized that there is more to life than just skimming the
surface alone. Plenty of people had lent a generous heart in the making of this study and
the researcher gave due tribute to them.
Mr. Hernandez, President of Hercor College, for his generous support in the
completion of the researcher’s doctoral program. Extended gratitude to Manang Kristy
and Sir Joey for the chance and the trust endowed; Mam Lerry, Mam Karen and the rest
of the Hercor Administration for readily granting her financial needs;
CPC Graduate School especially Dr. Javier, the adviser, for the excellent insights
and sumptuous exotic meal in her humble abode; Mam Rose for the unparalleled effort as
the statistician; and, panelists Dr. Alba, Dr. Villaruz, Dr. Ocbina, Father Rey, and Dr.
Llanera from FCC;
Friends in the Education Department, Mam Datz, Mam Eden, Ne Doreen, Mam
Lolitz and Mam Tena for their support;
Co-teachers at Hercor College: Sir Simon, Vivs, Runa, James, Tawe, Mau, DJ
Micheal, Micheal D. , Tope, Jed, Happy, Brian, Wewe, Che, Malou, Jade, Jo-art, Deony,
Jezz, Mam Netz, John and the rest for the pleasant company;
Her friends for life: Ryan, Mae, Miray, Karen, Audz and Nap for the strength and
love; faraway and overseas friends: Tintin, Lynlyn, Mark, Yanyan, Gracia and the rest;
Siblings Evol, Yvette, Jaret, Mark and Kent; loving cousins, aunts and uncles and
the rest of the Asis family; Mama Doly, Inday, Randy and Ante Landa for their
understanding;
iii
Nimrod, her husband, for those wonderful years and for providing financial
support; Alethea Nicole, her beloved daughter, for her laughter, her smile and her love;
Her dear mother, Mama Ging for her hands-on support and full emotional back-
up in times when fate had been unkind. This dissertation is dedicated to her;
Above all, to the Almighty God, the Jehovah Jireh, gracious provider of wisdom,
strength and love. Let this work be a testament of His greatness and of how anyone who
comes before His presence be given light, refuge and renewed strength. To Him, the
researcher brings back all the glory.
O.J.G.A
ABING, OLIVE JOY G. “Familial, Educational and Economic Values and Experiences
of Single Parents in Capiz”
ABSTRACT
The primary objective of this study is to analyze the familial, educational, and
economic values and experiences of single parents in the province of Capiz, for school
year 2009-2010.
Specifically, this study aims to answer the following questions:
1. What are the socio-demographic characteristics of the single parents in terms
of sex, age, place of residence, religious affiliation, educational attainment, occupation,
estimated monthly family income, number of children, number of years as single parent
and classification as a single parent?
iv
2. What are the familial values of the respondents in terms of parenting, family
ties, spirituality and respect?
3. What are the educational values of the respondents in terms of aspiration, self-
esteem, outlook towards education and decisiveness?
4. What are the economic values of the respondents in terms of lifestyle, work
ethic, security and social status sensitivity?
5. What are the experiences of the respondents as single parents in terms of child
rearing practices, time management, financial management and self-image perception?
6. How do the respondents cope with the problem of being a single parent?
7. Are socio-demographic characteristics such as sex, age, place of residence,
religious affiliation, educational attainment, occupation, estimated monthly family
income, number of children, number of years as single parent and classification as single
parent significant predictors of familial, educational, and economic values and
experiences of the respondents?
8. Is there a significant difference in the values and experiences of the
respondents when they are classified according to their place of residence?
This study used the descriptive-analytical design that utilized both the qualitative
and quantitative methods of data gathering. The respondents of the study were the 393
single parents in the province of Capiz chosen using random sampling. The 12 focus
group discussants and 12 interviewees were also identified to substantiate the findings.
The data were analyzed using the frequency count, mean, ranking, stepwise multiple
regression and t-test.
v
Most of the single parents are female, middle aged (34 – 49 years old), rural
dweller, Roman Catholic, high school graduate, employed, has low monthly family
income, with few children (1 - 3 children), has been a single parent for ten years or below
and a widow.
Single parents treat familial values as a moderately important value including its
indicators which are parenting, family ties, spirituality and respect. Among the
indicators, parenting is seen as the most important area to be practised and enhanced by
single parents.
Educational values are deemed as moderately important value by the respondents
including its indicators in terms of aspiration, self-esteem, outlook towards education and
decisiveness. Among the indicators, outlook towards education is rated as the highest due
to the fact that single parents view education as a necessity in uplifting their social
economic status and gain a respected reputation in the community.
Single parents consider economic values as another moderately important value to
be possessed including its indicators in terms of lifestyle, work ethic, security and social
status sensitivity. Single parents believe that they have to place a thorough consideration
on the following area so as that they could practice wisely necessary values toward the
improvement of their economic status.
Single parents view familial, educational and economic values as moderately
important values for them to exercise. However, they consider familial values as the most
pressing among the three. Single parents prioritize the welfare of their children before
anything else. They are their motivating reason to work and to live. Giving them the best
vi
in life such as good education, food and shelter have become their passion since they are
the focal point of their lives.
Single parents have fair and balanced experiences in terms of child rearing
practices, time management, financial management and self-image perception. They
stand on a balanced ground of not too poor and not too excellent experiences. The highest
rated experience is on financial management and self-image perception and the lowest is
on time management.
Single parents also employ varied coping mechanism suitable to their personal
preference. The highest noted coping mechanism is spending quality time with their
children followed by keeping themselves busy at work or at home. The least favoured
coping mechanism is playing mah-jong and other card games and taking anti-stress
medicine.
Occupation, estimated monthly family income and place of residence are
significant predictors of familial values. Educational values are significantly predicted by
occupation, estimated family income and number of children. Economic values only have
occupation and number of children as its significant predictors. Sex, place of residence
and number of children are significant predictors of experiences.
There is no significant difference in the educational and economic values and
experiences of single parents when they are classified according to the place of residence.
Difference only occurs on their familial values.
vii
Table of Contents
Page
APPROVAL SHEET
ii
ACKNOWLEDGMENT iii
ABSTRACT vi
LIST OF TABLES xv
LIST OF FIGURES xvii
CHAPTER
1 INTRODUCTION 1
Background of the Study 1
Statement of the Problem 6
Hypotheses of the Study 7
Theoretical Framework 8
Conceptual Framework 9
Significance of the Study 10
Scope and Delimitation of the Study 12
Definition of Terms 13
II REVIEW OF LITERATURE AND RELATED STUDIES 16
Conceptual Literature 16
Familial Values 18
Educational Values 23
Economic Values 28
viii
Chapter Page
Experiences of Single Parents 36
Local Studies 41
Foreign Studies 44
Synthesis 51
111 RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY 53
Research Design 53
Respondents 54
Research Instruments 56
Validation of the Questionnaire 57
Reliability of the Questionnaire 58
Data Gathering Procedure 59
Scoring the Variables 61
Statistical Tools to be Used 62
IV PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATON OF DATA 64
Socio-demographic Characteristics of the Respondents 64
Familial Values of the Respondents

in terms of Parenting 69

in terms of Family Ties 74

in terms of Spirituality 78

in terms of Respect 81
Chapter Page
ix
Educational Values of the Respondents
in terms of Aspirations 85

in terms of Self-Esteem 90

in terms of Outlook Toward Education 94

in terms of Decisiveness 100
Economic Values of the Respondents

in terms of Lifestyle 105

in terms of Work Ethic 109

in terms of Security 113

in terms of Social Status Sensitivity 116
Values of Single Parents 121
Experiences of Single Parents

in terms of Child Rearing Practices 125

in terms of Time Management 130

in terms of Financial Management 134

in terms of Self Image Perception 138
Coping Mechanism of Single Parents 143
Chapter Page
Socio-demographic Characteristics
as Predictors of Familial Values 145
x
Predictors of Educational Values 150
Predictors of Economic Values 153
Predictors of Experiences 156
Difference in the Values and Experiences of Respondents when

Classified according to Place of Residence 159
V SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS 164
SUMMARY 164
FINDINGS OF THE STUDY 166
CONCLUSIONS 168
RECCOMMENDATIONS 172
IMPLICATIONS 173
BIBLIOGRAPHY 169
LETTERS 181
QUESTIONNAIRE 184
FOCUS GROUP DISCUSSION RESULTS 205
CURRICULUM VITAE 233
LIST OF TABLES
TABLE Page
xi
1 Respondents of the Study 56
2 Socio-demographic Characteristics
of Single Parents 67
3 Familial Values on Parenting 73
3.1 Familial Values on Family Ties 77
3.2 Familial Values on Spirituality 80
3.3 Familial Values on Respect 84
4 Educational Values on Aspiration 89
4.1 Educational Values on Self-Esteem 93
4.2 Educational Values on

Outlook towards Education 99
4.3 Educational Values on Decisiveness 104
5 Economic Values on Lifestyle 108
5.1 Economic Values on Work Ethic 112
5.2 Economic Values on Security 115
5.3 Economic Values on Social Status Sensitivity 120
6 Summary of Values 124
7 Experiences on Child Rearing Practices 129
7.1 Experiences on Time Management 133
TABLE
Page
7.2 Experiences on Financial Management 137
xii
7.3 Experiences on Self-Image Perception 142
8 Coping Mechanism 145
as Predictor of Familial Values 150
as Predictors of Educational Values 153
as Predictors of Economic Values 155
as Predictors of Experiences 159
13 Difference in the Values and Experiences

of the Respondents when Classified
According to Place of Residence 161
xiii
LIST OF FIGURE
FIGURE PAGE
1 Schematic Diagram Showing the

Framework of the Study 10
xiv
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study
Family is considered to be the most sacred bond preserved through the ages. It is
seen as the most important social group where an individual could belong for the
cultivation of his being and promotion of his rights. It is said to be the fundamental social
group in society typically consisting of one or two parents and their children. Family
tends to share goals and values, have long-term commitments to one another and reside
usually in the same dwelling place.
Filipinos always put utmost priority in the building of a strong family. They
regard the family as the center of their lives, primary support and source of moral
strength. To the Filipino, happiness is being with the family. The Filipino family is
described as being basically nuclear but functionally extended. This means that most
families consist of the parents and their children. However, this description of Filipino
family has been slowly changing in the last few decades.
The fact that both parents stay alongside the children and have a life long
commitment is not anymore applicable in some cases. This is due to the burgeoning
social issue that tampers the society’s ideal definition of a true Filipino home. It is a
social issue that is obviously avoided but totally unignored. This social issue could either
elicit admiration or biased scorn depending on its nature. This is the issue of single
parenthood.
The impact of single parenthood could be very detrimental to both parents and
children alike as what some previous studies have found out. Single parenting is strongly
2
associated with an increased risk of a number of negative social, behavioral and
emotional outcomes for children. However while the association is strong, on balance,
the effect size and the actual numbers affected are modest. Most children from single
parent families do well. Many factors influence how children develop in single-parent
families: the parent's age, education level, and occupation; the family's income, and the
family's support network of friends and extended family members (including the non-
resident parent, if available). According to Mackay (2005), disadvantages in these factors
that often accompany single parenting appear to cause most of this association rather than
single parenting itself.
The detrimental effect of single-parent family on child’s well-being is
multifaceted. According to the parental conflict perspective, children suffer from
witnessing spousal abuse. The issues of shortage of quality time with children, balance
of work and home duties and economic struggle are among the seemingly endless
problems these families must solve. Evidence also shows that adolescents from single-
parent families are more likely than their peers from two-parent families to engage in
health risk behaviors, including smoking, drinking, delinquency, violence, unsafe sexual
activity and suicide attempts. Studies have linked these behaviors as by-products of one’s
values or beliefs (Drew, 2002).
Values are important and enduring beliefs or ideals shared by the members of a
society about what is good or desirable and what is not. Values exert major influence on
the behavior of an individual and serve as broad guidelines in all situations. Values are an
individual's accepted standards of right or wrong. Riukas (2007) mentioned that it deals
with right conduct and good life, in the sense that a highly or at least relatively highly
3
valuable action may be regarded as ethic "good", and an action of low or at least
relatively low value may be regarded as "bad."
Single parent families also have their own unique values. One familial value is
receiving familial support. In terms of educational values, single parents can improve the
circumstances of themselves and their children by improving their education
levels. Improving education as a single parent can actually help with one’s parenting
skills. As of economic values, Pickhardt (2003) mentioned that single parents are good at
making ends meet. For most single parents, learning how to stretch a dollar seems to
come with the territory, a skill which children in these homes often learn to their later
benefit. These are but a few of some exceptional values that a single parent exhibits. Yet,
these are all expressed light-heartedly as the experiences could not simply be described
by mere words.
Single parents experience varied difficulties and these are mostly felt in the areas
of parenting, financial management, child rearing and time management. Olson (2009), a
noted psychologist, stated that one of the biggest struggles that single parents face is
financial ones. This is true especially for a custodial parent. Single parents must know
how to balance their work, childcare and time for the children and oneself. To top it all
off, the children need attention, guidance, quality time and just every day care. All of this
may seem to be overwhelming.
There is a number of circumstances that lead to single parenting: divorce,
separation, abandonment, and death (Cunningham-Burley, 2005). This definition,
however, might not seem suitable in a Filipino setting knowing that divorce is not within
its social context. For the purposes of this study, single-parent will be defined as someone
4
who is widowed but did not remarry, separated or abandoned but is not living with
another partner, and unmarried but not living together.
As personally observed, single parenthood is a topic that arouses inhibitions in the
Philippine culture. The absence of one parent seems to be unacceptable and is treated as
dysfunctional. In the case of unmarried parent, society considered it as a stigma and is
totally unfavorable as mandated strictly by the traditional belief and faith. Widowed
parents are often treated with pity but only a few extend a hand to help them with their
ordeals. They are considered as burdens to the remaining family members who felt
compelled to take upon the unavoidable and forced duty to help. Abandoned or separated
parents also receive their fair share of mistreatment such as being blamed as the cause of
their marital plight. Abandoned parent often felt that they were left behind for lacking up
on some qualities. Unmarried parents take up the most controversy since pregnancy out
of wedlock is treated as an act of immorality.
To sum up, society does not have a high regard on single parents who are
supposed to be admired, cared and helped. The increasing growth of single parent
phenomena in our society should be addressed with utmost sensitivity and prudence.
They are after all, a by-product of unavoidable and undesirable circumstances. Continued
discrimination and unfair judgment on them would be rubbing salt on a fresh wound. In
order for the society to fully understand the values and experiences that single parents
practice, the researcher was motivated to conduct a study. The researcher, being a child
raised in a single family, learned that growing up with one parent is tough enough. It is
filled with longing, distrust and sacrifices. This had motivated her to study and
5
understand better other single parent family. Through this, the society could have a
broader view on the changing family structure in the local setting.
Statement of the Problem
The primary objective of this study is to analyze the familial, educational, and
economic values and experiences of single parents in the province of Capiz, for calendar
year 2009-2010.
Specifically, this study aims to answer the following questions:
1. What are the socio-demographic characteristics of the single parents in terms
of sex, age, place of residence, religious affiliation, educational attainment, occupation,
2. What are the familial values of the respondents in terms of parenting, family
ties, spirituality and respect?
4. What are the economic values of the respondents in terms of lifestyle, work
ethic, security and social status sensitivity?
6
8. Is there a significant difference in the values and experiences of the
respondents when they are classified according to their place of residence?
Hypotheses of the Study
The hypotheses of the study are:
1. Socio demographic characteristics in terms of sex, age, place of residence,
religious affiliation, educational attainment, occupation, estimated family income,
number of children, number of years as single parent and classification as a single parent
are significant predictors of familial, educational, and economic values and experiences
of the respondents.
2. There is a significant difference in the values and experiences of the
respondents when they are classified according to their place of residence.
Theoretical Framework
Klein and White (1996) explained that Symbolic Interactionist theory focuses on
the idea of how value systems are shared. It explains the phenomena of how things or
events are interpreted by actors, in other words, people do what they do based on their
beliefs. Thus, from a Symbolic Interactionist perspective, one’s value of things, such as
education, money or family, is influenced by their environment and experiences. Familial
values, educational values and economic values could be influenced with a person’s
internal and external environment since a person acquires values based on the
socialization process of their beliefs, and attitudes of their culture. Therefore, one would
anticipate that people have different values based on this theory. This is supported by
7
Payne (2001) who explained that all behavior comes from a root or a value system. Thus,
to better understand the single parents, it is important to understand first their value
systems.
The phenomological experience of growing up in a single-parent family varies
depending on the nature of the family, experiences of the parent, and the family context
(Bornstein, 2002). More so, single parents experience financial barriers, logistics in the
duality roles and ethnicity issues (Hayes Nelson, 2009). Due to this, children living with
single parents are exposed to more stressful experiences and circumstances than are
children living with continuously married parents. Economic hardship, inept parenting,
and loss of contact with a parent can be stressful for children (Amato, 2005).
Furthermore, Reece (1997) cited some problems of single parents which include
emotional, social, financial, child rearing practices and time management. These
experiences can be traumatic because it is a source of intense anxiety, great anger,
enormous stress and fear.
Conceptual Framework
In this study, values and experiences are the dependent variables. Values are
further classified into familial, educational and economic values. The conceptual
framework implies that these dependent variables are the observed variable in the study
whose changes are determined by the presence or degree of the independent variable.
The independent variable is the socio-demographic characteristics in terms of sex,
age, place of residence, religious affiliation, educational attainment, occupation,
and classification as a single parent. The independent variables, socio-demographic

8
characteristics, are used as predictors of the dependent variables, the values and
experiences of the single parents.
The schematic diagram in Figure 1 illustrates the relationship between the
mentioned variables.
INDEPENDENT VARIABLE DEPENDENT
VARIABLE
Familial values
Parenting
Family ties
Socio-Demographic Spirituality
Characteristics Respect
Sex Educational values

Aspiration
Self-esteem
Age Outlook towards education
Decisiveness
Place of residence
Economic values
Religious affiliation Lifestyle
Work ethic
Security
Educational attainment Social status sensitivity
Occupation
Estimated monthly family income
Number of children
Experiences
Number of years as single parent
Child rearing practices
Classification as a single parent
Time management
Financial management
Self-image perception
9
Figure 1. A Schematic Diagram Showing the Framework of the Study

10
Significance of the Study
The findings of this study will benefit the following:
Single Parents. From the results of this study, they could glean ideas on what
values to improve further or to abstain from, for an improved relationship with the
community and their respective family. They could strengthen their values and uplift
their manner of living.
Children of Single Parents. From this study, children of single parents could
better understand their parent’s value system and what they had gone through. With this,
they could cooperate and work together with them for a common purpose.
Community. Findings in this study may help people better understand and accept
normally single parents and their children without bias and prejudice. Through this study,
they could understand the experiences and values practiced by single parents.
Concerned Government and Non-government Agencies. Results from this
study could help these agencies plan for appropriate projects and provide funds to
alleviate and uplift the conditions of the single parent family in terms of economic and
moral support. Furthermore, results may be used as baseline data in planning,
implementing, and evaluating programs and services facilitated in the different
communities for single parents. This could give single parent families chances and
opportunities for a renewed and better life.
Future Researchers. This study could serve as their basis for a more
sophisticated and wide scale studies on values system and experiences of single parents.
Findings from the study could be used as a stepping stone to conduct more researches in
11
order to better understand and possibly alleviate the socio-economic status of single
parent families.
Scope and Delimitation of the Study
The respondents of this study are the 393 single parents in the Province of Capiz
for the calendar year 2009-2010. These single parents are classified as widowed,
separated and unmarried. A parent whose spouse works abroad is not included in the
classification since overseas workers still enact a parental role by providing financial and
emotional support despite of their absence.
The independent variable are the socio-demographic characteristics in terms of
sex, age, place of residence, religious affiliation, educational attainment, occupation,
and classification as a single parent. The dependent variables are comprised of familial,
educational and economic values and experiences of single parents.
This study used the descriptive-analytical method of research. The data were
gathered using multi-method approach which includes the questionnaire, focus group
discussion guide and in-depth interview guide.
The statistical tools used were frequency, percentage, mean, ranking, stepwise
multiple regression, and t-test. The level of significance was set at 0.05 alpha.
Definition of Terms
Some terms in the study are conceptually and operationally defined as follows:
Classification of single parents is a category or classification according to the
degree of being a single parent (Callister & Burks, 2006). In this study, it refers to the
classification of single parents as widowed, separated or abandoned, and unmarried.

12
Coping Mechanism is the process of managing taxing circumstances, expending
effort to solve personal and interpersonal problems, and seeking to master, minimize,
reduce or tolerate stress or conflict (Weiten & Lloyd, 2006). Operationally, it is defined
as the activities or means employed by single parents in order overcome their problems
and conflicts.
Economic value is a cultural economic perspective that focuses on values as they
affect behaviour. It focuses on the way values function in everyday life and in particular
on the deliberations in which they are formed and expressed as influenced by the
economy (Klamer, 2003). Operationally, it is defined as a belief or ideal practised by a
single parent towards economic aspect in terms of lifestyle, work ethic, security and
social status sensitivity.
Educational value is an attempt to justify curricular activities by pointing out the
significant contributions to life accruing from their study (Olson, 2006). Operationally, it
is defined as the ideals or beliefs observed by a single parent towards education in terms
of aspiration, self-esteem, outlook towards education and decisiveness.
Experience of single parents is an active participation in events or activities,
leading to the accumulation of knowledge or skill of single parents with families
excluded from or failed to conform to particular social norms (Dowd, 1997).
Operationally, it is the accumulated knowledge gained by the single parents in terms of
child rearing practices, time management, financial management and self-image
perception.
Familial value is a set of beliefs or morals that help provide for family unity and
social interaction as well as providing for a societal view for childhood development
13
(Adler, 1999). Operationally, it is defined as a belief or ideals practised by a single parent
towards the family in terms of parenting, family ties, spirituality and respect.
Single parent is a parent who cares for one or more children without the
assistance of another parent in the home (Callister & Burks, 2006). This refers to a parent
who raises a child or children alone due to being widowed, separated or abandoned, or
unmarried.
Values are an individual's accepted standards of right or wrong. It is an important
and enduring beliefs or ideals shared by the members of a culture about what is good or
desirable and what is not. Values exert major influence on the behavior of an individual
and serve as broad guidelines in all situations (Rieselman, 2005). Operationally, it refers
to the ideals or standard beliefs that single parents use to direct their behaviour. It is
classified as familial, educational, and economic values.

14
CHAPTER II
REVIEW OF LITERATURE AND RELATED STUDIES
This chapter deals with the collection of literature and related studies which
relates to the problem being studied. Included herewith are compiled literature and
studies about single parents, educational values, familial values, economic values,
experiences, and foreign and local studies. This chapter ends with a synthesis.
Conceptual Literature
Single parent is defined as a person bringing up a child or children without a
partner. However, single parenthood’s definition may vary according to the local laws of
different nations or regions. Single-parent families have become increasingly prevalent as
divorce increases in other countries. Parents might face more challenges in single-parent
families, but many of these parents have concluded that raising children in a single-parent
family is preferable to raising children when two parents continually fight (Jeynes, 2002).
Over the past two decades, there has been a demographic trend of rapidly
increasing prevalence of out-of-marriage child-bearing and family dissolution which
often results in single-parenthood in families with children. Family is an important life
setting where much of small children’s care and socialization takes place. For older
children and adolescents, family environment and resources also constitute an integral
component of their quality of life directly affecting their relational experiences and life
chances. Single-parent family structure has significant and detrimental effect on child
well-being controlling for age, gender, and race/ethnicity (Wen, 2005). Single parenting,
even if it occurs in different cultures, has similar influences on the children. It causes too
15
much emotional pain and stress that could possibly be carried as they grow into maturity.
It bears a lasting scar.
Considered a prime symptom for the erosion of many cultures, single parents are
reputed by many to be responsible for society’s declining values and breakdown of the
social fabric. Indeed, the term single parent family almost becomes a euphemism for
family breakdown, a kind of social pathology and a major contributor to all that is wrong
within our society (Bornstein, 2002).
Tan (1995) stressed that separation or annulment is always pitiful, regardless of
the children’s ages. Tragically, separations have become commonplace all over the
world. Nonetheless, growing through a break-up is as painful as breaking an arm or a leg.
It does not immediately kill a person but the pain is there. In truth, teenagers often have
violent emotional reactions to family break-up. While it is possible for parents to put up a
false front before their very young brood, it is impossible to shield teenagers from such a
painful upheaval. Adolescents become very upset and mixed up. They lose their
equanimity. They feel threatened and insecure. Their normal anxieties become
aggravated. As a result, these youngsters feel terrified that they will repeat their parents’
mistakes and failures. And most of them are unhappy. The ease of adjustment will
depend on the parent’s relationship with each other, before and after the separation. It is
important that they maintain a respectful relationship with each other. Bitter fights
between the husband and wife drive the wounds deeper.
It is a shallow standpoint to view that children are the only victims of
circumstances brought about by single parent family. Yet, it is safe to affirm that they are
the most vulnerable victim. Single parent left alone by a partner also shares the same
16
burden. To sum it all up, the prevalence of single parenthood in the society has caused
immeasurable pain to the abandoned party. It is best to address this issue in order to help
the injured party if not prevent it from happening in the earliest stage possible.
Familial Values
Single parents, in their vulnerable state of emotional upheaval, still have the
strength to lead and manage the family. Many single parent families are proven to survive
despite the absence of the other parent. This is a very commendable action. How they fair
in terms of parenting and uplifting the family values is a subject that inspires many
researchers to conduct studies in this issue. Familial values could be determined by
means of parenting, family ties, spirituality and respect. Single parents value family
values. The children become their focus in life knowing that they have no other
immediate person to love and to share their effort with. One article states that family are
their primary focus and serves as their inspiration, motivation and drive despite of its
dishevelled situation. Because there is no marriage partner in the home, single parents
focus a lot of attention on the children, on the quality of that relationship and on what
values matter most to keep the family functioning well (Pickhardt, 2003).
Parenting is one aspect or skill being practiced under the familial value.
Parenting is the process of promoting and supporting the physical, emotional, social and
intellectual development of a child from infancy to adulthood. Parenting refers to the
activity of raising a child rather than the biological relationship (Davies, 2000).
Many single parents, however, find it difficult to function effectively as parents.
Parenting is an enormous task to be shouldered alone by one person only. Compared with
continuously married parents, single parents are less emotionally supportive of their
17
children, have fewer rules, dispense harsher discipline, are more inconsistent in
dispensing discipline, provide less supervision and engage in more conflict with their
children (Mann, 2008).
Inept parenting by resident single parents could be linked with a variety of
negative outcomes among children, including poor academic achievement, emotional
problems, conduct problems, low self-esteem and problems forming and maintaining
social relationships. Depression among custodial mothers, which usually detracts from
effective parenting, is related to poor adjustment among offspring. Children often adapt
the depression that their single parent exhibit. Parents who are emotionally disturbed
could not often function well on their roles in the family because they are occupied with
tremendous burden of managing the family alone. To survive the feeling of guilt,
relatives of the single parent should support them and offer help. This is the time when
family ties are strengthened (Maclanahan et al, 1994).
Family tie is another aspect under familial values. It is the strength of the bond
between the family members regardless of the family type they are into. The family form
or structure does not indicate how healthy the family is or how they function. The family
form is merely the physical makeup of the family members in relationship to each other
without respect to roles and function. Family ties are what matters most inside the family.
Bradford (2008) expressed her view on the means of how to keep family ties strong for
single parents. Finding ways to spend time with ones child can make all the difference in
building strong family ties. Showing them care does not have to come in a huge, grand
gesture, though. Kids appreciate the little things that a parent does for them.
18
Accordingly, families of the single parents could also strengthen family ties by
being supportive and forgiving. Supportive relationships with other family members
outside the immediate family may lead to better adjustment for children and adolescents.
This is especially true for children growing up in single-parent homes (Attar-Schwartz,
2009).
Spirituality is another aspect of familial values practiced in a varied manner by
single parents. Due to the mounting needs of parenting, single parents sometimes find it
hard to be involved in church activities religiously. For them, spirituality seems to be of
lesser significance since there are still more pressing concerns that need utmost effort
such as finances and parenting. As a result, single parents are just as likely to pray at least
weekly as the general population, to see the Christian faith as important for daily living
and to hold a range of traditional Christian beliefs. Single parents are almost as likely to
attend church frequently as the population generally. They are a little less likely to have
at least some churchgoing friends. But they are twice as likely to have the perception that
most church attendees are hypocritical, people who say one thing but do another. Single
parents, especially those who are unmarried or separated, have a nagging feeling of guilt.
They tend to feel that they are judged or are unworthy inside the church. This discourages
some of them to participate in a religious activity. Single parents are more likely than
other adults to affirm the importance of an exciting life and spirituality but are less likely
to see the accumulation of wealth as being important. They are more likely than other
adults to view helping others as the most important value in life. They also place a higher
value than other adults on freedom as the most important value (Powell, 2003).
19
Single parents do not have time to reach out to others knowing that they,
themselves, need somebody to reach out to them. They do not have the luxury of time
and are frequently compelled to compress all their work in what little time they have.
Work and family takes too much time and effort and shouldering it alone is a very
tremendous task for a single parent. Some tasks are even left undone such as leisure and
entertainment because of time, strength and financial constraint. This situation often
plummet a single parent into a downward spiral of fatigue and disparity. The task of
going to the church as one family is even neglected because of other more pressing
concerns.
Respect is another important aspect of familial values that needs to be cultivated
well. Parents and teens can develop healthy relationships in single-parent families by
showing each other respect and setting up agreements. Single parents need to be coaches
and mentors with their teens, to engage in open and honest communication, to accept
teens how they are and to create boundaries with one another (Halbert, 2009).
Teaching a child respect for others is among the most difficult tasks a single
parent will encounter in parenthood. It is hard enough to go through this lesson in a
traditional family environment, but it gets even more complicated in single-parent
families. A struggle with what parents perceive to be a lack of respect in the children is a
growing problem these days – not just for single parents, but for children as well
(Gruener, 2009).
The value of respect for the remaining parent is exercised by most children. The
feeling of contempt could sometimes be felt by the children to the parent whom they feel
had neglected them. Their admiration and respect would fall naturally on the remaining
20
parent seeing them as their role model. Sole parents need to be cautious by guiding their
children not to be bitter and hateful towards the other parent.
Educational Values
As for educational values, many of single mothers in general, acknowledge that
education is vital for economic and career success. Yet, there were varied opinions on
whether education is actually important for the mothers themselves. Many single mothers
express a “contradiction of values spoken in education, versus the values that are often
lived” (Scott, 2004). Educational values could be determined by the single parents’
aspiration, self-esteem, outlook towards education and decisiveness.
Aspiration is one belief under educational values. Both parent and children
coming from a single parent family have their own aspirations and dreams just like other
two-parent families. They also consider that aspiration is a part of success attained
through dedicated practice of educational values. Yet, their struggles over emotional and
financial concerns are twice as much so they have to work twice as hard to provide an
income that equates to that of two parents. They also exert twice the effort to work as
both father and mother to their children. As for the children, their aspirations are also
affected since they are also dependent on their parents’ belief in education and capacity in
getting them to school. Making an example of oneself for the child is an important part of
single parenting. Parents should have faith that education can improve their
circumstances in many ways. It is the turning point of their life and the ticket towards
sure success and bright working opportunities. This faith could lead them to believe and
work on their dreams and aspire further to achieve it. Perhaps the most important thing
before doing this is to first inspire oneself. It could have a chain effect on their child to
21
better their life also upon seeing how driven and persevering their parents are. After all,
parents are the role models (Marten, 2009).
In order to help boost the educational aspirations of single parents, some states in
the United States supports single parents with their education. According to their belief,
the concept of a community-based scholarship fund aimed at encouraging and supporting
the educational and training aspirations of impoverished single parents has been well
accepted by single parents. Local leaders have so enthusiastically supported this
opportunity to help these single mothers and fathers attain self-sufficiency. Being self-
sufficient could help the single parents be independent on their own finances and not just
rely for government grants and fundings for their children (Seidel, 1990).
Self-esteem is another issue that troubles the single parent. It is one pertinent
value that they could exhibit under the educational value. Being a single parent is not
easy since it involves going through challenging tasks, answering the child’s simple but
troubling questions and facing the pressures of the social world. There is a lot of
ignorance and myths associated with the whole concept of single parenting which leads
to a creation of a social stigma regarding this concept of single parenthood. A single
parent should develop the much required self esteem and confidence to face the world
and confront the social dilemma that had plagued every unmarried and separated single
parent. A major self-esteem extinguisher is the feeling of guilt. Not being around all the
time for the children, not being able to help them with their homework, not being able to
make the relationship work, not feeling good enough to handle their spouses and so on
are some despair and guilt sparking thoughts. The danger with feeling guilty all the time
22
is that, some single parents tend to develop a lower self esteem that they could possibly
pass on to the children (Pillai, 2008).
The low self esteem of the single parents could be most likely due to their marital
status. According to Kerka (1988), low self esteem is but one of the disadvantages bound
to be suffered by new single parent family. Marital dissolution could bring about
additional disadvantage because displaced homemakers often have little or no
employment history, obsolete training or skills, low self-esteem and external locus of
control.
Cadena (2007) explained the importance of self-esteem among single moms. She
stated that a woman's self-esteem is a crucial part of her ability to overcome physical and
emotional stress. There is a positive relationship between low self-esteem and
deterioration of health based on stress. That is to say, single women who possess a higher
self-esteem commonly will suffer from less stress as they tend to view stressful events in
life as normal and small issues to overcome. With that said, it is also important to note
that a woman with low self-esteem will commonly experience greater degrees of
depression and respond more negatively to emotional and physical stressors in her life.
To aide single women in boosting self-esteem, and thereby reducing stress in their lives, a
change in the way they view themselves and the world around them is important.
Practicing tolerance in oneself means, first, accepting strengths and weaknesses for what
they are. They should use the power of positive thinking and focus on the part of the life
that one have been successful in.
Single parents’ outlook towards education could be deemed not only on how
they view their children’s education but also on how they consider education for
23
themselves. This is another aspect practiced under the educational value. The present
society is a witness on how the number of single parent students pushes their way
through college in order to finish their education against all public scrutiny and economic
ordeals.
Single parents are a special population of students who need to be advised
differently than traditional students. Students who are single parents face pressures
academically as well as from their parental responsibilities. A large issue facing single-
parent students is time management. Single-parent students generally work hard to
balance work, school, and children, sometimes without much help from others. In a study
on the effect of sociological and psychological belief factors on the academic success of
single-mother college students, multiple participants were concerned about balancing
their time. “For participants [of the study], working hard not only meant compromising
their family life to meet their academic responsibilities, but compromising their social
and personal needs as well” (Tehan, 2007).
Decisiveness of a single parent is another indicator of educational values.
Decisiveness means having the power or quality of deciding. Among single parents,
decision making is one advantage. Single parents often make all major decisions
independent of another's influence or desires. Single parents enjoy the freedom to make
decisions based on their own ethical, moral and cultural upbringing without interference
or input from another that may conflict with their own ideas. While they are responsible
for their child's academic and religious upbringing, they can make decisions based on
their own needs, desires and want for their child without considering the desires, needs
and wants of another person. These advantages of being a single parent are often
24
counterbalanced by the burden of responsibility associated with raising a child alone
(Long, 2009).
Tehan (2007) also stressed that single parenting differs from dual parenting in
many ways, but the two most common differences are first the way in which the parent
interacts with the child and second is the involvement of children in more decision
making. Furthermore, Wilkins (2009) advised that single parents and children should
solve problems and decide together. They should focus on solutions with the children.
Mother’s coping skills and sound decision making should be well-developed and
maintained.
Economic Values
Economic values concern most single parent family greatly since a greater
percentage of single-parent families than two-parent families live below the poverty line.
Economic disadvantage is linked with lower academic achievement and increased
behavioral problems among children. Fewer economic resources are also linked with
residential instability, which further contributes to children's academic and behavioral
difficulties (Maass, 2008). Econonic values practiced by single parents could be
determined by their view on lifestyle, work ethic, security and social status sensitivity.
Lifestyle is one area that could mirror the economic values of a single parent.
Maass (2008) stated that a single parent’s lifestyle is virtually nonexistent. The fact of
being unable to physically and mentally withdraw from the children for any significant
period of time greatly increases the level of stress the single parent is experiencing. Other
than their family, they have no other utmost priority. This could be caused by paranoia
and lack of trust to other person in handling their children.

25
The disadvantaged lifestyle of a single parent family could also be mirrored on
their children. For a variety or reasons, most children living with single parents are
economically disadvantaged. It is difficult for poor single parents to afford the books,
home computers and private lessons that make it easier for their children to succeed in
school. Economic resources explain some of the differences in well-being between
children with single parents and those with continuously married parents. Most single
parents opt to have a balanced life in order to cope with this chaos of single parenthood.
By definition, balance, as it pertains to lifestyle, is a physical equilibrium -- a mental and
emotional steadiness. To achieve a balanced lifestyle, one must develop a formula that
produces a healthy mental, physical and emotional outcome. For single parents, it could
mean balancing their time by focusing not only on their work and home but also creating
a leisurely time spent alone or with their children (Dupre, 2009).
Single parents need to adjust their lifestyle in order, to make ends meet. Since
money is always needed, extra luxuries are often avoided. Payne (2001) explained that
even if the single parent in poverty does receive extra money, she would be immediately
besieged with requests by her children for some goodies or new clothes. As a parent, she
would comply out of pity and love and indulge her children on occasional treats. In
poverty, the clear understanding is that when extra money is available, it is either shared
with the children or quickly spent on important things. This is the lifestyle of a single
parent in terms of spending. Payne also acknowledged that there are three ways of
viewing money based on a given group’s social economic status. He explained that the
wealthy perceive money to be conserved or invested, while the middle class perceive
money to be managed, but those in poverty see money only to be used or spent. He
26
asserted that money is seen by those in poverty as only an expression of personality and
is used for entertainment and relationships. The notion of using money for security is
truly grounded only in the middle and wealthy classes.
Rank (2001) pointed out individual factors that influence poverty include
attitudes, welfare and human capital. It is said that “the notion of poverty resulting from
individual character flaws goes back hundreds of years.” The argument has been that the
poor lack the correct attitudes, motivation or morals to get ahead. Yet, it was examined
that the attitudes of the poor have found little evidence for this position. Instead, the poor
tend to amplify and reiterate mainstream American values such as the importance of hard
work, personal responsibility, and a dislike of the welfare system.
The same is true among Filipinos. Filipinos have this nature of masking their
actions with money through their lifestyle. Money is the measurement of one’s success in
life regardless on how one earns it. Single parents especially those coming from rich
families have the strong tendency to address the issue light heartedly. They could very
well sustain the financial needs of the children even if they raised them as a single parent.
Celebrity parents often tend to do this showing to the masses that even if they are single
parents, they could still afford to provide the means of their children.
Work ethic is another factor that could affect the economic values of a single
parent. Due to the absence of a partner as a provider of the family in financial matters,
single parents are driven to work twice as much in order to fill in the inadequacy so they
could feed and clothe their children well. Due to this, they are also more prone to
inefficiencies such as tardiness and absenteeism at work. From an outsider’s ethic
standpoint, one could say that it is more a need for work than it is a real true work ethic.
27
It is true that both men and women have absenteeism problems. Yet, the problems
perceived to be the greatest was women’s absenteeism because of its association with
single motherhood (Browne, 2001).
This might seem an understatement of the work ethic of single parents. True, they
might find work a handfuls and balancing their life and work seems a tremendous effort.
Yet, it is unfair to resolutely conclude that single moms have poor work ethic. Clowes
(2003), on the other hand, took up to the defence of the single parents. He stated that
single parenthood is not a causal thing. It might be true that women who gives birth out-
of-wedlock in general are poorly educated themselves. Beyond that, children who are
raised in single-parent families are more likely to fail in school and are more likely to
drop out. Then they, in turn, are more likely to have children out-of-wedlock, and
perpetuate the cycle. Yet, it is important to understand that this is not a causal thing.
Poverty does not cause a low level of education. In fact, a low education level is more
likely to be contributing to the poverty than vice versa. Although these families were
poor, poverty did not reduce their cognitive abilities, it did not erode their work ethic, and
it didn’t make them more likely to be engaged in crime.
Security at work is another exhibited trait under the economic value. Security is
always at question in a single parent family since their finances always hang in a perilous
edge. As established earlier, although single, working parents may work hard, the total
income of the struggling single parent is not always enough to meet the minimum living
requirements. According to Harris, Lokshin and Popki (2000), there are three major
factors that can influence the income levels and economic stability of single-mother
households and these are the low earning capacity of single women with children;
28
inadequate level of support from the non-custodial fathers; and low level of government
support and benefits for single-mother families.
As single parents, the financial security of the family is solely their responsibility.
Children that grow up in single parent families face many economic and financial
problems. In addition, single mothers face economic adversities; they often remain
unskilled, unemployed and unemployable. Usually, single mothers remain unskilled
because of their low knowledge. They are unemployed because they do not have enough
experience for the job; and they are unemployable because they do not have a good work
history to refer to. This situation does not promise a stable and secured future.
With this, single parents should consider financial security wisely. In order to do
so, Arthur (2003) advised single parents to establish a cash reserve, take control of
finances, protect family's future, adapt estate and contingency plans, invest for college
early, invest aggressively for retirement and make their money go further. He further
iterated that having an emergency cash fund and setting up a spending plan is a crucial
and good action for a single parent. Healthy finances require that one should pay
attention on how they spend their money by making sure that some of it is saved for the
future. Across the board, financial planners agree that single parents, in particular, need
disability insurance, life insurance and educational plan as a contingency to protect
themselves and their children. Lastly, they should concentrate their investments in
growth-oriented investments to protect them at their old age and taking advantage of their
company's retirement program could be one good investment and assurance.
Single parents have been reported to display unhealthy behavior pertaining to
their social status. Social status sensitivity is another burden of single parenthood that
29
could affect their economic values. In order to uplift it, United States provided
government support. The growth in the number of children that live in single parent
homes has instigated the need for policies and programs to improve the status of single-
parent families. Single parents confront tensions that arise from their dual responsibility
of raising their children while simultaneously earning a living. Furthermore, single
parents are more likely to face social isolation due to stigmatization. Many single parents
also experience feelings of stress, frustration, incompetence, hopelessness and
helplessness (Roberts, 2009).
American culture also possesses such kind of outlook towards single parent
family despite of its obvious liberated manner of living. Sometimes considered a prime
symptom of the erosion of American culture, single-parent families are often reputed to
be responsible for society's declining values and the breakdown of the social fabric. Some
people characterized the family disruption associated with the rise in single-parent
families as "a central cause of many of our most vexing social problems". Indeed, the
term single-parent family has become "almost a euphemism" for family breakdown, a
kind of social pathology, and a major contributor to all that is wrong with the society
(Weinrub, 1995).
The unhealthy behavior of the single parents could be mainly attributed to the
outlook of the society towards single parents. Single parent family are considered very
detrimental to the Filipino’s close knitted family tradition. Although, at present, our
culture hesitantly tolerates unmarried parents yet, they are not totally accepted. Due to
this, single parents tend to be conscious of their social status.

30
Experience and evidence are very essential in the formation of ideas. Moreover,
the experience of events requires not only awareness of their intrinsic features but also
that they be regarded as occurring one after another, in an invariable regularity
determined by the concept of causality (Kaufmann, 2008). Single parents commonly
experience difficulties in terms of managing their children. These experiences could
occur in terms of child rearing practices, time management, financial management and
self-image perception.
The strain in child rearing practices encountered by single parents occurs in all
cultures and not just in the Philippines. Single parents who are left behind shoulder all the
task of raising their children alone. Ebbeck and Gokhale (2004) presented a view that
cross-cultural differences in parenting are a result of adult beliefs about the nature of
children and about the world in general. They identified obedience, responsibility,
nurturing, achievement, self-reliance and general independence as the central dimensions
of child rearing. These traits are believed to be common to all societies. However, the
degree to which these are achieved and which traits are given the most emphasis will
vary for each society.
Although race may be a significant contributing factor, social class, wealth, and
income have the strongest impact on what methods of child rearing are used by parents.
Lack of money is found to be the defining factor in the style of child rearing that is
chosen, and minorities are more likely to have less wealth or assets available for use in
their children's upbringing. Societal values and norms of a generation also have an effect,
as in the United States, where authoritarian parenting was the most popular until the
31
1960s when a backlash made permissive parenting the most popular in the 1970s (Lareau,
2002).
Another experience that single parents had difficulty in dealing with is time
management. Single parent has to assume dual role to supplement the need of a child to
have two parents. If there is one thing single parents can get stressed about, it is lack of
time to meet all their responsibilities. Most say they have too little time and too much to
do. Being a single parent has its own set of struggles, one of which is finding enough
time to do everything.
Time management is a problem suffered by single parent second to parenting
since raising children requires a full time job and so is one’s work. It also affects progress
in one’s profession added to the fact that it is both physically and emotionally taxing. As
a lone parent or planning to be one, it is important to realize that proper planning is the
key to success and so is a support network. The biggest issue to solve is the time
distribution between oneself, work and children so that parents can spend few meaningful
moments with them. It is also a drawback that all single parents have to do all the work
alone but patience, a little support and good planning can help (Gardner, 2008).
Single parents frequently feel overwhelmed by the responsibility, tasks, and
emotional overload of raising children alone. As a result, single parents need better-than-
average time-management and organizational skills to balance work and family and know
how to delegate or ask for help when necessary. Having an organized and structured time
management could ease the burden of the single parents and help them plan out their day
with lesser setbacks (Pawel, 2003).

32
More so, being the breadwinner and the caretaker full-time leaves time for little
more than exhaustion, however time management skills and single parent resources can
make a big difference in the lives of the work of a single mom and her children. Time
management skills and single parent challenges can have a positive effect on the single
parent household when met with determination and resilience. Working full time and
raising a child is going to put massive strains on the amount of time one has to do
anything (Ferrer, 2003).
Financial management is another burden of a single parent family. In our
present economic status, it is already difficult to make ends meet. How much more for a
solo parent who has to sustain the financial needs of a family? Everyone has his own
unique financial situation to deal with. It can be difficult to manage money, especially for
those who are operating with limited funds. Single parents are in this category, as they
are working with only one income and may or may not receive child support. Especially
for single parents who are not receiving child support payments, managing money can be
overwhelmingly challenging. For single parents, it is all about stretching the budget as far
and as wide as it will go. It is especially important for single parents to set financial goals
for themselves and for their children (MacGrueber, 2008).
Most single parents have a few deep-rooted psychological barriers that interfere
with wise money management. The barriers have been outlined as the fantasy of
financial rescue and fear of the future. How can one overcome if a barrier exists? Single
parents should take serious steps toward providing for their own financial future, and
create goals based on the current income and financial situation. One must establish
33
short-term goals and start a savings plan towards completion of the short-term goals and
financial security (Lowrey, 2002).
Due to the simultaneous dilemma of financial, social and parental strain, single
parents could not help but be emotionally fatigued. They tend to suffer from poor self-
image perception or self concept. This is another trivial experience of single parents.
They repeatedly experience the anxiety and fear they meet because they feel insecure and
vulnerable. Most say they feel less secure and more vulnerable this time than in any other
problems that they had encountered before. Single parents especially widowed and
separated are vulnerable to abuse and violence in the workplace. Feelings of low self-
worth and deep feeling of rejection may also affect some single parents. Separated single
parents are likely to be distressed, confused and mixed while, the widowed ones are
certain about personal acceptability and worth. The ending of relationships gives rise to
mixed urges to re-establish the relationships thus, persisting tension is likely expressed by
single parents (McKenry, 2005).
Single school-age mothers had extremely low self-concepts, suffered from serious
emotional problems, had inappropriate coping behaviors and exhibited significant
differences. The single mothers, in contrast to their married counterparts, perceived
themselves as undesirable, unworthy, morally bad, and unhappy with their behavior,
physical selves and social relationships (Zongker, 2005).
Yet, despite of the feeling of low self-concept, single parents strive to prove that
they could function normally as a family. The single-parent family is one category of
single adults where failure to provide strength and support will affect not only their lives,
but the many children who are part of their family. Drastically, they have to face their
34
problems and confront it upfront no matter what state of emotions they are in.
Consequently, the single most important aspect or characteristic of successful single-
parent families is the self-perception and the societal perception that they are normal,
competent, contributing and equally acceptable to the two-parent families in the
community. This is the most critical aspect of success (Dastrup, 2004).
Local Studies
Local studies have been conducted in order to study single parenting in the
Philippine society. The prevalence of single parent phenomena was reported by Sibal, et
al (2007) in a study which seeks to unfold the changes in work and employment
conditions in the Philippines brought about by globalization. He noted that among the
workers, seven percent of those who are not married indicated that they have children
(solo parents, with an average of 2 children). Unmarried workers who support dependents
constitute a significant 45.3 percent of the sample. There are more women solo parents
than men (5.3 percent women, compared to only 1.8 percent of the men). The proportion
of women who support dependents are even greater: 30 percent, as opposed to 15.3
percent for the men. The highest incidence of solo parents is in the business processing
and telecommunications sectors, averaging at 16 solo parents in each enterprise,
compared to the over all average of 11 solo parents.
Herbolario (1995) found out that more students from single parent families were
undisciplined than the students from two parent families. However, they do not
significantly differ from one another. In terms of academic performance, majority of the
students performed well in their studies regardless of the family set-up they belong to.
There were more undisciplined students from parent families than mother-led single
35
parent families but the difference was not significant. Similarly, students from mother-
led single parenthood families do not vary from students from father-led single
parent families with regards to academic performance.
Herbolario stressed that parents from single parent families and two parent
families were always psychologically present to their children in terms of school
discipline and academic performance as perceived by the students. Moreover, parents
accord to the same degree of psychological presence to their children whether from
father-led single parent families or mother-led single parent families.
Harion (2001), in his study on the effects of parental absence noted that the
father’s absence may influence the child directly, and it is likely that his absence
influences the mother-child relationship. It was also indicated that difficulties in home
management as single parents appeared to stem more from the overburdening of roles
rather than from unfamiliarity with tasks. Single fathers are confronted with multiple
difficulties in their attempts to raise their children by themselves: loneliness, personal
problems, house-help problems, child minding assistance, employment-related help and
assistance related to transportation and housing. In his study, Harion noted some
structural problems of single-parent families. Such families are much less flexible in
proving for physical, emotional and social needs of the family and there are definite
limitations on time and energy for the fulfilment of various tasks. It is also revealed that
communication structure is modified considerably. Since children see much of the adult
world through the eyes of their parents, the absence of one parent is likely to produce a
structural distortion. In regard to power structure with one parent, it Is impossible for the
child to play one adult against the other. The situation may also create certain problems in
36
adjusting to the parent of the opposite sex. In terms of affection support, the danger of
one-parent family is that the demands of one to fulfil the needs ordinarily met in marriage
by two may prove intolerable to the solitary parent, with the result being physical and
emotional exhaustion.
Beup (2007) reported that single-parent home is a growing challenge in the
Philippine society. Changes in the social norms continue to influence the formation of
families by making new generations of young adults less trustful to the institution of
marriage. Increasing number of young adults is living together delaying marriage and this
creates more single-parent families. Aside from death, desertion, separation and
unwanted pregnancy, economic pressure is also a cause of the increasing number of
single parent families in the country.
Beup also found out that the problems often encountered by single parents are
role conflict, financial and psychological problem. Those which are seldom encountered
are emotional, time management, child rearing practices and social problems. They very
seldom encounter spiritual problems. The coping mechanism very often used by single
parents is reflective coping. Those often used are proactive coping, strategic planning and
support seeking, while the coping mechanism seldom used is the preventive coping
mechanism. The significant predictors of coping mechanism are sex, highest educational
attainment and occupation. Sex had the highest impact followed by highest educational
attainment and occupation.
The studies of Sibal (2007), Herbolario (1995), Harion (2001) and Beup (2007)
conducted in the Philippines bear a resemblance on the present study because they dealt
37
with single parent families. The difference is that these studies focused on the children as
their respondents except for Beup which focused on the single parents.
Foreign Studies
A study by Williams (2003) was conducted with the reason of uplifting and
improving the status of single-parent family. It provided strong evidence concerning
children who are raised by single parents. Children with single parents were twice as
likely as the others to develop a psychiatric illness such as severe depression or
schizophrenia. In addition, children in single-parent homes were more prone to
contemplating suicide and developing addictions to substances. However, other studies
have proven that financial hardship is not the only explanation. Social isolation of single
parents might be a stress factor that they transmit to children. Another explanation may
be that the parents do not have the time needed to support and supervise their children.
This can have a negative impact on the child.
Aside from emotional trauma, children of single parent family are considered
victims as they are very vulnerable to crimes. This might be due to the fact that they have
no full time parent to guard and assure their safety. A depressing finding was discovered
by Holmes (2007) in his study. He suggested that children from single-parent homes are
much more likely to be sexually abused. He also found out that children being raised in
single-parent homes are at greater health and other kinds of risks. It also showed that
these risks include higher risk of childhood sexual abuse. This especially concerns low-
income one-parent households. He also stated that the problem of single parents involves
psychological and emotional aspects. In order to avoid such malign occurrence, children
from one-parent homes need to have more communication with their moms or dads.
38
However, the parents are often absent from the home, being busy working to provide
their children with basic necessities. The children have to find someone who would be a
parent-substitute with whom to communicate and to share experiences. Molesters take
advantage of this situation and become friends to these emotionally-needy children.
Youth from single-parent families report lower educational aspirations than those
from two-parent families. This study explored the influence of background factors
(gender, grade, parental education and socio-economic status), parental involvement with
education, academic self-concept, and peer influences on educational aspirations. The
family involvement and background factors predicted educational aspirations via
academic self-concept. Having academically oriented peers was especially beneficial to
adolescents from single-parent families (Garg, et al, 2007). This might be because
children learn not to expect too much from their parents and from themselves as well.
They had been through a painful experience and expecting too much could just cause
more frustration.
Scott (2003) stated in his study that the kind of people who end up as single
parents might not have done well when they were mere kids. Even if they had not ended
up alone, they tend to be more critical in their relationships and more derogatory toward
other people. It is also harder to be a warm, non-critical parent when bringing up a child
alone. However, he noted that there are plenty of children from single-parent families
who don't end up with serious emotional problems.
Mothers can be a positive influence in their children's lives, whether or not they
are single parents. A new multi-ethnic study at Cornell University has found that being a
single parent does not appear to have a negative effect on the behavior or educational
39
performance of a mother's 12 and 13-year-old children. What mattered most in this study,
Ricciuti (2004) says, is a mother's education and ability level and, to a lesser extent,
family income and quality of the home environment. He found consistent links between
these maternal attributes and a child's school performance and behavior, whether the
family was white, black or Hispanic.
Cliquet (2003) conducted a study on the major trends affecting families situated at
Western Europe and North America. It is a background document study submitted as a
report for United Nations about single-parent family in Western Europe and North
America. He stated that 26 percent of U.S. children under the age of 18 lived in a single-
parent home. In the U.S. and Western Europe, it is likely that the frequency of one-parent
families, at least as a transitional family stage in the life course, will increase or remain
high. These families are highly vulnerable, since most are headed by women, whose
social position is still relatively weaker than that of men. These women have to cope with
the existing incompatibilities between gainful employment and family life, especially
child care. 19.2 percent of American children live with single mothers in 2002, down
from 21.5 percent in 1997. About 70 percent of American single mothers were employed
in March and April 2003, down from nearly 75 percent at the end of 2000. Twenty eight
percent of British families with children were lone parent families in 2004. One in four
U.K. children lived in lone-parent families in 2004. That is more than triple the percent in
1972, when just one in 17 children lived in a lone-parent family. Over 40 percent of
families with kids in areas of London are lone parent families -- double the UK average.
30 percent of all Spanish lone mothers with children under age 18 lived with their own
mothers in 1991, as did slightly less than half of all mothers with children under six. 14
40
percent of all Australian families in 2003 were one parent families (799,800). 53 percent
is the increase in the number of one-parent families in Australia from 1986 and 2001.
That is over 14 times the growth in the number of couple families with children (which
increased by just three percent.). 83 percent of Australian lone parents in 2001 were
female (635,100) compared to 17 percent male (127,500). 10 percent of Jewish Israeli
households are single-parent families. 11 percent of households in Ireland contain single
parents with children. 22 percent of households in South Africa were single-parent
families in 1998.
A study on gender role differences in students of single-parent and intact families
conducted by Slavkin (1997) asked five specific questions about gender roles and the
structure of the family. Differences for personal and ideal gender role beliefs were not
found between individuals reared in single-parent and intact families. However, while
students from single-parent homes saw the societal ideal as being evenly divided between
sex-typed (masculine-feminine) and androgynous roles, students from intact homes were
more apt to define themselves as sex-typed (masculine). That is to say, individuals reared
in single-parent homes were more apt to categorize the societal ideals as androgynous.
Further examination of the results revealed that females from intact families stereotyped
the ideal person as feminine, whereas males from intact families stereotyped the ideal
person as masculine.
The special need of single-parented students was conducted by Palladino, et al,
(1999). Results showed that teacher trainers, especially in regular education, as well as
single parents, believe that single-parented students have special needs that affect their
learning in school, and these two populations described a variety of these specific needs.
41
In contrast, only 50 percent of school principals responded that single-parented children
have special needs that affect their learning. Use of the term “special needs” in the survey
may have influenced the findings. There appears to a clear perception by teacher trainers
and school principals that teacher training programs are not preparing prospective
teachers to meet the needs of single-parented students.
Pollack (2001) posited in this research that many non-Caucasian children from
single-parent family succeed not because of their societal roles, but because of pressured
expectations placed on them. They succeed not just because they want to, or their parents
want them to, but, because the burden of their whole community is placed upon their
academic achievement.
Parents are struggling to raise their children in an economically sound
environment, so that most commonly, their children will have a better life than they had,
be it better schools, better colleges or better work opportunities. Lino (2004) stated that
family economic resources, child's school engagement and extra-curriculum social
development all contribute to the link between single-parent family structure and child
well-being. This study touched family-based economic and social pathways to some
extent, but family structure may negatively affect a child’s psychological resources such
as self-esteem which is perhaps a health-promoting resource distinct from economic
power and social development.
Using a descriptive correlational design, DeVito (2007) examined factors that
contribute to self-perceptions of parenting among adolescent mothers 4 to 6 weeks
postpartum. Healthy, first-time, 13- to 19-year-old adolescent mothers identified their
own mothers as their primary source for social support. Additionally, the more tangible
42
the support from the adolescent's mother, the lower the evaluation of self-perceptions of
parenting. Older, more educated adolescent single mothers were more positive in self-
perceptions of parenting, suggesting that older adolescents have different needs in terms
of parenting than younger adolescent mothers. These findings are important for designing
and implementing nursing care and educating adolescents about the importance of social
support, education, and parenting.
The foreign studies of Williams (2003), Holmes (2007), Garg (2007), Scott
(2003), Ricciuti (2004), Cliquet (2003), Slavkin (1997), Palladino (1999), Pollack (2001),
Lino (2004) and DeVito (2007) are similar to this study because they seek to understand
single parent families. The difference is that some of these studies focused on the
children as the respondents whereas this study focused on the single parents.
Synthesis
The present society is already aware on the rising number of one family structure
which had been considered a stigma before but is now widely recognized in almost all
culture. The single parent family structure is a product of dire circumstances brought
about by separation, death of a spouse, abandonment or absence of marriage. Many
studies had cautioned of its ill effect to both children and solitary parent. As a result,
numerous researches were conducted in order to study their conditions and improve their
means of living.
Values practiced by single parents were studied to give light on how they manage
their family. Values mirror the strategy of a single parent on how they deal with life
experiences. Familial values could be deemed on the parent’s capacity on parenting,
family ties, spirituality and respect. Studies have shown that good parenting is often
43
impeded because of the tasking dual role assumed by a solitary parent. Family ties are
also richly encouraged as a means of support system to the single parent. Respect on the
other hand is a biased value of the children because they tend to side on the aggravated
parent. The one who is left behind receives more loyalty and respect because children see
them as a parent who will never betray and leave them.
Educational values could be deemed on a parent’s aspiration, self-esteem, outlook
towards education and decisiveness. All of these indicators are contributory factors to
measure the educational values of a single parent. Many studies postulate that most single
parent families are living in poverty. Economic values of this family could be assessed in
terms lifestyle, work ethic, security and social status sensitivity.
Studies on the experiences of single parents enumerate various painful and
stressful life encounters. The experiences that take too much toil are child rearing
practices, time management, financial management and self-image perception. Based on
the collected related literatures, it is imperative to further study the life of single parent
family with emphasis on the single parents since they are seldom the target of the study.
Most studies only focus on the affected children but the single parents are given lesser
significance. It is high time now to assess their experiences, cater to their needs and study
their current situation.

44
CHAPTER 111
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY
This chapter includes a detailed description of the research design, the
respondents of the study, research instruments, validation and reliability measures, data
gathering procedures, scoring the variables, and the statistical tools used to analyze and
interpret the data.
Research Design
This study used the descriptive-analytical design. According to David (2002),
descriptive research describes a situation or a given state of affairs in terms of specified
aspects or factors. What may be described are characteristics of individuals or groups,
physical environments or conditions.
Analytical or explanatory research is a continuation of descriptive research. The
researcher goes beyond merely describing the characteristics, to analysing and explaining
why or how the phenomenon being studied is happening. Thus, analytical research aims
to understand phenomena by discovering and ensuring causal relations among them. The
researcher believed that this type of research was appropriate for this study.
Respondents
Respondents of the study were the single parents from the different municipalities
of Capiz and the City of Roxas for the school year 2009-2010. There were 393
respondents which are drawn from 23,376 identified single parents. Twelve discussants
were chosen for the focus group discussion and another twelve were interviewed to
provide additional information and to corroborate responses in the questionnaire.

45
To determine the appropriate sample size, the Cochran formula (Downie and
Heath, 1984) was used. The formula is:
N
n=
1 + Ne2
Where:
n = sample size
N = population
e = desired margin of error (0.05)
1 = constant value
To determine the respondents from each municipality, the proportional allocation
formula (Punzalan and Uriarte, 1989) was used. The formula is:
N1 x n
ni =
N
Where:
ni = sample size for each district
n = sample size
N1 = population of each district
N = total population
The distribution of respondents by municipality in the province of Capiz and the
City of Roxas is shown in Table 1. Data shows that the population of single parents is
46
23,376 with a sample size of 393. The biggest number of respondents came from
President Roxas while the least was from Dumarao and Maayon.
Sample size from the urban area came from the different barangays of Roxas City.
Respondents from the rural area, on the other hand, came from the 16 municipalities in
both the First and Second District of Capiz.
Table 1
Respondents of the Study

Place of Residence Population Sample
Cuartero 779 13
Dao 908 15
Dumalag 1184 20
Dumarao 591 10
Ivisan 1032 18
Jamindan 1127 19
Maayon 607 10
Mambusao 1292 22
Panay 1231 21
Panit-an 1934 33
Pilar 918 15
Pontevedra 1652 28
President Roxas 3547 60
Roxas City 2638 44
Sapian 1154 19
Sigma 1092 18
Tapaz 1690 28
47
Total 23376 393
Research Instruments
The primary tool used in gathering data was a questionnaire consisting of four
parts. Part I gathered information on the single parents’ socio-demographic characteristic
in terms of sex, age, place of residence, religious affiliation, educational attainment,
occupation, estimated monthly family income, number of children, number of years as
single parent and classification as a single parent.
Part II identified the values of the single parents in terms of familial values as
indicated by parenting, family ties, spirituality and respect; educational values as
indicated by aspiration, self-esteem, outlook towards education and decisiveness; and
economic values as indicated by lifestyle, work ethic, security and social status
sensitivity. Part III identified the experiences of single parents as indicated by child
rearing practices, financial management, time management and self-image perception.
Part IV identified the coping mechanism adapted by single parents.
The second instrument was the focus group discussion guide. Different
classifications of single parents such as widowed, separated and unmarried are
represented in the FGD. The third instrument was the in-depth interview which served as
follow-up information gathering questionnaire.
Validation of the Questionnaire
The questionnaire was subjected to content validation by a jury of experts.
According to Fraenkel and Wallen (1994), the judgment on the content and logical
structure of an instrument as it is to be used in a particular study is enough for validation

48
purposes. Through the process of validation, the questionnaire will be able to measure
what it intends to measure.
Upon considering the requirements for validation, each item was analyzed and
revised according to the recommendation of the panel. The researcher translated the
questionnaire into the vernacular to give the respondents a chance to understand the
statement. After the content validation was conducted, the final draft of the questionnaire
was made.
Reliability of the Questionnaire
After the questionnaire has been validated, it was pretested to thirty respondents,
15 single parents from the Second District and another 15 from the First District who
were not respondents of the study. The pretest respondents were drawn by sample
random sampling from one of the districts in the province.
The questionnaire was then, subjected to a reliability test using Cronbach alpha.
The Cronbach alpha is used to determine the reliability of the instrument where there is
no right or wrong answer. The result was a 0.94 reliability index. According to Smith as
cited by Pagoso (1985), a scale is valid if the computed reliability coefficient is .80 or
greater but not more than 1.0. Hence, the questionnaire used in gathering the needed data
for this study was reliable.
Data Gathering Procedure
To determine the number of single parents all throughout the province, the
researcher sought the results of the Family Mapping survey conducted by the Department
of Education in Capiz and Roxas City Division. The result of the survey showed the total
49
number of single parents from each municipality. Basing on the Family Mapping survey,
there is a total of 23,376 single parents residing in the entire Capiz Province.
The researcher then, solicited the help of 285 students who are enrolled in her
subject in the first semester of the academic year 2009-2010 at Hercor College, to furnish
her a list of identified single parents from their place of residence. Students were advised
to seek the help of a barangay health worker or barangay officials to obtain the names of
single parents. After each student provided her the lists, the researcher summed it all and
came up with a list of 1, 610 single parents which is way beyond the targeted sample.
This gave her enough and well-allocated choices for her sample respondents. She also
made sure that each municipality came up with the properly allocated number of samples
required. Students are then, grouped according to their municipality, so they could
distribute the questionnaire evenly following the targeted allocation of respondents.
Students were instructed on how to approach and conduct the questionnaire to the
respondents.
After the validity and reliability of the questionnaire had been established, the
researcher asked permission to gather data from the Office of the Governor of the
Province of Capiz. Some of the respondents who were not included in the sample were
then purposively selected as discussants in the FGD.
Focus group discussion is an informal in-depth discussion in which a small
number of participants (6-12), under the guidance of a moderator or facilitator talk about
topics of special importance to a particular research issue. Participants are purposively
selected from a defined target population whose opinion and ideas are relevant to the
research. FGD data “can provide relatively quick answers to specific questions and are
50
often used in the formulation of hypotheses before surveys are designed or to clarify
ambiguous survey findings.
Focus group discussion is used to obtain group reactions to an issue which can be
compared later with interview responses from respondents in the same population. It is
also used to determine group reactions to a certain program or intervention. It served as
basis for developing hypotheses for a larger study and in developing survey instruments,
such as interview schedules and questionnaires. Ideas/facts that came out during the
FGDs can be used as response categories for interview schedules and questionnaires and
in deciding the language consistent with what is familiar and understandable to the
respondents. It is used to explain and interpret more fully results of surveys and other
quantitative studies and acts as basis in developing, testing and refining educational
messages (David, 2002).
In-depth interview was also conducted to solicit opinions in a more personal and
close setting. In-depth interview is a type of qualitative research instrument involving an
unstructured personal interview with a single respondent. The purpose of in-depth
interviews is to understand the underlying motivations, beliefs, attitudes and feelings of
respondents on a particular subject. It is the best method for in-depth probing of personal
opinions, beliefs and values and could be used to obtain very rich depth of information. It
is also very flexible since it could be conducted anywhere the respondents feel
comfortable and it could last between 30 and 60 minutes. Unlike the FGD, there is no
social pressure on respondents to conform and no group dynamics. It starts with general
questions and rapport establishing questions, then proceed to more purposive questions.
51
Scoring the Variables
To quantify the data collected from the questionnaires, the following scoring was
used:
For values, responses in the questionnaire were scored and given the following
verbal interpretations:
Responses Score Score Interval Verbal Interpretation

Positive Negative
Strongly Agree 5 1 4.21 - 5.00 Very Important
Agree 4 2 3.41 – 4.20 Moderately

Important
Uncertain 3 3 2.61 – 3.40 Slightly Important
Disagree 2 4 1.81 – 2.60 Least Important
Strongly Disagree 1 5 1.00 – 1.80 Not Important
For the experiences, responses were scored and given the following verbal
interpretation:
Responses Score Score Interval Verbal Interpretation

Positive Negative
Almost always5 1 4.21 - 5.00 Very Good
Often 4 2 3.41 – 4.20 Good
Sometimes 3 3 2.61 – 3.40 Fair
Seldom 2 4 1.81 – 2.60 Poor
Never 1 4 1.00 – 1.80 Very poor

52
Statistical Tools to be Used
The statistical tools used to analyze the data are frequency, percentage,
mean, stepwise multiple regression and t-test. Frequency and percentage were used to
describe the socio-demographic characteristics of the respondents. The mean was used to
describe the familial, educational, and economic values, experiences and coping
mechanism of the respondents.
Multiple regression analysis was used to determine which among the socio-
demographic characteristics of the respondents were predictors of familial, educational
and economic values and experiences of single parents. The formula is (SPSS, 2002):
Y = a + b1x1 + b2x2 + …
For dependent samples, t-test was used to determine the significance of the
difference of the values and experiences of respondents when grouped according to their
residence specifically from urban and rural areas. The level of significance for statistical
result was set at alpha 0.05. All statistical data were computer processed. The formula of
t-test is shown below (Downie & Heath, 1984):
–2 1
t = ________________________________________________
________________________ _______________
(n – 1) S12 + (n2 – 1) S22 n1 + n2
Where:1
n1 + n2 – 2 n1n2
X 1 = mean of group 1
X 2 = mean of group 2
S12 = standard variance of the first sample

53
S2 2= standard variance of the second sample
n1 = number of cases in group 1
n2 = number of cases in group 2

CHAPTER IV
PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATON OF DATA
This chapter contains the presentation, analysis and interpretation of the data
gathered on the values and experiences of single parents in Capiz. It includes the
description and discussion of the respondents in terms of their (1) socio-demographic
characteristics, (2) familial values, (3) educational values, (4) economic values, (5)
experiences, (6) coping mechanism, (7) socio demographic characteristics used as
predictors of familial, educational and economic values and experiences of single parents
and, (8) significant difference in the values and experiences of single parents when
classified according to their place of residence.
Socio-demographic Characteristics of the Respondents
Table 2 shows the socio-demographic characteristics of the respondents in
terms of sex, age, place of residence, religious affiliation, highest educational attainment,
occupation, estimated monthly family income, number of children, number of years as
single parents and classification of single parents.
Sex. Data shows that of the 393 respondents, 57 or 14.5% are males while 336 or
85.5% are females. This data shows that there are predominantly female single parents
compared to men because of the obvious large difference in number between the two.
Age. Of 393 respondents, 137 or 34.9% are young (18 – 33), 158 or 40.2% are
middle aged (34 - 49) and 98 or 24.9% are old (50 – 65). The age of the respondents
54
ranges from 18 being the youngest and 65 being the oldest. Result from this data presents
that most of the single parents are middle-aged.
Place of Residence. Result shows that of 393 respondents, 44 or 11.2% are from
the urban while 349 or 88.8% are from the rural area. Majority of the respondents,
therefore, hails from the rural area.
Religious Affiliation. Of 393 respondents, 350 or 89.1% are Roman Catholics, 10
or 2.5% are Baptists, 7 or 1.8% are from Assembly of God, 6 or 1.5% are Jehovah’s
Witnesses, 11 or 2.8% are Iglesia ni Cristo, 6 or 1.5% are Seventh Day Adventists and 3
or 0.8% are Mormons. This data indicates that the vast majority of the single parents
belong to Roman Catholic religion compared to other sects.
Educational Attainment. Most single parents only attained high school graduate
level of education. Data shows that of 393 respondents, 57 or 14.5% are elementary level,
55 or 14% are elementary graduate, 53 or 13.5% are high school level, 75 or 19.1% are
high school graduate, 26 0r 6.6% are vocational graduate, 63 or 16% are college level, 52
or 13.2% are college graduate, 10 or 2.5% are with masteral units, 1 or 0.3% are with
doctoral units and 1 or 0.3% are with doctoral degree.
Occupation. In terms of occupation, 152 or 38.7% are employed, 148 or 37.7%
are self-employed and 93 or 23.6% are unemployed. This indicates that only a small
percentage of single parents is financially dependent to others. On the lighter note,
majority of the single parents are self-sufficient being employed to an establishment or
having a business of their own.
Estimated Monthly Family income. Data shows that majority of the single
parents have poor financial status since 346 or 88% have low estimated monthly family
55
income(Php3,000 – 10,333), 35 or 8.9% have average estimated monthly family
income(Php10,334 - 17,667) and 12 or 3.1% have high estimated family income
(Php17,668 – 25,001).
Number of Children. Results showed that majority of the single parents have
less number of children since 264 or 67.2% have few (1-3), 95 or 24.2% have many (4-6)
and 34 or 8.6% have very many (7-10) children.
Number of Years as Single Parent. In terms of number of years, majority of the
single parents have been in this status for a short period of time. Of 393 respondents, 287
or 73% have been a single parent for a short period of time (10 years – below) while 106
or 27% have been a single parent for a long period of time (11 years – above).
Classification as a Single Parent. There are predominantly more widowed single
parents. Of 393 respondents, 185 or 47.1% are widowed, 109 or 27.7 are separated and
99 or 25.2% are unmarried but not living with a spouse.
Table 2
Socio-demographic Characteristics of Single Parents
Socio-demographic Characteristics Frequency Percentage
Sex
Male 57 14.5
Female 336 85.5
Total 393 100
Age
18 – 33 (Young) 137 34.9
34 – 49 (Middle Aged) 158 40.2
50 – 65 (Old) 98 24.9
Total 393 100
56
Place of Residence
Urban 44 11.2
Rural 349 88.8
Total 393 100
Religious Affiliation
Roman Catholic 350 89.1
Baptist 10 2.5
Assembly of God 7 1.8
Jehovah's Witnesses 6 1.5
Iglesia ni Cristo 11 2.8
Seventh Day Adventist 6 1.5
Mormons 3 0.8
Total 393 100
Educational Attainment
Elementary Level 57 14.5
Elementary Graduate 55 14
Table 2 (Continued)
High School Level 53 13.5

High School Graduate 75 19.1
Vocational Graduate 26 6.6
College Level 63 16
College Graduate 52 13.2
With Masteral Units 10 2.5
Masteral Degree 0 0
With Doctoral Units 1 0.3
Doctoral Degree 1 0.3
Total 393 100
Occupation
Employed 152 38.7
Self-employed 148 37.7
Unemployed 93 23.6
Total 393 100
57
Estimated Monthly Family Income

Php3,000 – 10,333 (Low) 346 88
Php10,334 – 17,667 (Average) 35 8.9
Php17,668 – 25,001 (High) 12 3.1
Total 393 100
Number of Children
1 – 3 (Few) 264 67.2
4 – 6 (Many) 95 24.2
7 – 10 (Very Many) 34 8.6
Total 393 100
Number of Years as Single Parent

10 years – below (Short) 287 73
11 years – above (Long) 106 27
Total
393 100
Table 2 (Continued)
Classification as a Single Parent

Widowed 185 47.1
Separated 109 27.7
Unmarried and not living w/ a spouse 99 25.2
Total 393 100

in terms of Parenting
Table 3 shows the data on the familial values of the respondents in terms of
parenting. The grand mean score of 3.92 is verbally interpreted as moderately important.
This implies that single parents, in general, view parenting as a moderately significant
skill to practice in order to uphold familial values. They believe that in order to become
successful parents, parenting is one of the skills to be considered with proper dedication
knowing that the quality of parenting they exercise today could affect the outcome of
58
their children in the future. Parenting for them is a form of shaping their children’s
behavior and attitude so they could be better persons. Parenting might be rated only as
moderately important but it has specific areas that are treated as very important by single
parents.
Of the ten items, respondents have rated three statements as very important. These
items pertain to a single parent being a good role model, enforcing discipline and
listening to their children’s problems.
The three items that have been rated as very important bears the steadfast belief of
the respondents that they have a significant role in parenting. Specifically, the
respondents believe that they have to enact the role of being a good role model to their
children in order to gain their sympathy and trust. This could also give the child someone
to look up to for security. Single parents need to be cautious and exercise utmost
prudence since they are the immediate and probably the main source of their children’s
values.
Being a role model has its advantage as Kelly (2009) suggested that children
benefit from good role models or those adults who set an example of how to behave.
These role models should come in both sexes. In the absence of one parent, the remaining
parent should look for a positive and responsible family members or friends of the
opposite sex to be role models for the child. These role models should possess desirable
and good values worthy to be imitated. In an in-depth interview with a single mom, the
grandfather is usually the object of affection and attention of her children. Grandparents
could play major role in molding the qualities of their children since they could act as
second parents. More so, they could guide their children to become effective single
59
parent even if the task of parenting is carried alone. Majority of single parents in the FGD
discussions agree that they should set a good example for their children to imitate. This is
by practicing good values and avoiding things that could cause their children shame.
Single parents also view discipline as a valuable factor in raising their children. A
single parent bear the sole responsibility of disciplining the children, shaping their
behavior and helping them make good choices, day in and day out. Children coming from
a single parent family are more exposed to painful separation experiences. These children
need as much love and attention as a parent can give them. However, some single parents
make the mistake of being too permissive and never correct their children when it is
necessary. It is therefore, essential for a single parent to adapt an effective disciplinary
strategy. Wolf (2009) stated that once disciplinary strategy is used within the context of a
loving parent-child relationship, it will have a positive influence on the children's
behavior.
Filipino culture has a close knitted family ties. In the case of unmarried single
parents, the grandparents often assume the role of parenting so enforcing discipline could
also have other source. Grandparents are often lenient disciplinarian and would just give
in to what their grandchildren want. In the case of children from a single parent family,
loving grandparents tend to spoil the children. This action is brought about by the feeling
of pity since the children are deprived of a complete parental love. Single parents should
be aware of this situation and explain prudently to the grandparents about their role to
love and discipline but not over indulge on the children. Yet as the findings suggested,
single parents still has a grasp in disciplining their children despite of the permissive and
indulgent behavior of the grandparents.

60
Listening to the children’s problem is another parenting skill that is highly valued
by single parents. Holmes (2007), in his study, is amenable to this stating that children
from one parent homes need to have more communication to their parents in order to
avoid greater risks such as being sexually abused. A response gathered during the FGD
iterates that single parents tried to be close to their children by being their friends. They
developed a bond of friendship and very trusting affinity. In the case of single moms
having teenage children, bonding is often enjoyed since they could have something in
common by going out to places and enjoy together.
Due to the rising trend in technology, it is not hard for single parents to
communicate with their children even if they are faraway. Generation gap is not always
seen between the single parents and their children as most of them stated in the FGD that
they are very close with their children no matter what the ages are. Simple gestures of
care could go a long way to let the children feel that they are not deprived of love even if
it only comes from one parent. This way, it could fill-in the longing of a child for another
parent knowing that they have all the love that they need even if it comes from one parent
only.
On the contrary, the item that pertains to single parents doing most of the chores
at home and being suspicious with what the children are doing outside the home are rated
as least important and slightly important respectively. Single parents know it could only
result to more worries for them and a feeling of being untrustworthy for the children.
Table 3
Familial Values on Parenting
Statement Mean Verbal

Interpretation
61
1. I try to be a good role model to my children. 4.72 VI

2. I enforce discipline upon my children.
4.64 VI
3. I listen to my children’s problems. 4.40 VI
4. I require my children to follow my decisions. 4.03 MI
5. I accept feedbacks from my children. 4.08 MI
6. I am suspicious of what my children are doing when
they are outside the home.
3.25 SI
7. I do most of the chores at home. 2.67 LI
8. We always eat together. 4.20 MI
9. I spank my children when they were young as a form
of punishment.
3.39 MI
10. I can not avoid spanking my children when I feel
angry and later regret it.
3.85 MI
Grand Mean 3.92 MI
Legend: VI – Very important SI – Slightly important

MI – Moderately important LI – Least important
in terms of Family Ties
Table 3.1 presents the data on the familial values of the respondents in terms of
their family ties. The grand mean score of 3.83 is verbally interpreted as moderately
important. Single parents consider family ties as a moderately significant aspect in
familial values and is given a moderate regard. Family tie is a very broad topic and some
aspect under it does not condone to the respondent’s belief. Although considered only as
moderately important, it has specific areas that are treated as very important by single
parents. In general, family tie is likely to be cherished by single parents because it is a
tradition deeply embedded in almost all Filipinos.
This could be founded on the statement of Carter (2009) whose views expresses
the ability of a single-parent family in tightening their bonds amidst the strife. Children of
single parents have an increased ability to build stronger bonds with their remaining
62
parent. If that parent allows their child to come to them with any problem they might
have, then the child could develop a bond with that parent making them more focused
and in a responsible path. Children who strive to reach out for emotional help to their
families after the loss of one parent, have the ability to get better grades in school, shine
socially, and excel in all aspects of their lives without succumbing to peer pressure in
order to fit in. Counselling after a parent has left or passed away will give a child all of
the tools that they need in order to cope and not rebel or fall into detrimental behaviors.
Out of the ten items, respondents rated two items as very important. These items
pertain to the belief that family becomes strong during critical times by helping each
other and another is that problems become lighter when shared with family members.
Results indicate that respondents do have strong family ties. Filipino culture is
tightly interwoven on family ties. Past and present society gives significant reverence to
the sacredness of family ties. It is a link that knits people together by means of blood
lines. Yet, family ties do not come unchallenged. It is often challenged and tested when
strong traumatic problems arise within the family. Single parenthood is one such
challenge but it is not seen as a deterrent to family ties. Instead, it is considered as a
moment when family ties should be strengthened. Strong family tie is beneficial for both
single parents and their children. This belief is fortified with the result of Attar-Schwartz
(2009) study having found that supportive relationships with other family members
outside the immediate family may lead to better adjustment for children and adolescents.
A supportive family could greatly help single parents recover from their sullen and guilty
state and begin to build a new life.

63
In times of their extreme emotional dilemma, having someone to turn on to helps
strengthen the single parents. They might gain sympathy from other people, but not all
people in the society are very accepting. Thus, studies suggest that family should be the
primary source of support for the single parents. An understanding and sympathetic
immediate family could help the single parents and their children adjust and regain a new
beginning in the drastic turn of events in their lives.
Problems become lighter when it is shared by family members is another very
important belief. This is true in most cases but for the single parents, gaining the support
from their family eases not only their emotional pains but also their financial and physical
burdens. Family up to the second affinity are often the source of this help. Filipino family
are generous supporters because they give to the extent that they could afford. It is more
of a moral obligation than just mere civic duty to lend a hand to a needy family member.
The slightly important values rated by the respondents are the belief that family
influence is declining and not consulting family members in times of troubles. Single
parenthood is a situation that calls for supportive action and much solicited moral advice
from the family. They are not amenable at the idea of not including the family in times of
decision making. Responses gathered from the FGD indicate that mothers are the most
frequent person whom the single parents turn to when they are seeking for advice.
Siblings and other relatives could also be depended on in terms of financial assistance.
Table 3.1
Familial Values on Family Ties
Mean Verbal
Statement Interpretation
1. I involve my own parents or relatives when I make 3.77 MI

64
major decisions.
2. We maintain constant communication with our relatives

despite the distance between us. 4.12 MI
3. The influence of family has declined considerably. 3.29 SI
4. Relatives, friends and co-workers share our happiness

and troubles. 4.01 MI
5. Family becomes strong during critical times because of

the help of relatives. 4.34 VI
6. Family problems become lighter when shared by

relatives. 4.39 VI
7. Life is happier when there are many relatives in our

household. 3.95 MI
8. We can depend on our relatives to help pay for

medicines and hospital bills. 3.41 MI
9. Our relatives are happy despite economic constraint. 3.98 MI
10. Although my family lives near our relatives, I am

independent from them and I do not consult them
regarding myself. 3.06 SI
Grand Mean 3.83 MI

MI – Moderately important

in terms of Spirituality
Reflected on Table 3.2 are results on the familial values of single parents in terms
of their spirituality. With the mean score of 3.91, spirituality is deemed as moderately
important when verbally interpreted. Filipino upbringing is deeply steeped in religious
belief and practices. Single parents could not help but succumbed to spiritual inclinations
in times of disparity as one of their means in coping with their problems. Thus,
65
spirituality is considered to have a moderate impact in the respondents’ lives. Spirituality
is rated as moderately important only because even if all single parents belong in a
religious sect, their level of devotedness may vary and it is not too excessive. Still, it is
assuring that they have certain amount of faith in God.
Although it is only considered to be of moderate importance, spirituality has two
items under it that have been rated as very important by the respondents. One item
pertains to the strong belief of single parents to the power of prayers by encouraging their
children to pray and the other pertains to their struggle of living as a good Christian.
Another belief that merits a moderately important interpretation is encouraging the
children to join religious activities. These items are positively inclined towards the
development of the spirituality of both the children and single parents.
With this, one could ascertain the strong faith and belief of single parents in
prayers amidst the anxiety and problems that they had encountered. This finding could
also be verified based on the information collected from the FGD. Majority of the
respondents believe in the power of prayers and that they devote some of their personal
time in praying. Although not all are frequent church goers, all of them believe that God
could still give them refuge in times of troubles. This result is also supported by the
findings in the study of Beup (2007) that religious consciousness and spirituality served
as a commonly employed coping mechanisms for single parents to avoid emotional
breakdown. Spiritual coping is also often used by single parents to overcome their
problems.
Spiritual refuge in prayer is a time proven and successful coping mechanism
applicable only to those who have strong faith in God. More so, single parents try to live
66
their lives as a good Christians. For them, it is very important. They act based on their
church’s belief and practices. They try to follow the norms of their denomination even if
they don’t commit it religiously and fervently. Single parents also tried to bring their
children to God by having them actively involved in church activities. This could be their
means to guide them by having them engaged in meaningful and productive activities.
Furthermore, Lebedies (2008) supplied that spiritual beliefs and underlying principles
will direct, guide, and strengthen the single parent family.
On the other side, the item that states that praying does not answer problems
attained the lowest score. Although not all prayers could be answered and not all happy
endings could be guaranteed by God, single parents believed that it is not a futile act
since it could bring them hope and renewed strength to pursue their dreams and
ambitions.
Table 3.2
Familial Values on Spirituality

Mean Verbal
1. I go to church every Sunday with my children. 3.86 MI
2. Praying does not answer problems. 3.29 MI
3. I encourage my children to join religious activities. 4.02 MI
4. I encourage my children to pray every morning and before

sleeping. 4.40 VI
5. We pray before meals together. 3.98 MI
6. I find time to teach Gospel to my children. 3.78 MI
7. Listening to missionaries and preachers is a waste of time. 3.73 MI
8. I try to live the life of a good Christian. 4.39 VI

67
9. I can not understand the Bible so I avoid reading it. 3.71 MI
10. I faithfully abide with the teachings of my religion. 3.98 MI
Grand Mean 3.91 MI
Legend: VI – Very important MI – Moderately important

in terms of Respect
Table 3.3 presents the result of the gathered data on the familial values of single
parents in terms of respect. It is rated with a grand mean of 3.49 verbally interpreted as
moderately important. Respect, therefore, is considered as one moderately important
indicator of familial value by the respondents. Respect could both be demonstrated by the
single parents toward their own parents or toward their children. Generally, even if single
parents agree that respect is only moderately significant value, it has specific areas that
merit a very important consideration.
Three out of ten items are rated as very important. These items pertains to the
belief in teaching the children to kiss the hands of elders and not answering back to them
and seeking advise from parents or siblings in making decisions. These beliefs are treated
with very high importance by the respondents. Old manners or customs of showing
respect towards the elders are still honored and observed. Single parents believe in
teaching their children these manners and customs because it could cultivate a value of
reverence and respect.
Gruener (2009) mentioned that instilling respect among the children is a positive
parenting skill but teaching the children how could be a difficult matter. For once,
parents’ own behavior and their disciplinary measures could actually lead to disrespect in
68
children. They quickly absorb information and behavioral patterns they are exposed to.
As a result, they will reflect what they learn from their parents and from the environment
around them. There is more than a good chance that a parent’s own behavior will be
mirrored by the children, which means that parents should always be aware of their
actions because it will have a major influence on how the children behave.
This indicates that respect is not a given value at home because some children in a
single-parent families lacks from it. A study once prove that children who grew up not
knowing their biological father could adjust to life better than those who were born in
two parent family. Children who were brought up not knowing their fathers did not go
through any painful experiences accompanying separation so they are less likely to
develop emotional and mental problems. However, teenagers and young adults who
witnessed their families fall apart are more likely to offend, smoke, drink alcohol and
have adjustment issues. They also tend to feel hostile and disrespectful towards their
parents treating them as the source of all their agony (Karst, 2000). In an interview with
a separated parent having a troubled teenager, they often feel rebellious because they feel
ashamed of being a child from a broken family. This made them resentful and
disrespectful towards their parents. Custodial and non-custodial parents now faces the
dilemma on how to instigate discipline so as to teach the child some respect. With this,
single parents consider discipline as a chance to teach respect by being firm and
consistent on the rules.
Seeking advise from parents and close relatives in doing a major decision in life is
also treated with great importance among the respondents. Ford (2009) contended that a
big part of good parenting is establishing respect between parents and children. Including
69
one’s parents in doing major decisions in life is a sure sign of respect. Mutual respect is
included in universal family values. Fortifying these values could largely erase the
present epidemic of family breakdown and moral decay and create a society in which
parents, children, families and society mutually nourish and strengthen each other in their
growth toward fulfilment. Single parents therefore, practice good values by consulting
their parents or elders for advice and counsels. One FGD discussants mentioned that if a
parent wants to gain respect from their children, parents should avoid doing anything that
might cause humiliation to them. Single parents strived not only to gain respect from
other people but more importantly from their children.
Lowest rated items verbally interpreted as slightly important pertains to the belief
that children should follow the parent’s advice but not their conduct, arguing with own
parents in front of the children, and not obeying their parents but expecting the opposite
from the children. Single parents believe otherwise that they should act as role models to
their children on the value of respect.
Table 3.3
Familial Values on Respect

Mean Verbal
1. I teach my children to kiss the hands of the elders. 4.56 VI
2. I believe that children are not supposed to answer back

to the elders. 4.56 VI
3. I do not obey my parents but I want my children to obey

me. 2.68 SI
70
4. I teach my child to follow what I say and not what I do.
2.60 SI
5. I cannot avoid arguing with my parents in front of my

children. 2.88 SI
6. I seek advice from my own parents or siblings when I

am making major decisions. 4.21 VI
7. I sometimes read my children’s cellphone or search their

belongings to find out something suspicious. 2.91 SI
8. If I am angry, I reprimand my children anywhere I like. 3.75 MI
9. I am afraid that my children will be angry with me if I do

not give in to what they want. 3.62 MI
10. I allow my children to reason out on what I say. 3.17 SI
Grand Mean 3.49 MI
Legend: VI – Very important MI – Moderately important
SI – Slightly important

in terms of Aspirations
Table 4 presents the result of data on the educational values in terms of the
aspiration of single parents. Having the grand mean score of 3.62, it is verbally
interpreted as moderately important. It shows that single parents acknowledge aspiration
as a moderately imperative aspect in their educational value. Although they only treat
aspiration as moderately important, they consider education as a valuable means of
securing their future. Their aspiration in attaining it, however, is marred with the reality
of economic constraints and this inhibits them from aspiring further. Yet in general, most
single parents see education as a way of attaining success in life both for themselves and
for their children. It is their passport to improve their status in living.

71
However, not all youth have the same aspirations as their parents have for them.
Youth, who had witnessed the pains of seeing their homes getting broken, ended up being
rebellious and problematic beings. They go against their parents making them hard to
discipline. Some of them even stopped schooling since there is not enough guidance or
love coming from the parents. A study conducted by Garg (2007) stated that youth from
single-parent families report lower educational aspirations than those from two-parent
families. These youth had suffered enough turmoil and is very much affected with the
conflict of the family. They resorted to friends who had a tendency of influencing them to
vices and drugs. To avoid this, Garg suggested that having academically oriented peers
was especially beneficial to adolescents from single-parent families. Garg found out that
family involvement and background factors should be strengthened as they are predictors
of educational aspirations via academic self-concept. A single parent should see to it that
their children also choose their friends wisely. Peers who could help the child surpass the
trials by being compassionate friends and help them to aspire for good education.
Furthermore, the results clearly present the strong inclination of single parents
towards attaining education. Three out of ten items are rated as very important values.
These items pertain to the parents’ belief that education could uplift their status, their
aspirations to see their children finish their studies and their dream to have their children
attain education which they had failed to achieve.
This result has the same implications on the study of Scott (2004) who stated that
in general, many single mothers acknowledged that education was vital for economic and
career success. This is the primary reason why students, who got an untimely pregnancy
while studying, still strive to pursue their education. They see education as a way of
72
being financially independent from their parents. Moreover, it is also their way of
correcting their mistakes… of setting things right. It is by accomplishing something to
cover up their mistakes. Education becomes their hope for their children and for
themselves.
Moreover, single parents not only strive for their own education but mostly for the
education of their children, mostly. This is the main reason why they placed very
important consideration in aspiring to see their children finish their education. Some
single parents might see studying for their own as an already futile and late attempt so the
least that they could hope for is to equip their children with what they failed to achieve.
This is education. Present society view education as a necessity in all profession. It is a
requirement that one could not do without. Single parents conceded to this necessity by
exhausting all probable means of sending their children to school. In an FGD, majority of
the single parents believe that education is a bridge for their children towards their future
success. Education is also seen as a way for their children to be independent, as one
single mom reflected. She wanted her children to study in college away from her as much
as possible so that they could learn to tend for themselves. Education for life bears the
same weight in importance with the academic education.
To ascertain this further, Marten (2009) stated that education is frequently seen as
a motivating force as it can improve the circumstances in many ways. Single parents
should, therefore, exert effort in supporting their children in their education by getting
actively involved in school activities. Attending PTA meetings, helping them with their
assignments and talking with the children about what they did at school are but a few
simple things a single parent could do.

73
Single parents, however, are not amenable to the beliefs of pressuring and setting
expectations to their children, not knowing how to get rich and pushing their children to
get awards at school. These items are rated as slightly important. This is in contrast with
the findings of Pollack (2001) who stated that Non-Caucasion single parents and their
community place pressure and expectations on the children. He mentioned that children
coming from single parent family succeed but it is not only due to their self aspiration. It
is mainly due to the burden their whole community have on their academic achievement.
Filipino single parents do not readily place heavy expectation on their children
knowing that they have a probability of failing. They rather content themselves on what
their children can do and don not expect much on them as mentioned in the FGD. What is
more important for them is how they could provide the necessity because such is their
primary obligation. Developing a positive attitude among their children towards
education is also their concern rather than pushing them to get awards at school. A
positive attitude towards education, once inculcated well, is a strong predictor for them to
attain success than the awards they received at their early educational level.
Table 4
Educational Values on Aspiration

Mean Verbal
1. I push my children to get awards at school. 3.23 SI
2. It is too late for me to go to school and be successful. 3.24 SI
3. I want my children to study to attain the education that I

failed to achieve. 4.51 VI
4. I work hard knowing that I could still uplift our socio- 4.58 VI
economic condition.
74
5. I believe that I could still be somebody I want to be

because of my education. 4.02 MI
6. I don’t care about my status in life. I do not expect

much. 3.16 SI
7. I aspire to see my children finish their studies. 4.55 VI
8. I set expectations for my children and pressure them to

attain it. 2.67 SI
9. At this time, I believe that I have already attained my

dreams. 3.27 SI
10. I want to be rich but I don’t know how to do it. 2.96 SI
Grand Mean 3.62 MI

75

in terms of Self-Esteem
Table 4.1 shows the educational values in terms of self-esteem of single parents.
The grand mean score of 3.62 with the verbal interpretation of moderately important
indicates the respondents’ belief that self-esteem is a moderately significant value for
them. Though some studies indicate that single parents and their children suffer from
low self-esteem, this study shows their belief on exhibiting positive self-esteem. This is
based on the findings of Reece (1997) who indicated that most single parents suffer from
low self-worth and loss of self-esteem. This situation could have affected the view of
single parents towards their self-esteem resulting to it being rated only as moderately
important. Developing a high self-esteem takes a tedious and gradual process.
Kerka (1988) noted that low self-esteem is but one of the disadvantages bound to
be suffered by new single parent family because of the untimely or unplanned marital
dissolution. Many single parents suffer from this especially those who are unmarried and
separated since society stigmatized this issue. Widows, on the other hand, do not feel the
same weight of social alienation as much as the separated and unmarried ones do. Their
low self-esteem is mainly due to their being displaced homemakers often with little or no
employment history, obsolete training or skills and low family income.
Self-esteem is often coupled with self pity and irrational guilt among the single
parents. Results of the FGD stated that most unmarried and separated single parents feel
ashamed with their actions. This is further aggravated with the society’s unjust treatment
and judgement on them making them feel more vulnerable. Widows pity themselves
because of their economic instability and uncertainty in providing the needs of the
children. Beup (2007) added that this could also be due to being ostracized by family and
76
peers and social rejections. Initially, many single parents and their children experience a
severe drop in their economic and social standings as well as in self-esteem. Most
experience guilt feelings and a sense of hopelessness. However, overcoming their
negative concept is, in itself, a proof of inner strength. Much of the earlier help is from
forces outside the family as postulated by DeFrain (2005) in his study.
Three out of ten items under educational values are rated as very important. These
items express the belief of single parents on finishing their education to boost their self-
esteem, being strong for their children and not caring what other people might say as long
as they do not hurt anybody.
Single parents suffer from low self-esteem but they strive to overcome it. This
low self-esteem could be due to the society’s treatment as majority of the single parents
feel that people are belittling or misjudging them as mentioned in the FGD. Widows
often feel pressured with their in-laws about marriage and having their children at risk
under the guidance of an unrelated parent. Unmarried parents are tattered with myths
about having ill-repute and immoral conduct. In all, single parents are an aberration, not
the norm. Single parents often feel isolated, alone and different. Yet, time could heal all
wounds and society has seen lots of single parents coping with their lives even in the
absence of their partner. Single parents realize that they need to be strong amidst the
wagging tongues if they want to live a normal life. In the FGD and in-depth interview
with the respondents, single parents strived to gain respect in their fields and learned to
be confident in order to boost their self-esteem.
Mandara and Murray (2000), in their study, further stressed that female single
parent’s self-esteem and purpose is elevated through education. Women who are
77
educated are more conscious locally, globally, socially and politically. Many single
parents strive to uplift their social status. A growing number of single parents gained
sympathy and admiration by striving to reach the peak of success and this is through
education.
The lowest scored item interpreted as slightly important pertains to the negative
outlook of the respondents on being ashamed of borrowing money. Single parents are not
amenable to this because loans and debts are their common source in case of emergency
and fund shortage.
Table 4.1
Educational Values on Self-esteem

Mean Verbal
1. I am ashamed to go to my children’s school. 3.23 SI
2. I do not like people to pity me because of my situation. 3.24 SI
3. I do not care what other people will say about me as long
as I do not hurt anybody. 4.51 VI
4. It is good to finish my education to boost my self-esteem. 4.58 VI
5. I am not at ease being with other people because they

might be talking behind my back. 4.02 MI
6. I am ashamed to borrow money to pay for my children’s

tuition and other expenses. 3.16 SI
7. I pity myself because of what I had been through in life. 2.95 SI
8. I have to be strong for the sake of my children. 4.27 VI
9. I am not ashamed of doing menial chores just to earn some

money. 3.27 SI
10. I feel that people belittle us because of our status in life. 2.96 SI
78
Grand Mean 3.62 MI

79

in terms of Outlook toward Education
Table 4.2 presents the result from the gathered data on the educational values in
terms of outlook towards education of single parents. The grand mean score of 4.11 is
verbally interpreted as moderately important. A single parents’ outlook towards
education tells about their point of view or attitude in the role of education for them or
their children. The grand mean score indicates that single parents deem outlook towards
education as another moderately important belief under the educational values. It is rated
only as moderately important because outlook towards education covers the opinion of
the respondents in both their and their children’s education. Older single parents already
lose enthusiasm in pursuing or furthering their education but they do value their
children’s education importantly as mentioned by Scott (2004). This opposing view could
have affected the result. Despite this, it has items or areas that are considered to be very
important by the respondents.
Younger single parents, on the other hand, displays zealousness in their education.
Tehan (2007) affirmed this stating that studying single parents view education as a very
important part of their lives upon where their careers rest, so they naturally work hard for
it. Working hard with their education not only meant compromising their family life to
meet their academic responsibilities, but compromising their social and personal needs as
well. One FGD discussant reflected how she tried to get back to school after giving birth
because there is a vast difference in acquiring a job if one has a degree. Amidst the
difficulties of raising her newborn children, she struggled to finish her education. Another
single parent believed that she should finish her education because it is also for her and
her child. Another related that education is important so she could gain good judgement
80
and decision making to avoid committing the same mistake in life. It could help her grow
into a better person. These responses could be summed up and leads to a conclusion that
single parents have a positive and moderately significant outlook towards education.
Four out of ten items are rated as very important. These items express the strong
belief of single parents that it is important for their children to finish education; for them
to encourage their children to pursue education; for them to improve their status in life
through education, and for their children to study hard and get good grades.
Single parents place a high regard on the education of their children. They
supported their children’s education in many ways possible so they could finish it. This
claim is supported by Wanat’s study (1989) on single-parent children. The study
indicated that principals and single parents agreed that single parent children need
parental involvement in academic and non-academic areas. Thus, single parents believe
that it is essential to give extra support and special effort to the education of these
children knowing that they have special needs compared to students coming from two-
parent family. They believe that their involvement in their child’s school and academic
life has positive effects on the child’s growth, not only in school, but later on in life. The
more they are involved in the child’s education, the more likely the child is to achieve
higher than average grades, and develop a positive attitude towards school and
homework. These children are also more likely to pursue higher education once they are
properly encouraged and supported by the parents as Wanat discussed. Palladino (1999)
also postulated a similar finding in his study stating that teacher trainers and single
parents believe that single-parented students have special needs that affect their learning
81
at school. Parents and school administrators should, therefore, work together to sustain
these needs.
Given the benefits, for some parents, however, involvement in their child’s
education may seem unworkable. This is true especially for working and single parents.
Difficult as it seems, still, they struggle to find the time to participate in their child’s
education. Ultimately, it is their responsibility to make sure their children attain quality
education. Single parent involvement could constitute a variety of ways. Encouraging the
children to pursue education despite financial constraint and striving to get good grades
are some of the viable ways.
This findings is confirmed by a local study of Herbolario (1995) who stated that
single parent families were always psychologically present to their children terms
of school discipline and academic performance as perceived by the students. The
earlier parent involvement in a child’s educational process begins, the more powerful are
the effects. The most effective forms of parent involvement are those which engage
parents in working directly with their children on learning activities at home. The more
intensely involved parents are, the more beneficial the achievement effects.
On the other hand, society now sees a growing number of single parent students
who strived to somehow alleviate their status in life by continuing their truncated
education brought about by untimely pregnancy. For them, it is a way of regaining
respect and being economically secured. This is triggered by their firm belief that
education could help uplift their social, financial and emotional status in life. Hayes
Nelson (2009) postulated in his study that single parents in college strive to persevere in
their education despite the financial barriers, ethnicity issue and dual roles to enact
82
because they believe that they deserve a better life of which education was the key. They
also believe that they can instill a lifelong love of learning in their children by setting a
good example themselves. In an FGD, some respondents who had an untimely pregnancy
during their school days were motivated to study again after they had given birth. They
knew that education is the only heritage they could give to their children and a probable
means of uplifting their economic status.
Although there are many challenging issues facing single-parent students, there
are also significant advantages. Many single parents are going to college for a specific
purpose. The participants in Stone, Nelson, and Niemann's study (1994) stated that their
children were very important to their academic success and that they were pursuing a
college degree in order to provide their children with opportunities that they themselves
did not have while they were growing up. Another significant advantage of being a
single-parent student is that many have life experiences that provide a greater context for
learning. Because many of these single parents are going to college to obtain a degree
leading to better job prospects, they take their education very seriously and benefit from
their focus.
On the contrary, one item considered the lowest among the ten is rated as slightly
important by the respondents. This item pertains to the belief that respondents are not
interested to study because of lack of money. Another item having a moderately
important rate and gained lower scores pertains to the parents advising their children to
stop schooling because of lack of money. This only proves that despite the economic
odds, single parents still strive to support the education of their children.
Table 4.2
83
Educational Values on Outlook towards Education

Mean Verbal
1. It is important for me to finish my education. 4.11 MI
2. It is necessary for my children to finish their education. 4.75 VI
3. I was not interested to study because of lack of money. 3.04 SI
4. Even if we are not financially well-off, I encourage my

children to pursue education. 4.62 VI
5. I believe that education is a way of improving our

status in life. 4.61 VI
6. I advise some of my children to stop schooling because

we do not have enough money. 4.03 MI
7. I work hard and even borrowed some money just to

pay for my children’s tuition and other expenses. 4.03 MI
8. I advise my children to study hard and get good

grades. 4.40 VI
9. If my children do not want to go to school, I don’t

mind. 4.05 MI
10. Skills and experiences in life are more important

than education. 3.40 MI
Grand Mean 4.11 MI

in terms of Decisiveness
Table 4.3 presents the educational value in terms of decisiveness of the single
parents. It has the grand mean score of 3.65 verbally interpreted as moderately important.
In general, majority of single parents view decisiveness as a moderately important trait to
portray so as to practice educational values. Although it is viewed only as moderately

84
important, single parents are found to be decisive parents capable of making wise and
sound decisions for themselves and their children.
Decisiveness is not actually a main problem nor is it a primary concern inside a
single parent household. This could be the reason why it is rated only as moderately
important. Making a decision and implementing it is quite easier for a single parent since
there is no spouse to contest on it. This is synonymous to the findings of Long ( 2009)
who cited that single parents often make all major decisions independent of another's
influence or desires. Single parents enjoy the freedom to make decisions based on their
own ethical, moral and cultural upbringing without interference or input from another
that may contradict with their own ideas. Thus, single parents have full liberty in decision
making since they can make decisions based on their own needs, desires and wants for
their child without considering the desires and wants of another person.
Yet, single parents should exercise caution when implementing their decisions to
their children especially adolescents. Mother-only households are shown to be associated
with particular patterns of family decision making and adolescent deviance. Dornbusch
(1985) affirmed that in contrast to adolescents in households with two natural parents,
youth in mother-only households are perceived as more likely to make decisions without
direct parental input and more likely to exhibit deviant behavior. This is possibly
because male adolescents tend to look for a more imposing role model in a male form. In
the responses gathered during the FGD and in-depth interview, some parents encounter
disciplinary problems with their male adolescents, they have disruptive behavior and are
most likely to be engaged in alcohol abuse with their friends. Such behavior could cause
85
a pattern of decision making of single moms. Some single mothers could be permissive
and lenient with their boys’ behavior resulting to lack of discipline and unruly behavior.
Under decisiveness, nine items are rated only as moderately important and one for
slightly important. This could be because single parents do not see decision making as an
impossible or challenging role since no one is there to either assist or question their
decisions. The highest three pertains to the respondents’ ability to make firm decisions,
have their children obey their decisions, and not easily be deceived by them.
The result implies that single parents have command over their children and
confidence in making their children abide in their decisions. Single parents foster
decision making skills in their children by providing them an active role in family life
choices. All parents especially the single ones need caring thinking minds to help them
with making major decisions. As the family solves problems together, they can all
experience a sense of pride and accomplishment for each hurdle that they are able to
overcome. This finding is similar to the statement of Tehan (2007) that the single parents
involve their children in decision making. Children could feel that they are being valued
knowing that they are a part in making major decisions that could affect the family.
Single parenting does not all result to failures and negative outcomes. There could
be a positive outlook towards separation since it could bring about strong bonds, strong
children, strong lessons and strong faith. As Hutchcraft (1991) suggested, all the family
needs to do is to create a stable atmosphere at home and include the children as partners
in the decision making process and to affirm their worth regularly. A study of Darley and
Lim (1986) showed that in the timing aspects of the decision making process, single
86
parents perceive greater child influence. This implies that single parents include their
children in decision making process often as compared to a two-parent family.
Single parents would often resort to the most immediate person to ask for advice
in decision making and these are frequently their children. FGD and interview
information would often depict a 5 year old kid giving moral support to their parents by
saying big words for such a small kid. Once a child surmised the situation and partake in
the decision making about it, they could sympathize and easily obey thier parent. This
further fuels the strength of the single parents knowing that they have the empathy and
alliance of their children. With this, it would not be hard for single parents to make the
children follow their decisions.
Single parents are also firm decision makers as the result implies and this is
supported by Pickhardt (2002). They are not afraid to make tough and unpopular rules
stick by taking a stand against what their children want for their best interest. They do
what is necessary to set and maintain a set of expectations for the children’s behavior.
This is a big part in making a firm decision.
The three lowest rated items pertain to allowing the children to decide freely,
having difficulty in convincing the children with one’s decision and unable to decide for
the children. Single parents are not totally amenable to this. In order to further strengthen
decisiveness of single parents, Wilkins (2009) advised that single parents and children
should solve problems together. Single parents need additional minds to think most
especially in making major decisions. Children can play an active role in the decision
making of single parents. If they feel that they make a contribution towards making the
decision, they would willingly abide with it.

87
Table 4.3
Educational Values on Decisiveness

Mean Verbal
1. My children can not easily deceive me because I know

better than them. 3.84 MI
2. As long as they stay in my house, my children should

follow my decisions. 3.91 MI
3. Most of my major decisions in life seem to be wrong. 3.59 MI
4. I let my children do some decisions of their own such as

choosing their friends. 3.54 MI
5. I decide what school or course my children should take

up. 3.67 MI
6. I cannot decide what is best for my children. 3.47 MI
7. My parents are the ones taking care of my children. 3.63 MI
8. It is hard for me to convince my children to follow my

decision. 3.43 MI
9. My children are free to decide on what they want to do. 3.40 SI
10. I justify my decisions and stand firm on it. 4.01 MI
Grand Mean 3.65 MI


in terms of Lifestyle
Table 5 indicates the economic values projected by the single parents in terms of
their lifestyle. Economic values as indicated by lifestyle attain a grand mean score of 3.55
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verbally interpreted as moderately important. In general, single parents believe that in
order to cope with their situation, they also have to consider and change their lifestyle in
order to suit the demands and pressure of single parenting. It might not be a very
important value but they treat it with moderate consideration knowing that their lifestyle
could affect their manner of living.
Majority of single parents live in poverty and earns a low income. Majority of
their decisions and actions are hindered with this lifestyle yet coping with it is what they
seem to do best. They learn to do without most luxuries and niceties in life by buying
only the things that they need most and prioritizing only the pressing needs. Personal
time and leisure are even sacrificed since they do not pose as pressing needs. This finding
is affirmed by Maass (2008) who stated that a single parent’s lifestyle is virtually non-
existent. They would rather indulge on their children’s pleasure than their own. Majority
of single parents in the FGD agree that they can’t seem to find time for themselves. They
consider rest from all their household chores a personal time alone as it could give them
momentary relaxation and rest from all their burdens.
None of the items under lifestyle are rated as very important. Majority of them,
eight out of ten, are rated as moderately important and two, slightly important. The two
items under the moderately important with highest ratings pertain to spending leisure
time with the family and having regular medical check- ups. Another item pertains to the
negative outlook of single parents with regard to buying ready cooked foods rather than
preparing it.
Although not rated as very important, single parents still acknowledge the
importance of spending leisure time with the children only in a moderate manner. They
89
think that somehow the children are missing the love of the other parent so they tried to
cope with this by sparing them some time by going out and enjoy doing things together
occasionally. This finding bears a similarity on the study of Sharkey and others (1993)
that single parents received significantly higher scores than parents in two-parent families
on all measures of quality and quantity of reunion interaction. These measures were the
quality of emotional interaction, amount of physical interaction, amount of verbal
interaction and amount of time spent with the child. This is the lifestyle of a single parent
family; they would spend time together doing leisurely activities as long as it does not
require too much expenses added to the fact that it could result to favourable outcome for
the children.
Because of this preoccupation, single parents tend to overlook their own needs.
The children become their focal point. What is important for them is to provide the basic
necessity first. Maass (2008) stated that other than their family, they have no other utmost
priority. Most FGD respondents do not even have time to go out with their friends since
they are always pre-occupied with work and household chores.
Having regular check-ups is another moderate necessity that most single parents
acknowledge because only a few among them could afford to consult a private doctor in
times of their illness. But they still place great concern for the health of their children by
finding alternative means. One possible way for this is that they resort to free government
doctors who could still give excellent service with lesser expense.
On the other hand, two items that were rated as slightly important refers to single
parents and their children going out with friends. They do not have active social life
outside their family. Money is always a tight issue so single parents learn to stretch their
90
budget. This is in accordance to the statement of Payne (2001) who mentioned that single
parents need to adjust with their lifestyle in order to make ends meet. Since money is
always needed, extra luxuries are often avoided. Some parents in the FGD relate that they
do not have personal time for themselves. Most of their times are spent on their chores,
children and work.
Table 5
Economic Values on Lifestyle

Mean Verbal
1. We economize on clothes by buying relief goods or

getting second hand things. 3.62 MI
2. We spend leisure time together because the family

enjoys each other’s company. 4.04 MI
3. Members of my family have regular medical check up at

least once a year. 3.75 MI
4. My family avoids buying expensive furniture and

equipment. 3.57 MI
5. Members of the family prefer to eat meat than

vegetables. 3.63 MI
6. Members of the family use spoon and fork when eating. 3.63 MI
7. We prefer to buy ready cooked foods than preparing it. 3.71 MI
8. I go out with my friends at night to party once in a while. 2.66 SI
9. I allow my children go out with friends to attend parties

once in a while. 3.38 SI
10. I pamper my children in buying the things they like. 3.50 MI
Grand Mean 3.55 MI

91
Legend: MI – Moderately important SI – Slightly important

in terms of Work Ethic
Table 5.1 shows the result on the economic values in terms of work ethic of the
single parents. It has the grand mean score of 3.97 verbally interpreted as moderately
important. This shows the disposition of the single parents toward work. It is considered
as moderately important because no matter how much single parents try to uphold
desirable work ethic, it is oftentimes affected with their personal conflicts and household
difficulty.
Most single parents have difficulty with their work because of the struggles in
balancing work, childcare, housework and children’s activities. The problems faced by all
parents in finding flexible work are exacerbated for single parents, who have to be both
sole carer and sole breadwinner. Single parents must have a great deal of stamina and
self- reliance since they still have household chores to do once they get home after work.
This mounting chore is said to be the cause of absenteeism and tardiness of some single
parents as implied by Browne (2001). This could greatly dampen the work ethic and
efficiency of single parents in implementing their duty at work.
But despite this, single parents are seen as devoted and committed workers. They
value work since it is their means of providing the needs of their family. True, a number
of people could reach out and give them temporary relief to overcome their recurring
crisis but it is not a sustaining act. One way or the other, a single parent has to work hard
in order to cope with the daily expenses. A single parent’s difficulty as a sole provider
could be reflected on the responses of both FGD and in depth interview. In a close
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interview with one respondent, she related that even with her present job, she still has
difficulty in making both ends meet. As a result, she is still dependent financially to her
parents. Still, despite her discontentment with her low salary, she struggles to keep a
clean track record so she could look for a better high paying job someday. FGD
discussants also strived to prove that they could do the tasks of a regular employee even
as a single parent. Their work calibre and quality could not be, in any way, deterred
because of their situation.
Three out of seven items were rated as very important thus, regarded highly by
the respondents. These items pertain to the respondents being sincere, motivated and
punctual in their work. Although they might be prone to some inefficiency as a sole
parent, they strived to keep their jobs knowing that without them, their family’s welfare
would be at stake. The lone parent is the only main provider after all. As a result, single
parents turned out to be sincere, motivated and punctual in their work. These are their
means of making a good clean track record and keep their work. Another reason for this
coincide with Browne’s (2001) statement that due to the absence of a partner as a
provider of the family in financial aspect, single parents are driven to work twice as much
in order to fill in the inadequacy. Yet, single parents do not only work for the call of
money alone. Working hard could also be their form of escape and coping mechanism to
forget their problems. This is a better way of venting their frustrations in a much more
productive and healthy way.
Two items which are rated as slightly important pertains to the belief that money
is the only purpose why they work and they could easily be distracted because of
problems. Many single parents disagree with this resulting to these items being rated low.
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In contrast to these beliefs, many single parents tend to view their work as their outlet,
their ways of forgetting their problems. This is in consonance with the findings of Oktem
(1997) who stated that some single parents work, not only for financial needs but for self-
fulfilment. They seek to escape the stress of family life by going to work. In addition,
single parents believe that having good performance in their work could provide greater
financial stability, self-confidence, the ability to be a positive role model to their children
and the potential to start moving up the career ladder.
Single parents place great importance on their work. For them, working is a way
of being engrossed in a more profitable activity as related in the FGD. Other single
parents would resort to finding other sources of income aside from their stable income
just to sustain the inadequacies.
Table 5.1
Economic Values on Work Ethic

Mean Verbal
1. I am sincere in my work. 4.41 VI
2. I am motivated to work. 4.39 VI
3. I report to work punctually. 4.26 VI
4. I have different work every month. 3.63 MI
5. I am lazy to wake up early in the morning to go to

work. 4.12 MI
6. I easily get bored at work. 4.07 MI
7. Money is the only purpose why I work. 3.27 SI
8. I easily get distracted at work because of personal

3.40 SI
problems.
94
9. I have good interpersonal relationship with my co-

workers. 4.09 MI
10. I am happy with the salary I receive in my work. 4.02 MI
Grand Mean 3.97 MI

95

in terms of Security
Table 5.2 presents the economic values of single parents in terms of security. It
attained the grand mean score of 3.98 verbally interpreted as moderately important. This
indicates that single parents regard financial security only as a moderately important
value. However, it has encompassing specific items that are rated as very important by
the respondents.
Financial responsibility is a task shouldered alone by single parents. They face
unique financial challenges. Simultaneously, they try to provide for the family, take care
of their own financial needs, and must ensure that, should anything happen to them, the
children will be taken care of. They also realize that having a stable job could ultimately
lead to financial stability. Financial security means safeguarding one’s future in times of
uncertainties and emergencies.
Other countries support single parents by providing them financial grants and
amnesty. In the Philippines, such relief does not exist. Single parents are left alone,
unaided by the government, to fend for their family. In general, single parent’s view
financial security as equivalent in importance as their work themselves.
Five out of ten items under security were rated as very important. Respondents
believe these items to be of utmost importance in their economic values. The highest
three of these items pertain to single parents’ belief in being dedicated in their work so as
to maintain it, saving for the future and advising their children to be thrifty.
This result indicates that single parents value their jobs because it could give them
financial security. One way of doing so is by being dedicated to their work. The most
pressing concern of single parents is financial problem (Beup, 2007). They avert from
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this problem by keeping and maintaining their jobs. Single parents' financial priorities
tend to focus on ensuring that their children are protected in the event of their premature
death, incapacity or long-term sickness. Thus, they put prior importance on acquiring
retirement plans from Social Security System or Government Service Insurance System,
and other pre-need plans in order to ascertain their children’s future. They believe that
these insurances could greatly help them in times of unpredicted emergencies. It is also a
means for them to save for the future.
Gladow and Ray (1983) also ascertained that the most pervasive problems of low-
income single parents are family finances. This is reason why single parents are
committed to their work. Losing a job could give lesser stability on the family’s finances.
Single parents also make it a point to save for the future and teach their children to be
thrifty. Setting limitation to the children in terms of finances but letting them understand
such limit could be beneficial to the family. It could teach the children to be self-
sufficient and wise in spending their money.
On the other hand, two items that gained a slightly important verbal interpretation
pertain to having different jobs every month and not being financially secured. Single
parents believe in staying permanently in their regular job rather than risk losing it and
venturing to find a new one.
Table 5.2
Economic Values on Security

Mean Verbal
1. I am not financially secured because I have no job. 3.12 SI

97
2. I have to work hard to cope with my financial needs. 4.13 MI
3. I strive to own a house of my own. 4.40 VI
4. I plan to acquire educational and pension plans. 3.90 MI
5. Having SSS and Philhealth plans is a necessity for me. 4.26 VI
6. I make it a point to save for the future of the family. 4.47 VI
7. I advise my children to be thrifty. 4.41 VI
8. I work with dedication to maintain and keep my job. 4.43 VI
9. Aside from my work, I seek extra source of income. 3.63 MI
10. I have different jobs every month depending on the needs of

the customer. 3.03 SI
Grand Mean 3.98 MI

in terms of Social Status Sensitivity
Table 5.3 shows the economic values of single parents in terms of social status
sensitivity. It has a grand mean score of 3.63 verbally interpreted as moderately
important. This indicates that in general, single parents moderately value the importance
of being aware of their social status. This could be due to the fact that single parents try
to ignore the stigmatization of the society and, instead, focus their attention toward the
betterment of their family.
One unhealthy disadvantage that single parents possess right after the dissolution
of marriage is having a low morale due to the stigma that is often attached to single
parenthood. They believe that it is given that they are not accorded with the same status
as a two parent family is given. One social issue that plagued them is being labeled as a
dysfunctional family because of the absence of one parent. Single parents are even
98
considered as a euphemism for family break down as cited by Weinrub (1995). As a
result, some single parents together with their children feel depressed and anxious.
Studies show that social stressants could even affect the health and well being of single
parent family.
Yet, the beauty of being a single-parent family in the Philippine setting is that the
members of this family are resilient and unwavering people. Instead of feeling down,
they proved that they could also be more of assets than just social liabilities. For most
single parents, they impart effort to be socially accepted by taking corrective actions on
the mistakes that they had done in the past. One of this is by working to show that they
could be financially independent. FGD responses indicate that some single parents would
prefer to ignore hurting comments from other people and just continue to live on with
their lives. If people could see that they are living a decent life, it would be easier for
them to accept single parents.
Three out of ten items under the social status sensitivity are rated as very
important for the respondents. These are the beliefs that family should be happy despite
economic concern, not being ashamed of one’s status, and being thankful despite one’s
situation in life. This implies that single parents have positive outlook with their social
status in the society and are very hopeful with their future. They are not bitter individuals
who would foster contempt to the biased society.
Yet, there is this undeniable fact that all the single parents especially the separated
and the unmarried feel that people are belittling or condemning them. As Todd (2008)
verified, sole parents are often identified as an economic and social "problem" in political
99
debate and by the media. These stereotypes themselves affect social attitudes and
undermine the mental and emotional well-being of sole parents and their families.
Female single parents endures more burden and difficulty compared with males.
A family headed by a female single parent are highly vulnerable because women’s social
position is relatively weaker than that of men as stated in the study of Cliquet (2003).
Female single parents are often the subject of biased treatment whereas the men often go
unblamed. Single moms are often doubted in their capacity to provide their children’s
needs. For them, this unreasonable doubt is an insult. They feel that people judged their
capability of feeding or educating their children as stated in the FGD. People also tend to
judge them in terms of their working capacity. But they had learned to cope with this as
Beup (2007) had stated. They had coped with their shame and tried to renew their lives as
longs as they show to the people that they are leading a good life. One FGD respondents
even said that she was thankful for having experienced being a single parent.
In considering single parents, women take the most brunt of shame as society
continually ignore the male counterparts. Single mothers might have made the wrong
choice which they eventually regretted and lived with the consequence of raising their
children alone. Still, they are the subjects of shame directive from the society’s
condemnation. Despite this, single parents believe that feeling ashamed with their status
is not a healthy practice for them to employ. The deferral of their own dreams for the
sake of ensuring their children’s, the loss of personal time and the care and love they give
are penance enough for their mistakes. They seek redemption by sacrificing thier comfort
and taking corrective actions. These are their comforting answers as to why they should
not be ashamed of their status.

100
This shows that Filipino single parents could easily get over their troubled times
easily as the item implies because of the Filipino’s innate happy and positive disposition
in life. Being positive and knowing that there is still hope left for them is their motivating
factor. Yet, some single parents, on the verge of a broken relation often doubt that single
parenthood and happiness could coexist. The prevailing emotion of anger, guilt and
revenge often eludes happiness. Single parents often battle with loneliness, frustration,
envy and bitterness. In order to recover, they find ways in attaining happiness in any
possible ways. One parent from the FGD engaged in craft making and going out with
friends. She tried to deviate herself from feeling self-pity by finding new meaning to her
life.
On the contrary, the lowest rated item verbally interpreted as least important
expresses the single parent’s disagreement on the belief of giving everything that their
children want even if it would cost them much. Single parents strive to be wise and
careful spender by giving only what they could afford to their children. They believe that
giving in to all their children’s wants could eventually cause more disciplinary problems,
so they refrain from doing it.
Table 5.3
Economic Values on Social Status Sensitivity

Mean Verbal
1. I wear branded and expensive clothing. 2.46 LI
2. I select friends who belong to the same social economic

status. 3.56 MI
3. I am shy in attending school activities because I might 3.77 MI

feel out of place.
101
4. I am contented with my life and don’t crave for things I

could not afford. 3.65 MI
5. I try to give my children what they want even if this

would cost me much. 3.00 SI
6. I feel so insulted when people mention my being a single

parent. 3.32 SI
7. My family should be happy despite of our situation

because we still have each other. 4.35 VI
8. Despite my situation, I have a lot to be thankful for and

one of it is my children. 4.21 VI
9. My children are ashamed to associate with other children

because of my being a single parent. 3.80 MI
10. I am not ashamed of my status in life. 4.22 VI
Grand Mean 3.63 MI

MI – Moderately important LI – Least important
Values of Single Parents
Table 6 shows that single parents place a synonymous level of importance on
familial (M = 3.79), educational (M= 3.75), and economic (M = 3.78) values. These three
values were all rated as moderately important by single parents.
This result could imply that single parents do abide, believed in and adhere to
these values. Family, education and money are all important requirements in parenting
and must go hand in hand.
This findings could be reflected on the work of Lebedies (2008) who found that
single parents say they have been successful when they have strongly practiced familial
values, optimistic attitudes about themselves and the future, people to turn to for support
102
and in times of emergencies, agreeable, supportive relationships with family and former
partner and firm rules and standards for their children.
In terms of educational values being treated with moderate significance by single
parents, Marten (2009) also has synonymous findings stating that they can improve the
circumstances of themselves and their children by improving their education levels.
Education can make their life better and increase the chances of their and their children’s
success in the future. They view education as a needed element to uplift their status in
life. Although it was not given top importance, single parents still believe on the
importance of education. The most obvious way that education can improve a single
parent's circumstances, is by increasing the potential for making more money. Not only
can an educated parent get a better job, they could also be subject for promotion and
more professional opportunities.
Economic values are also conceived as a needed aspect in parenting by single
parents. Being economically independent means being self-sufficient on the family’s
needs although help from outside factor is very much welcome and needed. This is in
cognizance with the findings of Dowd (1997) who stated that economic responsibility
should be valued in equality with giving care to the children. Economic security could be
attained from having stable job, thrifty lifestyle, healthy work ethic and social status
sensitivity.
The value that attained the highest rate is the familial value. Single parents place
greatest significance on their family above all other else. This result could be affirmed by
the findings of Beup (2007) who stated that widowed respondents focused their attention
to the children and put family values above everything else rather than personal
103
happiness. Children and parents, who weathered the crisis of becoming a single-parent
family, usually find that their relationship is strengthened. As they experience the joys
and frustrations of one-parent home life, they become more loving, communicative and
supportive. They are mutually dependent upon one another and this creates an especially
strong parent-child bond. Thus, further strengthens not only the bond but the familial
values of a single parent family.
Successful single parents make the family their highest priority. They focus on
being the best possible single parent, which often means putting the needs of the child
first. They genuinely like and enjoy children, sacrificing time, money and energy for the
sake of the children. They try to be supportive and patient and help children cope. Like
other effective parents, they are consistent and not highly punitive. This discipline style
gives children choices, uses natural and logical consequences and provides structure.
It is therefore wrong to accuse children coming from a single family as problem
children because of the seemingly dysfunctional family structure from whence they came.
They are also given adequate love from their custodial parents and other family members.
As a result, they could also have a chance of growing up as responsible adults. This
statement is founded on the belief of Rajeev (2009) which stated that children of single
parents grow up faster than their counterparts, as the parent tends to involve them in
decision making giving them a greater understanding of how freedom of choice is
entwined with responsible behavior and accountability. As single parents involve their
children in the day to day running of the household, it helps to increase the bond between
them and enhance their concept of a support system. Children who come from broken
homes, especially ones scared by abuse, tend to see the positive side when left with the
104
caring parent, building a life together bonds them. This could further strengthen the
familial value of single parent family.
Table 6
Summary of Values
Values Mean Verbal Interpretation
Familial Values
Parenting 3.92 MI
Family Ties 3.83 MI
Spirituality 3.91 MI
Respect 3.49 MI
Grand Mean 3.79 MI
Educational Values
Aspiration 3.62 MI
Self-esteem 3.62 MI
Outlook Towards Education 4.11 MI
Decisiveness 3.65 MI
Grand Mean 3.75 MI
Economic Values
Lifestyle 3.55 MI
Work Ethic 3.97 MI
Security 3.98 MI
Social Status Sensitivity 3.63 MI
Grand Mean 3.78 MI
Legend: MI – Moderately important

in terms of Child Rearing Practices
Table 7 shows that single parents exhibited fair child rearing practices. It has a
grand mean score of 3.38 verbally interpreted only as fair. In general, single parents
105
experience and exhibit fair and even quality of child rearing practices to their children.
Fair is considered to be in a middle scale of scoring interval in between very poor and
very good.
Child rearing is often considered as a manner on how single parents impose
discipline and care among their children. Based on the gathered results, single parents
encounter a balanced experience of best and worst child rearing practices. No one could
say that all they had are purely good or bad child rearing experiences. They had
encountered and met the facets of both sides and their experiences are vastly varied. This
could be due to several factors that affect child rearing practices since single parents have
their own different styles and manners of disciplining their children based on their own
personality and locus of control.
This is based on the findings of Artisan (2009) who stated that social class,
income, religion and culture could deeply affect the single parent’s child rearing
practices. Some single parents may impose rules and regulations to their children which
might seem unacceptable to others. Although, all of single parents are Christians, the
depth of their belief and involvement on religious activities also varies. Thus, some
parents might have different views with regard to how they perceive spirituality for
themselves and for their children as indicated in the FGD responses. Child rearing
practices differ from one single parent to another. Different child rearing practices lead to
different child upbringing which cause for individual differences. Yet, in totality,
although the child rearing practices or single parents are never identical, they met in the
common ground of providing the best discipline to the children to make them a better and
holistic person.
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Pertaining to the specific items under the child rearing practices, the table below
presents that parents feel negatively about punishing their children extremely that could
result to leaving bruises or visible marks as this item is rated as very good. They refrain,
as much as possible, from committing it to their children. They also have the same
negative feeling when their children shouts back at them or when they punish their
children when they are angry. These two items are negative items and are rated as good
showing the disagreement of the respondents in such traits.
Single parents try to imbue the proper way of rearing their children. After all,
children are the most pitiable victim of a single-parent family. Alongside their remaining
parent, the children also suffered the heartaches, trauma and drastic change. What is so
depressing about this is the very young age when they had endured such trials in life. One
single parent shared in the FGD that she had neglected her two year old child due to the
enormous pain that she had suffered at the beginning of their separation. However, she
had come to her senses and realized that she needed her child but not the father.
Majority of the respondents in the FGD are inclined in giving all the love and
comfort to their children. This finding is in consonance with Ebbeck and Gokhale’s study
(2004) which states that responsibility and nurturing are central dimensions of child
rearing. Children who are victims of single parent family need love and guidance and not
additional physical pain or depression. Single parents try to fill in the missing role by
giving extra time to their children and engaging them in worthy activity. They also try to
widen their social circle by involving family members in raising the children. This way,
the child could get ample love and care and avoid the feeling of being left out because of
the absence of one parent. As Artisan (2009) further stated, it is best to have family
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members take care of the child rather than hiring nannies. This will make the children
feel at ease and secured because they know well who are taking care of them in behalf of
their parents.
On the other hand, items that gathered low ratings pertain to single parents
believing that people see them as very lenient when their children misbehaves as this item
is rated as poor. Two items rated as fair pertains to single parents having a tendency of
getting angry with their children and believed that they are more strict than other parents.
These are the aspects where single parents have poor experiences.
Single parents could be prone to being very lax and lenient in disciplining their
children due to several factors and one of them is being sympathetic with them. This is
quite understandable. This action could be brought about by fear of being unloved by
their children once they put much pressure on them. They fear that being hard on them
could lead to deviant behavior and not being respected by their children. Yet, respondents
during the FGD acknowledged that discipline is much needed to keep their children on
the right track. They believe that disciplining should be out of love to help the child
develop into a productive adult.
In addition, single parents could not help but at times feel frustrated and angry.
The simultaneous over pouring of painful experiences could often lead to unkempt
outburst of negative emotions but single parents should know better to overcome their
anger since it could not lead to any positive result. Paterson (2007) acknowledged this
finding by stating that single parents are emotionally vulnerable. Harion (2001) also
noted that they could suffer from physical and emotional exhaustion due to the demand to
fulfill the affection support commonly met by two parents. Overwhelming frustration,
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stress and fatigue could lead to uncontrollable outburst of anger. Single parents often
have an unhealthy manner of venting it out by yelling or hitting their children. For single
parents, anger is part of the grief process after divorce or separation. Yelling and belting
out anger can temporarily release tension, but it fails to deal with the underlying problem.
More importantly, children are hugely affected by a parent who yells and screams. They
become fearful and insecure and often develop a pattern of lying in order to avoid a
scene. Due to this, experts strongly advise against lashing out anger on the children.
Table 7
Experiences on Child Rearing Practices

Mean Verbal
1. I punish my children when I am angry. 3.62 Good
2. When I punish my children, I leave visible marks. 4.30 Very good
3. As a parent, I think I am punishing my children too much. 3.54 Good
4. I feel that my children take up much of my time. 3.53 Good
5. I get angry with my children. 2.78 Fair
6. People tell me I am too lenient on my child when he or

she misbehaves. 2.24 Poor
7. I am not bothered when my children shouts back at me. 4.17 Good
8. I am more strict with my children than most parents are. 3.03 Fair
9. It really bothers me when my child whines because he or

she wants something. 3.11 Fair
10. I am not worried when my children come home late at

night. 3.44 Good
Grand Mean 3.38 Fair

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in terms of Time Management
This table presents the experiences of single parents in terms of time
management. It has a grand mean score of 3.10 verbally interpreted as fair. Result shows
that respondents displays and experiences fair and balanced experiences on time
management.
In general, single parents encounter a balance of best and worst experiences in
managing their time. Some instances may bring them worst scenarios in handling their
time and some instances also bring out the best in them. Many studies have shown that
even in the ebb of having time management difficulty, single parents do wonders in
juggling their time and allocate it well for the needed tasks. This is founded on the belief
of Long (2009) who stated that single parents become extremely self-reliant and superior
time managers because they can rely on no one else to accomplish what needs to be done,
except for themselves. As a direct result of this need to succeed, single parents often
provide their children with a model of excellence in self-reliance, independence and
responsibility. Children of single parents learn to manage for themselves, rapidly taking
over general tasks like housework. This could lead to a symbiotic beneficial outcome for
both the single parents and their children. A single parent’s efficiency in time
management could give good example and positive effects on their children as stated in
the study of Arditti (1999) that reveals low-income single mothers are more likely to be
open about life's harsh realities, income and what their kids can do to help their mother
than a traditional two-parent home in which the parents will seek to protect their children
from life's harsh realities.

110
Three items rated as good pertains to the respondents’ negative belief that
unnecessary socializing takes up too much of their time. They also think negatively about
people having to wait for them or their work and not having enough time for their family.
Yet, on the contrary, they exhibit poor experiences by jumping from work to work and
leave things unfinished. This experience was rated as poor. They also tend to experience
crises and problems in their life. They also do not have enough time to relax and be with
friends. These are the lowest rated items that were verbally interpreted as good.
Single parents often have problems in managing their time. Unnecessary
socializing does not have a space in their hectic daily life. Most single parents related in
the FGD that they do not even have time for personal needs. It is known that they value
their work and family by giving them their best effort and time. However, they do not
have enough time for all the work that needs to be done. This is ascertained by Ferrer
(2003) who stated that single parents lack time to meet all their responsibilities. Single
parents have too little time and too much to do. Being a single parent has its own set of
struggles, one of which is finding enough time to do everything. Despite their hectic
schedule, most single parents disagreed that they do not have time for their children as
stipulated on the result. Even as their lifestyle had changed, their view about spending
quality time with their children does not. FGD responses affirmed this statement
indicating that parents would rather spend their personal time with their children than
spending it on their own. Spending time together is important for single parents because
it could be one form of coping mechanism for themselves and an assurance of happiness
for their children. This is ascertained in the findings of Bianchi (2006) which stated that
parents nowadays give time to their children as compared to parents in the past. Single
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parents spent more time teaching, playing with and caring for their children than parents
did 40 years ago. Single mothers reported spending 11.8 hours a week on child care, up
from 7.5 hours in 1965. They attained this by including children in their own leisure and
free-time activities.
Single parents also shy away from the belief that people have to wait for them or
for their work that needs to be done. Single parents believe that they could work with
dedication and fulfil any tasks that are assigned to them. They do not consider their
situation as impediment of accomplishing their assigned tasks. Even when single parents
faced a lot of emergencies and problems, they are flexible and resourceful in finding
means to hurdle their difficulties. Beup (2007) stated that in order for them to manage
their time wisely, they should develop an organized and structured daily routine making
sure that no important tasks are left undone at the end of the day. They refrain in juggling
from task to task and leaving things unfinished as this is the lowest rated item.
Table 7.1
Experiences on Time Management

Mean Verbal
1. I am always busy, but I feel I have not accomplished

much. 3.28 Fair
2. People have to wait for me, or for work I am supposed to

get done. 3.50 Good
3. I have to wait for the right mood to do creative work. 3.26 Fair
4. I seem to jump around from task to task and often leave

things unfinished. 2.26 Poor
5. Unnecessary socializing takes up too much of my day. 3.82 Good
6. I do not interrupt the time I spend with my family in order 3.08 Fair
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to get job-related work done.
7. I can find time whenever I need it. 3.09 Fair
8. I don't have enough time for my family. 3.73 Good
9. Crises and problems seem to be happening in my life all

the time. 3.10 Fair
10. I find time to relax and be with friends. 2.80 Fair

in terms of Financial Management
Table 7.2 shows the experiences of single parents in terms of financial
management. It attains the grand mean score of 3.40 verbally interpreted as fair. In
general, single parents encounter financial difficulties and the way they manage their
finances is considered fair and balanced.
Majority of single parents are often associated with poverty resulting to financial
management as the most frequently occurring difficulties encountered compared to other
experiences. This is ascertained by Rajeev (2009) who stated that statistics show single
parents to have a higher rate to slide towards poverty, especially women, and/or
unmarried parents, as they are significantly younger, hence, less educated and with a less
or chance of productive employment. Lower levels of income add to the list of problems
with single parenting issues.
Poverty has long plagued single parents around the world and Filipino single
parents are no exceptions. Although majority of them are employed or have business of
their own, 88% of single parents from Capiz still has low monthly family income.
Majority of the single parents might have stable jobs and regular income but there are
113
still a meager percentage of single parents who are dependent on their parents and
relatives. The challenge they now face is on how to handle their finances so as to make
their ends meet.
One item that gained the highest rating under financial management verbally
interpreted as good is the negative outlook of the respondents on being an impulsive
buyer. Two other items pertain to the idea that they often tend to rely on parents and
relatives to supply their children’s needs and they still budget their whole expenses
beforehand. These two are the positive statements that gained the rating of good.
Single parents strive to put their finances at bay by avoiding unnecessary and
luxurious items and stop being an impulsive buyer. They try to be practical and prioritize
their basic needs. Some studies caution single parents about the pitfalls of overindulging
their children as some single parents have this tendency. Guilty single parents tend to
pamper their children by buying things which they think could appease their children’s
demand for attention and love. One FGD discussant mentioned that some single parents
tend to do this to fill-in the guilt over the painful event that they had caused their
children. In the end, they all agreed that material thing is not the remedy. Parents who are
generous with material possessions and allow too much freedom do not let their children
learn how to balance privilege with responsibility.
In order to provide the needs of the children, single parents have to choose either
to make more or spend less. Yet, in the Capiz setting, single parents opt to practice both.
There are few job and business opportunities here limiting the chances of economic
growth. No matter how low the standard of living is, prices of the commodities kept
114
rising and single parent’s income is barely enough to cover all expenses. Finances are not
oftentimes enough to sustain the needs of the children.
Due to this, single parents resort to family and relatives for help in their financial
burden. This is another item that is rated as very good by single parents since majority of
them agreed that their family are the common source of financial aid. Some discussants
in the FGD shared that single parents often rely on family members to share with the
expenses of their children. Education in particular is the primary reason why single
parents seek financial assistance or debt from family members. Generous family
members give voluntarily without being asked or expecting anything in return. They see
it as a way of helping single parents improve their socio-economic status and be
financially independent someday.
The lowest rated item expresses the idea that single parents do not have funds for
household expenses. Although some single parents exhibit total financial dependence on
their parents, they also tend for themselves by either working or studying. Finances
might be meager for young single parents who are studying or having a low paying job
but they have to stretch their budget and strive to overcome their financial burden.
Macgrueber( 2008) affirmed this by stating that single parents managing money is indeed
very challenging for single parents. They have to stretch the budget as far and as wide as
it will go.
Table 7.2
Experiences on Financial Management

Mean Verbal
115
1. I do not have funds for household expenses. 2.81 Fair
2. I am an impulsive buyer. I have a habit of buying

unimportant things. 4.12 Good
3. I budget for my whole expenses beforehand. 3.90 Good
4. I borrow money from other people to compensate my

inadequate income. 3.30 Fair
5. I have other sources of money aside from my stable

income. 2.85 Fair
6. I rely on my parents and relatives to sustain my

children’s needs. 3.96 Good
7. I lend money to others in case of emergency even if

it is intended for my own needs. 3.41 Good
8. I keep tract of my expenses. I know where my

money is being used. 3.81 Good
9. I misplaced or lost some of my money. 3.80 Good
10. I allot a portion of my salary for savings. 3.33 Fair

116

in terms of Self Image Perception
Table 7.3 presents the experiences of singles parents in terms of self-image
perception. It has a grand mean score of 3.39 verbally interpreted as fair. Single parents
generally feel better about themselves once they had learned to overcome their emotional
turmoil. They learn to accept themselves positively. Yet, the emotions they feel are
perched in a hanging balance between succumbing to disparity or leaning toward a better
disposition. Even after recovery, they could relapse from time to time to sorrow upon
remembering their painful incidents. Thus, their self-image perception is a balance on
both the negative and positive side.
Massive emotional constraints start to occur once a parent feels the instability of
the family. Fighting and marital strife could ensue which could eventually lead to
separation. Unmarried single parent will feel this constraint upon realizing that their
partners are not willing to get married due to various reasons. Widowed parents will
immediately suffer this upon the loss of their spouse. These emotional problems, as cited
by FGD respondents, are the feeling of shame, guilt, loneliness, insecurity and self-pity.
McKenry (2005) solidified this finding stating that separated single parents are likely to
be distressed, confused and mixed while, the widowed ones are certain about personal
acceptability and worth. Williams (2003) also ascertained that these emotional turmoils
could be due to social isolation which is a stress factor and could have a negative impact
on the children. More so, De Vito (2007) stated that older more educated adolescent
single mothers were more positive in self-perceptions compared to younger adolescent
mothers.
117
Single parents could only learn to surpass this turmoil once they adapted
appropriate coping mechanism and time element. Most FGD discussants could be quoted
saying that time healed them and they have recovered mainly because of letting time pass
by and with the advice of their family and close friends.
The highest items that attained good verbal interpretations pertain to single
parents learning from their own mistakes, accepting responsibility for their own actions
and feeling that their lives still have a purpose. These are positive traits that could
ultimately lead to complete recuperation once practised religiously by single parents.
Single parents having a positive outlook in life is a sign that they had gotten over
the painful incident. Most of the respondents have coped well since they had managed to
learn lessons from their past mistakes. Single parents who had recovered learned that
their life still has purpose and they have a lot to live for and one of their reasons for
looking at life positively is their children. In the case of separated and unmarried single
parents, the feeling of shame is mixed with pain so they have a lot to surpass. Yet, once
they had gotten over, they realized that they still have a chance of living a renewed life.
This time, they will be wiser. In the FGD, some single parents view this painful
occurrence in life as trials that they need to surpass and get over. They realized that pain
will not last and it will soon go away. Being strong and having a steadfast faith in God
helped them cope with their trials in life.
Single parents become mature and responsible person by realizing that their
actions are wrong and acknowledging that they have to be responsible for it. This is
in cognizance with the statement of Duncan (2009) who stated that successful single
parents are those who accept responsibility and challenges of single parenting. They
118
neither minimize nor exaggerate problems but seek solutions. They acknowledge the
difficulties (such as a lack of personal time, a restricted social life, sole responsibility for
meeting multiple needs and financial stress) without self-pity or bitterness.
Single parents need to be strong and that they need to stand on where they had
fallen as quoted by one FGD discussant. They also realize that their life has a purpose
and living it well could probably give them a lot more opportunity in life and in love.
Although some widows are hesitant to remarry again, the young separated and unmarried
are still hopeful of finding a new relationship. However, they stated that next time, they
will be wiser and more cautious before having a relationship again. One could surmise
from this that they have positive self-perception because they are not conscious, ashamed
or worried about status in life. They feel positive about themselves knowing that there is
a still chance for them to be loved in spite of their being a single parent. They had already
gotten over the phase of self-pity and guilt and believe that they could have a normal life.
This finding is supported by the study Dastrup (2004) which states that the single
most important aspect or characteristic of successful single-parent families is the self-
perception that they are normal, competent, contributing, and equally acceptable to the
two-parent families in the community. This is the most critical aspect of success. In order
for the single parent families to thrive, single parents strive to lead a normal life for their
children. Social stigma and biased judgment will always be present but a single parent
could surpass all of these. The best thing to do is to become productive, contributing and
respectable members of the society.
The item that gained the lowest ratings having a verbal interpretation of poor
pertains to single parents not being able to develop intimate relationship again. They look
119
at this negatively because they firmly believe that they could have another chance of
loving and being loved by someone. Probably the biggest reason newly separated or
unmarried single parents struggle before entering a new relationship is the trust factor.
Ending a significant long-term relationship is a dilemma that could completely truncate
ones’ ability to trust immediately. This is a defense mechanism most single parents
encounter and one of the primary reason why they hesitate in loving again. But they are
positive that in the later part, they can learn to love again through hard determined work
and trusting commitment. Embracing themselves despite their mistakes and accepting the
inevitable outcome of their lives could bring strength and self-confidence.
Table 7.3
Experiences on Self-Image Perception

Mean Verbal
1. I accept responsibility of my own actions. 3.96 Good
2. I learn from my own mistakes. 3.98 Good
3. It would be hard for me to develop close intimate, personal

relationships again. 2.58 Poor
4. I can love others without expecting them to love me in

return. 3.16 Fair
5. I have positive relationships with both men and women in

my life. 3.52 Good
6. I feel positive about myself as a person. 3.58 Good
7. I feel that my life has a purpose. 3.96 Good
8. My actions are guided by my own beliefs, not the beliefs of

others. 3.76 Good
9. I still cry a lot when I remember my problems in life. 3.26 Fair
10. I feel that I have no more hope left in me. 3.40 Fair
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Coping Mechanism of Single Parents
Table 8 displays the ranking result of the most commonly adapted coping
mechanism of single parents. Coping mechanism helps them overcome their problems.
As the result imply, single parents commonly spend quality time with their children
having the grand mean score of 4.16 and ranked as the highest.
Contrary to the social fact, single parents could also be zealous parents. This
could be attributed to the fact that many happy healthy kids have been raised by single
mothers. It is often found that children of single parents exhibit more maturity by sharing
household responsibilities. They develop the ability to look after themselves without
external help. Most of the time, the kids are left to themselves as the parent would be at
work so these children learn to handle loneliness as well. Children raised by single parent
are particularly independent, resourceful and responsible. This could attest the fact that
single parents could also be good parents. One or two parents do not determine the
outcome of the children’s future but rather it is the kid of parenting a parent exhibit. This
could be affirmed by the findings in this study that familial belief is the most significant
among all the values to the single parents. They enact this value by giving prime time to
their children and building up their home.
Second most commonly employed coping mechanism is keeping themselves busy
at home and at work. Single parents especially women are busy career women. They are
actively involved in their work and are dedicated in keeping it at all cost. They believe
doing so could not only sustain their financial needs but also their professional
advancement.
121
Praying and attending church activities are also commonly used as means of
coping. Filipinos have a deeply rooted spiritual culture. They based most of doings in
their faith. Their actions and beliefs are guided with their religious affinity. They adhere
to their church’s teachings religiously. This prompted single parents into believing that
prayer is the best means of delivering them out of their problems.
Beup (2007) also stated in her study that spiritual coping mechanism are “often
used” by single parents. This further reinforces the stated findings that single parents seek
solace in the comfort of God’s presence as a means of coping with their problems. Single
parents also keep themselves busy at work and pray and attend church activities as
another means of coping.
However, they are less likely to go to the parlor/ spa, play mah-jong and card
games and take anti-stress pills as means of coping. A respondent from FGD narrated that
she did not even have time to pamper herself in a manicure because it is a waste of
money. She would rather spend it on her children. Single parents view these activities to
be of lesser importance. Thus, they tend to avoid these coping mechanisms.
Table 8
Coping Mechanism

Statement Mean
Spending quality time with my children 4.16
Keeping myself busy at work or at home 3.64
Praying and attending church activities 3.63
Raising pets/animals 3.15
Day dreaming 2.73

122
Socializing with friends 2.69
Reading pocketbooks, magazines, comics, etc. 2.53
Going to the parlor/spa 1.87
Playing mah-jong, card games, etc. 1.18
Taking anti-stress pills 1.06
Socio-demographic Characteristics as Predictors

of Familial Values
Table 9 shows the socio-demographic characteristics of the respondents as
predictors of familial values of the respondents. The stepwise multiple regressions were
employed to determine which among the socio-demographic characteristics are
significant predictors of values. The variables were entered as a block in the regression
equation to find out which of these variables affect familial values of the respondents.
The multiple R represents the absolute value of the coefficient of correlation, the
dependent and independent variables; as well correlation coefficient between the value
predicted by the regression model and actual value fits well.
The R square is the square of multiple correlations R which is the correlation of
the dependent variable with the independent variables. It provides a measure of
covariance as well as the strength of the relationship of the dependent variable with the
independent variables. The R square provides a measure of the goodness of fit of the
equation that is how the equation will fit the data. This proceeds from the fact that R
square is also a square of the correlation coefficient between the observed value of the
dependent variables and the predicted values of the dependent variables as shown in the
regression equation.
123
The R square change represents the value of the variance in effect to the
dependent variable in which the independent variable is singled out from the group
variables tested. The Beta values represent the coefficient of the other independent
variables in the equation; they are also affected by the correlation of the independent
variables (Lena, 2000).
Based on the given data, it has been found out that occupation (Sig. F = 008),
estimated monthly family income (Sig. F = 0.010) and place of residence (Sig. F = 0.017)
are the predictors of familial values since they have Sig. F value lower than alpha. 0.05.
Other socio-demographic characteristics such as sex, age, religious affiliation,
educational attainment, number of children, number of years as single parents and
classification as single parents are not significant predictors.
Therefore, the hypothesis which states that socio-demographic characteristics in
terms of sex, age, place of residence, religious affiliation, educational attainment,
occupation, estimated family income, number of children, number of years as single
parent and classification as a single parent are significant predictors of familial values of
the respondents is rejected. Rather, the hypothesis which implies that only socio-
demographic characteristics in terms of place of residence, occupation and estimated
monthly family income are the predictors of familial values should be accepted.
Single parents with occupation and stable family income are capable,
independent, productive and self-sufficient persons. They have high self-esteem and are
confident in raising their children alone knowing that they are financially capable adding
to the fact that they do not need to depend on others. Although most of them belong to
low income level, they take pride in the fact that they could provide the needs of their
124
children if not more so. This idea could foster optimistic attitudes about themselves
which could positively lead to stronger bonds between the single parents to their child
and other family members thereby strengthening their familial values. For a single parent,
it is absolutely critical to develop a support network made up of sincere, close and
intimate friends and relatives as this could help boost their family ties.
Many women single parents at present learned to cope and handle themselves
gracefully. It is largely due to the prestige being in a respectable and honest occupation.
Researches have shown that they tend to have higher self-esteem, are better adjusted
socially and more achievement-oriented (Beup, 2007). Working is one sure coping
mechanism for them so as to sustain their family’s needs. It could also boost their self-
esteem because society has high regard and is rather sympathetic with single moms
struggling hard to support her children.
Workplaces even extend support and sympathetic tolerance on them. Managers
know that for the single parents, working is more than just commitment, it is also their
lifeline. Thus, they work earnestly and passionately to earn their keep. Single parents
value their work more than anything else knowing that they are the only source of income
for their family. Losing a job is a huge gamble because the whole family would be at
stake with no partner to back them up in their financial shortage. Occupation is not only
imperative for the single parents because it could also have an effect to their children.
As Mackay (2005) had postulated, many factors influence how children develop
in single-parent families and two of these factors are the parent’s occupation and family
income. He further stated that disadvantages in this factor that often accompany single
parenting appear to cause most of this association rather than single parenting itself. This
125
means that single parents do not directly influence the negative social, behavioral and
emotional outcomes for children. What prompts the outcome of the children is the quality
of parenting a single parent applies.
The place of residence is also a predictor for family values mostly in terms of
parenting and family ties. One’s upbringing could affect their manner of perceiving
familial values. Rural areas have a more conservative and bigger family circle. Children
are brought up steeped in familial values of respect and obedience to elder family
members up to second affinity. Parents are also more restrictive and more family
oriented. The urban area, on the other hand, has a more lax and independent family ties.
Parents are less restrictive, liberated and economic oriented. The beliefs single parents
learned from their family and community could affect their familial values. The
difference in the place of residence could also determine the amount or kind of activity a
single parent allots for their children. Single parents living in the city has more options of
spending their leisure time because of the numerous recreation areas in the city. Rural
dwellers are peaceful and are not usually inclined on going out.
Sex, age, religious affiliation, educational attainment, number of children, number
of years as single parents and classification as single parents could not directly predict
familial values since they bear no significant effect on the belief of the single parents.
Familial values are exercised by single parents in a relative manner regardless of these
characteristics.
Table 9
Socio-demographic Characteristics as Predictors of Familial Values
Socio-demographic Multiple R R Square Sig. Prob.

characteristics R Square Change B SEB Beta F F
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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Sex 0.003 0.000 0.000 0.002 0.041 0.003 0.003 0.956 ns
Age 0.075 0.006 0.006 0.028 0.019 0.075 1.099 0.334 ns
Place of residence 0.146 0.021 0.016 0.113 0.045 0.126 2.829 0.038 s
Religious affiliation 0.119 0.014 0.007 -0.029 0.018 0.083 2.809 0.061 ns
Educational attainment 0.131 0.017 0.004 0.008 0.007 0.061 1.356 0.240 ns
Occupation 0.209 0.044 0.015 -0.046 0.018 -0.125 2.948 0.008 s
Estimated monthly
family income 0.216 0.046 0.003 0.035 0.033 0.053 2.681 0.010 s
Number of children 0.066 0.004 0.000 0.013 0.046 0.015 0.571 0.634 ns
Number of years as
Single parent 0.032 0.001 0.001 0.021 0.032 0.032 0.412 0.521 ns
Classification as
single parent 0.051 0.003 0.002 0.014 0.018 0.041 0.516 0.598 ns
Legend: s = significant @ alpha 0.05 ns = not significant
Predictors of Educational Values
Data on Table 10 indicate that occupation (Sig. F = 0.003), estimated monthly
family income (Sig. F = 0.002) and number of children (Sig. F = 0.002) are significant
predictors of educational values of single parents as stipulated in the table because they
have a Sig. F value lower than alpha 0.05. This implies that the hypothesis which states
that socio-demographic characteristics in terms of sex, age, place of residence, religious
affiliation, educational attainment, occupation, estimated family income, number of
children, number of years as single parent and classification as a single parent are
significant predictors of educational values of the respondents is rejected. On the other
hand, the hypothesis which states that socio-demographic characteristics in terms of
occupation, estimated monthly family income and number of children are significant
predictors of the educational values of the respondents is accepted.
This could be attributed to the fact that occupation, estimated monthly family
income and number of children are relative entities that could affect the economic
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stability of the single parents. Single parents’ educational values could be dependent but
certainly not limited on this economic status. This economic status is then the basis of
how they develop their priority and outlook towards education.
Parents who have occupation and stable monthly family income could very well
afford to provide quality education for their children up to college without many
compromises. They could also motivate their children to take better and lucrative courses
as long as it is within their financial capacity. They could also opt to send their children
to good schools and universities in big cities so they could have better educational
opportunity.
Furthermore, single parents gain high morale and self-esteem upon realizing that
they could provide what is best for the aspiration of their children. They could also
improve themselves by pursuing their education further such as studying in graduate
schools to boost their confidence and widen their professional arena. Having a few
children could also give single parents a chance to minimize their educational expenses
since fewer children means fewer tuition and expenses to be paid. Parents could also
spend more time getting involved with their children’s school work that could likely
increase their chances of success.
This is verified in the study of Ricciuti (2004) which showed that children are the
primary benefactors of the family size and income in terms of education as many children
in single-parent homes might have the advantage of smaller family size, family income
and the quality of home environment. Although one-parent families had lower incomes,
what mattered most for kids' school readiness were the mother’s education, family
income and home environment. This could only prove that poverty is not a hindrance
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towards attaining education. Single parents learned to minimize their budget to prioritize
education and avoid spending on less important things.
On the other hand, sex, age, place of residence, religious affiliation, educational
attainment, number of years as single parent and classification as single parents are not
significant predictors as shown by their Sig. F. value which is higher than alpha 0.05.
Regardless of these characteristics, single parents could have the same affinity of valuing
education so these do not entirely affect the educational value of single parents.
Table 10
Socio-demographic Characteristics as Predictors of Educational Values

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Sex 0.030 0.001 0.001 0.027 0.044 0.030 0.364 0.547 ns
Age 0.031 0.001 0.000 0.000 0.020 -0.001 0.182 0.834 ns
Place of residence 0.031 0.001 0.000 -0.006 0.050 -0.007 0.126 0.944 ns
Religious affiliation 0.041 0.002 0.001 0.007 0.014 0.026 0.160 0.958 ns
Occupation 0.225 0.051 0.010 -0.041 0.020 -0.102 3.427 0.003 s
Estimated monthly
Income 0.237 0.056 0.005 0.054 0.036 0.076 3.267 0.002 s
Number of children 0.250 0.063 0.007 -0.044 0.027 -0.092 3.207 0.002 s
Number of years as
Single parent 0.009 0.000 0.000 0.006 0.035 0.009 0.034 0.855 ns
Classification as
single parent 0.073 0.005 0.005 0.028 0.019 0.074 1.033 0.357 ns
_______________________________________________________________________
Predictors of Economic Values

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Data on Table 11 displays the predictors of the economic values of the single
parents. Based on the table, there are only two significant predictors of economic values
and these are the occupation (Sig. F = 0.047) and number of children (Sig. F = 0.050) of
single parents. Result therefore implies that the hypothesis which states that socio-
demographic characteristics in terms of sex, age, place of residence, religious affiliation,
educational attainment, occupation, estimated family income, number of children,
number of years as single parent and classification as a single parent are significant
predictors of economic values of the respondents is rejected. Rather, the hypothesis
which states that socio-demographic characteristics in terms of occupation and number of
children are significant predictors of economic values is accepted.
A parent’s occupation is considered as one of indicators of socio-economic status.
Poverty is persistently linked with single-parent households, especially those headed by
women. Poverty is a constant dilemma for single parents to overcome and this is the
situation on whence they act upon their economic values. Occupation is an important
predictor of economic values because it determines the mode of living of the single
parents. Some occupations require a strict code of conduct among the employees and this
limits the lifestyle of single parents so as they could adhere to the work ethic expected
from them at work.
One’s occupation could greatly help secure the future of the family since it could
provide a stable income. According to Beup (2007), occupation is one significant
predictor of the coping mechanism of single parents. The number of children is another
significant predictor of economic values. Parents who have many children exhibit more
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difficulties in terms of finances and parenting problems compared with parents having
only a few. They have different responses when confronted with financial issues.
Table 11
Socio-demographic Characteristics as Predictors of Economic Values

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Sex 0.038 0.001 0.001 0.031 0.041 0.038 0.577 0.448 ns
Age 0.065 0.004 0.003 0.019 0.019 0.052 0.816 0.443 ns
Place of residence 0.066 0.004 0.000 0.013 0.046 0.015 0.571 0.634 ns
Religious affiliation 0.117 0.014 0.009 -0.025 0.013 -0.096 1.341 0.254 ns
Occupation 0.180 0.032 0.015 -0.046 0.019 -.124 2.154 0.047 s
Estimated monthly
Income 0.185 0.034 0.002 0.029 0.034 0.044 1.948 0.061 ns
Number of years as
Single parent 0.087 0.008 0.008 0.056 0.032 0.087 2.977 0.085 ns
Classification as
single parent 0.119 0.014 0.007 -0.029 0.018 -0.083 2.809 0.061 ns
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Predictors of Experiences
Data on Table 12 presents the predictors of the experiences of the single parents.
Data shows that sex (Sig. F = 0.043), place of residence (Sig. F = 0.047) and number of
children are the significant predictor of the experiences of the single parents. They are
significant predictors because their Sig. F values are lower than alpha 0.050. Therefore,
the hypothesis which states that socio-demographic characteristics in terms of sex, age,
place of residence, religious affiliation, educational attainment, occupation, estimated

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family income, number of children, number of years as single parent and classification as
a single parent are significant predictors of experiences of the respondents is rejected. On
the other hand, the hypothesis which implies that socio-demographic characteristics in
terms of sex, place of residence and number of children are significant predictors of
experiences of single parents is accepted.
This may be attributed to the fact that majority of the single parents are female as
mentioned in the study of Sibal, et al (2007). Female outnumbers the male single parents
because they have the tendency to remain as single parent for the rest of their lives.
Males, on the other hand, are rare single parents because most of them tend to remarry or
go into a relationship with other women yet, society cannot ignore the dramatic increase
of single dads. Female single parents have different experiences compared to that of
males.
Moreover, most custodial parents are females. Females have motherly instinct to
protect their children and could very well live without their husband but certainly not
without their children. Laws also prefer to grant the custody of children to the mothers. In
the United States, mothers are usually given the custody of the child in case of divorce
due to the care and intimate and affectionate relationship they develop with their children.
Philippine laws is also inclined toward the favour of the mother as Family Code clearly
stipulates that children under seven years of age should not be separated from the mother
unless for grave reasons. Some studies indicate that mothers give up the custody of their
child due to various reasons including inadequate financial resources, child's preference
for living with the father, difficulty in controlling the child, legal custody battle threats,
physical and emotional constraints and turmoil suffered by the mother. However, almost
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97% of non-custodial mothers are seen to actively maintain relationship with their
children. Thus, sex is a significant predictor of experiences since experiences between
male and female single parents greatly varies.
Place of residence is also another predictor of the single parent’s experience.
According to Lleras (2009), the home environment is a concern for most working single
mothers because most emotional and social development of pre-school children occurs in
the home. A nurturing early home life which includes the physical environment has also
been linked to positive educational outcomes and positive relationship outcomes for kids
in later life, she said. There is a vast difference in their environment between the urban
and rural residence and this is contributory to how single parents and respond to the
dilemma in their lives. Thus, a single parent’s place of residence could influence their
experience.
Last predictor is the number of children. The number of children could also help
determine the outcome of a single parent’s experiences. Being parents highly depends on
how they interact, deal with and provide for their children. Having lesser children could
produce different results in parenting since it entails fewer economic and familial
responsibilities. Time allocation for each child will only be divided into small fractions
leading to a single parent having more other chores or work to be accomplished. Time
and finances could be manageable if there are only few children to spend for. The
experiences of a single parent having a large number of children have a huge difference
as there are more burdens, chores and finances to be met. Single parents could face larger
amount of emotional, financial and physical constraints if they have many children
compared with those who have only few.

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On the other hand, age, religious affiliation, educational attainment, occupation,
number of years as single parent and classification as single parent are not significant
predictors of experiences because their Sig. F values are higher than alpha 0.050. They do
not have adverse effect on the experiences of the respondents.
Table 12
Socio-demographic Characteristics as Predictors

Of Experiences of the Respondents

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Sex 0.102 0.010 0.010 0.083 0.041 0.102 4.124 0.043 s
Age 0.104 0.011 0.000 0.007 0.019 0.017 2.117 0.122 ns
Occupation 0.161 0.026 0.000 -0.004 0.019 -0.012 1.705 0.118 ns
Estimated monthly
Income 0.185 0.034 0.002 0.029 0.034 0.044 1.948 0.061 ns
Number of years as
Single parent 0.037 0.001 0.001 0.024 0.033 0.037 0.537 0.464 ns
Classification as
single parent 0.060 0.004 0.002 -0.017 0.018 -0.049 0.714 0.490 ns
Difference in the Values and Experiences of Respondents

when Classified according to Place of Residence
Table 13 shows the difference between the values and experiences of the
respondents when classified according to place of residence. Place of residence are cited
as urban or city dwellings and rural or dwellings in towns, barangays and municipalities.
Among the respondents, there are 44 or 11.2% with a mean score of 3.68 residing in
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Roxas City area and its encompassing barangays. Rural dwellers comprised of 349 or
88.8% of the respondents with a mean score of 3.80 came from the municipalities in both
first and second district of Capiz.
According to the derived data, there is no significant difference in the educational
(Sig. 2-tailed value = 0.926) and economic values (Sig. 2-tailed value = 0.726) and
experiences (Sig. 2-tailed value = 0.413) of single parents since they have a Sig. 2-tailed
value higher than alpha 0.050. The difference occurs only on the familial values between
the urban and rural dwellers with Sig. 2-tailed value of 0.024 which is lower than alpha
0.05 which means that there is a significant difference.
Therefore, the hypothesis which states that there is a significant difference in the
values and experiences of the respondents when they are classified according to their
place of residence is rejected. Rather, the hypothesis which states that there is a
significant difference on the familial values of single parents when classified according to
their place of residence is accepted.
This result could indicate that single parents from the urban and rural respond
differently to familial values. Urban dwellers might be more indifferent to the situation
due to their culture. There are lesser people who would comment negatively about one’s
status so the proliferation of single parenthood is dramatically and steadily rising.
Table 13
Difference in the Values and Experience of the Respondents

when Classified According to Place of Residence
Variables Mean Mean Sig.

Difference t-value (2-tailed) Probability
_____________________________________________________________________________
Familial Values
135
Urban 3.68
0.11 2.319 0.024* s
Rural 3.80
Educational Values
Urban 3.77
0.00 0.093 0.926 ns
Rural 3.77
Economic Values
Urban 3.76
-0.02 -0.353 0.726 ns
Rural 3.78
Experiences
Urban 3.36
-0.05 0.826 0.413 ns
Rural 3.42
Legend: * s = significant @ alpha 0.05

ns = not significant
Added to the fact is that in the urban area, people are more exposed to different
family structures so they could be prone to succumb in premarital or extra marital affairs.
Thus, single parenthood is not actually a much celebrated and talked about issue. A single
parent could easily get over the feeling of shame and guilt since there are lesser people
who would treat them with scorn and biased judgment. They could easily get over their
shameful plight and start life anew. This they could do by looking for work or pursuing
their education.
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The rural area, however, has a different picture on how they treat single parents. It
is a cause of much hubbub and frantic disembowelment of one’s morality. A person’s
sense of modesty is questioned by seemingly self-righteous judges who would put a
single parent’s life in public scrutiny. There are also lesser chances for them to boost their
self-esteem since there are few opportunities in education and work in the rural areas.
Looking for good employment is a slim chance. Education is also scarce since most
colleges and universities which could offer good education are only situated in the city.
Few state universities might be found in the rural areas but there are still impeding factors
such as finances that hinder the single parents in pursuing education. There are also quite
rare instances when family members would take over the task of taking care of the
children while they are absent so it is definitely hard for the single parents in the rural
area to uplift themselves. The only chance that they have is to leave their children in the
care of the grandparents or other relatives while they seek their fortune to work in big
cities.
On the other hand, there is no significant difference on the educational and
economic values and experiences of single parents dwelling in both the urban and rural
areas. This could be due to the parents similar outlook on prioritizing their and their
children’s education whether they are in rural or urban areas. They share the common
belief that education is a guaranteed means of uplifting their social and economic status
and earn a respectable reputation in the community. Neither is there a significant
difference between their economic values since both strongly believe in the value of
prudence, thrift and modesty in terms of money.

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As to experiences, there is also no significant difference. Single parents encounter
similar experiences in the hardship of child rearing, time and financial management and
self-image perception. Probably, the similarity between the two is on how society, in
general, view single parenthood. Society should be less judgemental, be more supportive
and be more open in giving them another chance in life. After all, they are also victims
who had suffered terribly in a lesson that could not be undone but could still be remedied.
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CHAPTER V
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
This chapter presents the summary of the study, the significant findings, the
conclusion, the recommendations and the implications.
SUMMARY
This study employed a descriptive-analytical design using both quantitative and
qualitative methods of research. It was conducted with the main objective of analyzing
the familial, educational, and economic values and experiences of single parents in the
province of Capiz.
Specifically, it also aimed to find answers to the following questions:
1. What are the socio-demographic characteristics of the single parents in terms of
sex, age, place of residence, religious affiliation, educational attainment, occupation,
2. What are the familial values of the respondents in terms of parenting, family ties,
spirituality and respect?
4. What are the economic values of the respondents in terms of lifestyle, work ethic,
security and social status sensitivity?
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8. Is there a significant difference in the values and experiences of the respondents
when they are grouped according to their residence?
The main instruments used to gather data were a researcher-made questionnaire, a
focus group discussion guide and in-depth interview guide. The questionnaire was
disseminated to 393 respondents all throughout the province. Eleven single parents
attended the focus group discussion and 12 single parents were involved in the in-depth
interview in their residence and work places.
Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used in the interpretation and
analysis of the gathered data. In the descriptive statistics, frequency count, percentage,
mean and ranking were utilized. In the inferential statistics, multiple regression analysis
and t-test were used. The level of significance for statistical result was set at alpha 0.05.
All statistical data were computer processed.
FINDINGS OF THE STUDY
Based on the result, it has been found out that most of the single parents are
female, middle aged (34 – 49 years old), rural dweller, Roman Catholic, high school
graduate, employed, has low monthly family income, with few children (1 - 3 children),
has been a single parent for ten years or below and a widow.
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Single parents treat familial values as a moderately important value including its
indicators which are parenting, family ties, spirituality and respect. Among the
indicators, parenting is seen as the most important area to be practised and enhanced by
single parents.
Educational values are also deemed as moderately important value by the
respondents including its indicators in terms of aspiration, self-esteem, outlook towards
education and decisiveness. Respondents believe that these are moderately important
areas to be considered by single parents in terms of education. Among the indicators,
outlook towards education is rated as the highest due to the fact that single parents view
education as a necessity in uplifting their social economic status and gain a respected
reputation in the community.
Single parents also consider economic values as another moderately important
value to be possessed including its indicators in terms of lifestyle, work ethic, security
and social status sensitivity. Single parents believe that they have to place a thorough
consideration on the given areas so that they could practice necessary values wisely
toward the improvement of their economic status.
important values for them to exercise. Familial values are considered as the most pressing
among the three. Single parents prioritize the welfare of their children before anything
else. They are their motivating reason to work and to live. Giving them the best in life
such as good education, food and shelter have become their passion since they are the
focal point of their lives.

141
Single parents also have fair, even and balanced experiences in terms of child
rearing practices, time management, financial management and self-image perception.
They stand on a balanced ground of not too poor and not too excellent experiences.
Among the four, the highest rated experience is on financial management and self-image
perception. However, the reported lowest rated case of experience is on time
management.
Single parents also employ varied coping mechanism suitable to their personal
preference in order to recuperate and recover from their painful experiences. The highest
noted coping mechanism is spending quality time with their children followed by keeping
themselves busy at work or at home. The least favored coping mechanism is playing
mah-jong and other card games and taking anti-stress medicine.
Occupation, estimated monthly family income and place of residence are
significant predictors of familial values. Educational values are significantly predicted by
occupation, estimated family income and number of children. Economic values only have
occupation and number of children as its significant predictors. Sex, place of residence
and number of children are the significant predictors of experiences.
There is no significant difference in the educational and economic values and
experiences of single parents when they are classified according to the place of residence.
Difference only occurs on their familial values.
CONCLUSIONS
Based on the findings derived from the result of this study, the following
conclusions are drawn:

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Single parents are predominantly females. They are oftentimes the custodial
parent bearing the sole responsibility of homemaking. Most of the single parents are
middle aged (34 – 49), an age when people are considered to be at the height of their
career. Being too engrossed on their jobs and careers is also their utmost concern since
they have to provide the needs of the family single handedly. Majority of the single
parents are from the rural areas. This might be because majority of Capiz people dwells
in the rural areas compared to the city. In addition, rural areas have also been exposed to
a liberated society and enculturation is a possibility. Likewise, single parents are mostly
Roman Catholics. This shows that our conservative society is already more accepting to
their growing numbers. People may not be all tolerant but still, they have grown
accustomed to the rising numbers of single parents. The difference in the percentage of
the educational level may not be high, but most of the single parents are high school
graduate. Since most of the single parents dwell in the rural areas, it is safe to assume that
they have no access to college schools thus preventing them from pursuing their
education. Most of the single parents are employed and are engaged in business but there
are still a few who are dependent to their families for support. This group could be the
young single parents with unplanned pregnancy and are either studying or currently
looking for a job. Families of this group of single parents learned to be forgiving by
giving them another chance to renew their life and supporting them financially. Most
single parents have low income, have a few number of children, a widow and have been a
single parent for 10 years or less. Being a single parent means the sole source of living
resulting to low income since the absence of a spouse could greatly affect the finances of
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the family. Most of the single parents especially the widows consider it impractical to
remarry again thus, they have few number of children.
important values to imbue. This could be due to the fact that their family is their major
concern and providing for their needs is a primary priority. Single parents view their
family as their refuge and they exert all effort to protect and prevent it from encountering
another painful experience. Thus, they could become over protective to their children.
They also seek to provide their needs and this prompts them into working hard. Some of
them tend to over-indulge their children into anything they want as long as they could
afford it. This could be their means of winning the affection of their children and avoid
having them feel incomplete or different from the other children. Lastly, single parents
also strive so hard to sustain the education of their children to make them self-sufficient
someday. This could be their means of safeguarding their own future knowing that their
children would someday take care of them. Although these values, together with their
indicators are rated as moderately important, many specific areas under each indicator are
still considered as very important.
The experiences of single parents could be deemed as average, not too good and
not too bad, sometimes good and sometimes bad. They might have poor experiences in
terms of childrearing, time, money and self sensitivity but they manage to cope with their
lapses and somehow live with it. They might not totally overcome their difficulties but
they learn to ride the waves. Most single parents might not be successful in raising their
children alone but still, they give their best in rebuilding their home. Most of the single
parents may struggle in balancing their time, but still they allot most of it to what is
144
necessary. Most single parents do not end up having high paying work but still, they have
a job to sustain their finances. Most of the single parents are still in deep pain, guilt and
longing, but they try to make the most by looking at the positive side of life.
The values of single parents could be influenced with some areas of their socio-
demographic status. This is in support to the theory of Payne (2001) as stated in the
theoretical framework that values could be influenced by a person’s internal and external
environment. Internal environment could be in terms of sex and external environment in
terms of place of residence, family income and number of children. At the same time,
single parents do experience difficulties in child rearing, financial management, time
management and self-image perception. This finding is compatible with the findings in
the study of Hayes Nelson (2009) and Reece who stated that single parents encounter
problems in financial barriers, duality of roles, child rearing and ethnicity issues.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Based on the finding and conclusion of this study, the following recommendations
are proposed:
1. A sizable number of single parents are young and they are alarmingly increasing.
They need guidance. School, community and the family should work together in order to
alleviate this problem by providing support groups and sponsoring productive activity for
the youth.
2. On the familial values, respect should be strengthened mainly by the family since
they are the primary source of this value in order to avoid single parenthood among their
children. Parents could imbue obedience and impart necessary values once respect is
learned by children.
145
3. Single parents who were not able to finish their studies should continue to aspire
and pursue their education as a means of uplifting themselves and their status in life.
Education could help boost their self-esteem and earn them a respectable repute from the
society.
4. Single parents should be independent and productive financially. They should try
to find means to sustain on their own and not just depend on their parents.
5. Single parents need to seek out only the advice of their trusted friends and close
family. Not all people could be sympathetic. Others could only be preying on their
moments of weakness.
6. People in the society are encouraged to be more sympathetic and accepting on
both the single parents and their children. They are, after all, victims of life’s adversities.
Encouraging, instead of criticizing, supporting, instead of scorning are what they need
most.
7. Workplaces are recommended to avoid discrimination against single parents
especially the unmarried. They also deserve a second chance to straighten their lives.
8. Community, home and schools should have a collaborative effort in strengthening
and improving the values of single parents by making moderately important values to
become very important by providing outreach program in the community, counselling in
school and values inculcation at home.
9. Finally, this study could be replicated by future researchers to other single parents
in the different regions of the country to corroborate the findings of this study.
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IMPLICATIONS
Single parents are often misunderstood members of the society. They are
frequently the subject of scorn and biased judgment. Society has a lot to learn from them.
This study opened our eyes to the innate values that are exhibited by this special group of
people who had been the subject of much controversy.
Findings in this study made us realize that familial values is the most pressing and
prioritized value of a single parents. Among all else, their world revolve around their
children. Many might oppose with this statement arguing that there are a lot of cases of
abortion and abandoned children brought about by the shame of wedlock. Yet looking
closely, these persons had not been able to experience the pains and bliss of parenthood.
Single parents who chose to keep and raise their children are admirable beyond words.
They may have experienced difficulties but the greatest reward is watching their children
grow.
Single parents experienced difficulties in raising the children especially in terms
of time management. Learning to adjust and taking up both the role of both parents are
the hardest tasks they have to endure. They are the sole provider and housekeeper at the
same time so managing time between work and home is a huge task. But adapting
healthy coping mechanism helped them survive their ordeals. Familial support and strong
faith helped them cope. It is heart warming to realize that families of single parents are
becoming more acceptable and supportive. Spending quality time with their children and
keeping themselves busy at their work are some of the productive tasks that they employ.
With the ever increasing number of single parents in the present society, it is high
time for our government to extend more relief and grants to them just like in other
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countries. Programs such as the Solo Parents Welfare Act of 2000 should be widely
dissiminated so as to inform other single parents especially those who are living in the
rural areas about their rights and privileges. Additional budget for the DSWD, CHED,
DEPEd and other government agencies’ grants on the education of studying single
parents should also be allocated. Schools should also support them by providing peer
counselling. They are, after all, an integral part of our society.
Social stigma attached to single parenthood should also be dissipated if not totally
eliminated. Society has to learn that single parenthood could also have its advantage to
the parent and to their children. Children learn to become interdependent and closer to
their family, resourceful, responsible and strong in facing the conflicts in life. It is high
time for society to understand that family stability and love is more important than having
two parents inside the house that would just continually create a chaotic atmosphere for
the children. Understanding, love and guidance are what single parent needs from the
society and their family.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY
149
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158
APPENDICES
159
COLEGIO DELA PURISIMA CONCEPCION

Graduate School
Roxas City
October 1, 2009
GOVERNOR VICTOR TANCO

Province of Capiz
Dear Governor Tanco:
Warmest greetings!
I am a Ph.D. students of Colegio Dela Purisima Concepcion and is presently conducting a

study entitled “Familial, Educational and Economic Values and Experiences of Single Parents in
Capiz” for my dissertation. This study will include 393 single parents from different
municipalities in Capiz.
On this regard, I would like to ask permission from your good office that I will be
allowed to conduct this study to single parents who reside in our province. With your permission,
they will be given questionnaires to fill out while others will be invited for a focus group
discussion and in-depth interview.
Rest assured that the information I’ll gather from them will be treated with utmost
confidentiality and will be used strictly for this purpose only.
I am very hopeful that I will have your support in the completion of this research.
Thank you very much.
Respectfully yours,
OLIVE JOY G. ABING

Researcher
Noted:
(SGD) DR. FELISA JAVIER

Dean, Graduate School
Colegio Dela Purisima Concepcion

School of the Archdiocese of Capiz
Roxas City
160
School of the Graduate Study
August 17, 2009
MS. MA. LUZ DELOS REYES

Asst. Division Superintendent
DepEd, Roxas City Division
Ma’am:
Warmest greetings!
With all due respect, I would like to request your good office to lend me a copy of
the result of your Family Mapping conducted here at Roxas City for this year 2009. I will
be using some part of your report as a basis for my Doctoral dissertation entitled
“Familial, Educational and Economic Values, and Experiences of Single Parents in
Capiz.”
Specifically, I will only be using the result of the population of single parents,
widowed and separated parents as basis for the number of samples of the respondents. I
am hoping that you could aid me in my academic pursuit.
Respectfully yours,
OLIVE JOY G. ABING

Ph.D. Student
Noted:
(SGD) DR. FELISA JAVIER

Adviser/ Dean
Graduate Studies
Colegio Dela Purisima Concepcion

School of the Archdiocese of Capiz
Roxas City
Graduate School
October 16, 2009

161
MS. NIDA A. GUILLERGAN

Brgy. Cala-agus, Mambusao
5807 Capiz
Ma’am:
Warm greetings!
I am a Ph.D. student of Colegio dela Purisima Concepcion and currently in the

process of conducting my dissertation entitled “Familial, Educational and Economic
Values and Experiences of Single Parents in Capiz.” This study could hopefully aid our
society in understanding the life of a single parent family.
With this, I would like to invite you as one of the discussants in my focus group
discussion on October 27, 2009 Tuesday 9:00 am at the Function Room of Hercor
College Main Campus, Lawa-an, Roxas City.
I assure you that any information that you could give will be treated with utmost
confidentiality and will be used for the purpose of this study only.
I would be very grateful if you could share your time and effort in the completion
of this research.
Yours,
Olive Joy G. Abing

Ph.D. Student
162
QUESTIONNAIRE
Pinalangga nga mga Respondents,
Maayo gid nga adlaw!
Nagahiwat ako sang isa ka pagtuon nga may tig-ulo nga “Familial, Educational and
Economic Values and Experiences of Single Parents of Capiz. Ini nga pagtuon
magasiyasat sang mga kaugalian, pagpati kag eksperyensya ka mga single parents diri sa
aton nga probinsya.
Nagapangayo gid ako sang inyo hamili nga bulig sa pagsabat sang sini nga questionnaire.
Palihug lang sabat gid sa kada pamangkut kay ang kada isa importante para sa kahimuan
sang sini nga pagtuon. Ginapasalig ko sa inyo nga ang inyo mga ginhatag nga
impormasyon pagakabigon nga confidential. Ang mga impormasyon nga inyo ginhatag
mahimo pa mga makapaayo kag makabulig sa sitwasyon sang mga single parents diri sa
Capiz.
Madamu gid nga salamat sa inyo bulig kag kabay nga ang Mahal nga Diyos maga-ubay
pa gid sa aton.
Sa liwat,
OLIVE JOY G. ABING

Researcher
QUESTIONNAIRE
163
Part 1. Personal Data
Directions: Please provide your personal data by supplying the information asked or by checking
the appropriate blank. (Direksyon: Palihog sabat sang mga masunod paagi sa pagbutang sang
tsek ukon pagsulat sang sabat sa blanko.)
1. Sex (Seks): Male (Lalaki) [ ] Female (Babaye) [ ]

2. Age (Edad): ___________
3. Place of Residence: Urban(Siudad) [ ] Rural(Banwa/Municipalidad) [ ]
4. Religious Affiliation (Relihiyon):

Roman Catholic [ ] Iglesia ni Cristo [ ]
Baptist [ ] Seventh Day Adventist [ ]
Assembly of God [ ] Mormons [ ]
Jehovah’s Witnesses [ ] Others (Iban pa): ___________________
5. Educational Attainment (Natapusan sa Pag-eskwela):
Elementary Level [ ] College Graduate [ ]

(Wala makatapos sa Elementarya) (Tapos sa College)
Elementary Graduate [ ] With M.A./MS/ MAT units [ ]

(Tapos sa Elementarya) (May units nga nakuha sa Masteral)
High School Level [ ] MA/MS/ MAT Graduate [ ]

(Wala makatapos sa High School) (Tapos sa Masteral)
High School Graduate [ ] With Ph. D./Ed. D. Units [ ]

(Tapos sa High School) (May units sa Doctoral)
Vocational Graduate [ ] Ph.D./Ed.D. Graduate [ ]

(Nakatapos sang Bokasyunal nga kurso) (Graduate sa Doctoral)
College Level [ ]
(Wala nakatapos sa College)
6. Occupation (Trabaho): _______________________________
7. Estimated Monthly Family Income (Kita sang pamilya sa isa ka bulan): ________
8. Number of Children (Pila kabilog ang bata): _________________________
9. Number of years as single parent (Pila na katuig nga nangin single parent):___
10. Classification as a single parent (Klasipikasyon bilang single parent):
Widowed (Balo) [ ]
Separated (Bulag sa asawa/bana) [ ]

164
Unmarried [ ]
(Wala makasal)
165
Part III. Familial, Educational and Economic Values

Direction: Please indicate your answers by checking your beliefs in these situations. (Direksyon:
Palihog butangan sang tsek ang inyo sabat suno sa inyo pagpati sa mga nasambit nga
sitwasyon.)
1.1. Familial Values on Parenting (Pinamilya nga pagpati bilang ginikanan.)

Strongly Agree Uncertain Disagree Strongly
As a single parent, … Agree (Sugot) (Gapang (Indi sugot) Disagree
(Bilang isa ka single parent, … ) (Sugot gid ) duha-duha) (Indi gid
sugot)
1. I try to be a good role model to my children.
(Nagatinguha ako nga mangin maayo nga ehemplo
sa akon kabataan.)
2. I enforce discipline upon my children.
(Ginadisiplina ko gid ang akon mga kabataan.)
3. I listen to my children’s problems.
(Nagapamati ako sa mga problema sang akon mga
kabataan.)
4. I require my children to follow my decisions.
(Ginaobligar ko ang akon mga kabataan sa
pagtuman sang akon mga desisyun.)
5. I accept feedbacks from my children.
(Nagapamati ako sang kumentar sang akon mga
kabataan.)
6. I am suspicious of what my children are doing
when they are outside the home.
(Nagaduda ako sa mga ginahimo sang akon mga
kabataan kun ara sila sa guwa sang panimalay.)
7. I do most of the chores at home.
(Ako lang ang nagahimo sang kalabanan nga
trabaho sa sulod sang balay.)
8. We always eat together.
(Tililingub kami kun magkaun.)
9. I spank my children when they were young as
a form of punishment.
(Sang bata pa ang akon kabataan, akon sila
ginahanot bilang disiplina.)
10. I can not avoid spanking my children when I
feel angry and later regret it.
(Indi ko malikawan nga mahanot ko ang mga
kabataan kun ako maakig pero ginahinulsulan ko
man ini dayun.)
1.2. Familial Values on Family Ties (Pinamilya nga pagpati sa paghiusa sang pamilya)
Statement Agree (Sugot) (Gapang (Indi sugot) Disagree
(Sugot gid ) duha-duha) (Indi gid
sugot)
1. I involve my own parents or relatives when I
make major decisions.
(Ginalakip ko ang akon ginikanan o kapamilya kun
magahimo ako sang mabug-at nga mga desisyun.)
2. We maintain constant communication with our
166
relatives despite the distance between us.

(Padayun ang amon komunikasyun sa amon
paryentes bisan kami nagahilayuay.)
3. The influence of family has declined
considerably.
(Ang impluwensya sang pamilya naga-amat-amat
kadula.)
4. Relatives, friends and co-workers share our
happiness and troubles.
(Ang amon paryente, abyan kag katrabaho
nagapakigbahin sa amon kalipay kag kasubo.)
5. Family becomes strong during critical times
because of the help of relatives.
(Nagapag-on ang pamilya sa oras sang
kabudlayan paagi sa pagbinuligay sang mga
paryente.)
6. Family problems become lighter when shared
by relatives.
(Nagamag-an ang problema sang pamilya kun
nagabinuligay ang mga kaparyentihan.)
7. Life is happier when there are many relatives in
our household.
(Masadya kun madamo ang mga paryente sa
panimalay.)
8. We can depend on our relatives to help pay for
medicines and hospital bills.
(Makasalig kami nga ang mga paryente makabulig
bayad sa bulong kag pagpaospital.)
9. Our relatives are happy despite economic
constraint.
(Malipayon kami nga magparyente sa pihak sang
kaimulon.)
10. Although my family lives near our relatives, I
am independent from them and I do not consult
them regarding myself.
(Bisan nagapuyo ako malapit sa akon paryente,
wala ako nagasalig o nagakonsulta sa ila.)
1.3. Familial Values on Spirituality (Pinamilya nga pagpati sa spiritualidad)

sugot)
1. I go to church every Sunday with my children.
(Nagasimba ako kada Domingo upod sang akon
mga kabataan.)
2. Praying does not answer problems.
(Indi masulbar sang pangamuyo ang tanan nga
problema.)
3. I encourage my children to join religious
activities.
167
(Ginalaygayan ko ang ako kabataan sa pag-intra

sa mga buluhaton sa simbahan.)
4. I encourage my children to pray every morning
and before sleeping.
(Gina-engganyo ko nga magpangamuyo ang akon
mga kabataan kada aga kag antes magtulog.)
5. We pray before meals together.
(Nagapangamuyo kami antes magkaun.)
6. I find time to teach Gospel to my children.
(May tiun ako sa pagtudlo sang Pulong sang Dios
sa akon kabataan.)
7. Listening to missionaries and preachers is a
waste of time.
(Ang pagpamati sa mga misyonaryo kag
manugwali usik lang sang tiempo.)
8. I try to live the life of a good Christian.
(Nagakabuhi ako bilang maayo nga Kristiyano.)
9. I can not understand the Bible so I avoid
reading it.
(Wala ako nagabasa sang Bibliya kay indi ko man
maintiendihan.)
10. I faithfully abide with the teachings of my
religion.
(Matutom ako nga nagasunod sa mga ginatudlo
sang akon relihiyon.)
1.4. Familial Values on Respect (Pinamilya nga pagpati sa pagrespeto)

sugot)
1. I teach my children to kiss the hands of the
elders.
(Ginatudluan ko ang akon mga kabataan sa
pagbisa sa mga tigulang.)
2. I believe that children are not supposed to
answer back to the elders.
(Ako nagapati nga indi dapat magsabat ang mga
kabataan sa ila katigulangan.)
3. I do not obey my parents but I want my
children to obey me.
(Indi ako matinumanun sa akon ginikanan pero
gusto ko nga ang akon kabataan magtuman
gid sa akon.)
4. I teach my child to follow what I say and not
what I do.
(Ginatudluan ko ang akon mga kabataan sa
pagsunod sa akon ginahambal kag indi sa
akon gina-obra.)
5. I cannot avoid arguing with my parents in
front of my children.
(Indi ko malikawan nga makigbais sa akon
168
ginikanan bisan sa atubang sang akon kabataan.)

6. I seek advice from my own parents or siblings
when I am making major decisions.
(Sa mga importante nga desisyun, nagapangayo
ako sang laygay sa akon ginikanan o kauturan.)
7. I sometimes read my children’s cellphones or
search their belongings to find out something
suspicious.
(Kun may pagduda ako, akon kun kis-a ginabasa
ang cellphone o gina-usisa ang gamit sang akon
kabataan..)
8. If I am angry, I reprimand my children
anywhere I like.
(Kun ako maakig, bisan diin ko lang ginaakigan
ang akon mga kabataan.)
9. I am afraid that my children will be angry with
me if I do not give in to what they want.
(Nahadlok ako nga maakig sa akon ang akon
kabataan kun indi ko sila pagpasugtan sa ila
gusto.)
10. I allow my children reason out on what I say.
(Ginapasugtan ko nga magrason ang akon
kabataan sa akon ginapanghambal.)
2.1. Educational Values on Aspiration (Edukasyonal nga pagpati sa mga handum)

sugot)
1. I push my children to get awards at school.
(Ginapilit ko ang akon mga kabataan nga
makakuha sang awards sa eskwelahan.)
2. It is too late for me to go to school and be
successful.
(Ulihi na para sa akon ang mag-eskwela kag mag-
asenso.)
3. I want my children to study to attain the
education that I failed to achieve.
(Gusto ko nga maangkon sang akon kabataan ang
edukasyon nga wala ko malambut paagi sa ila pag-
eskwela.)
4. I work hard knowing that I could still uplift our
socio-economic condition.
(Nagatinguha ako sa pagtrabaho kay nahibaluan
ko nga mapauswag ko pa ang amon kahimtangan.)
5. I believe that I could still be somebody I want
to be because of my education.
(Tungod sa akon pagtuon, nagapati ako nga
maabot ko pa ang akon mga handum.)
6. I don’t care about my status in life. I do not
expect much.
169
(Wala ako nagakabalaka sa akon kahimtangan.

Wala man ako sang daku nga ginahandum.)
7. I aspire to see my children finish their studies.
(Handum ko nga makatapos ang akon kabataan sa
ila pagtuon.)
8. I set expectations for my children and pressure
them to attain it.
(Ginahatagan ko sang lalambuton ang akon
kabataan kag ginapilit ko sila nga malambut gid
ini.)
9. At this time, I believe that I have already
attained my dreams.
(Sa subong, nagapati ako nga naabot ko na ang
akon mga damgo.)
10. I want to be rich but I don’t know how to do it.
(Gusto ko nga manginmanggaranon pero indi ako
kabalo kun paano.)
2.2. Educational Values on Self-esteem (Edukasyunal nga pagpati sa kaugalingon nga

dungog)
sugot)
1. I am ashamed to go to my children’s school.
(Nahuya ako magkadto sa eskwelahan sang akon
kabataan.)
2. I do not like people to pity me because of my
situation.
(Indi ako luyag nga kaluoyan ako sang mga tawo
tungod sa akon sitwasyun.)
3. I do not care what other people will say about
me as long as I do not hurt anybody.
(Wala ako labot kun ano man ang hambalon sang
mga tawo sa akon basta wala ako nagaperwisyo sa
ila.)
4. It is good to finish my education to boost my
self-esteem.
(Mas maayo gid nga makatapos ako sa pag-
eskwela agud mabatak ko man ang akon dungog.)
5. I am not at ease being with other people
because they might be talking behind my back.
(Indi ako mapahamtang upod sa iban nga tawo kay
basi ila ako ginalibak.)
6. I am ashamed to borrow money to pay for my
children’s tuition and other expenses.
(Nahuya ako manghulam kwarta nga ibayad sa
tuition o galastuhan sang akon kabataan.)
7. I pity myself because of what I had been
through in life.
(Naluoy ako sa akon kaugalingon tungod sang
170
akon naagyan.)
8. I have to be strong for the sake of my children.
(Kinahanglan ko nga magpakabakud para sa akon
kabataan.)
9. I am not ashamed of doing menial chores just
to earn some money.
(Wala ako nahuya magpamugon tungod
kinahanglan ko ang kwarta.)
10. I feel that people belittle us because of our
status in life.
(Nabatyagan ko nga ginapakanubo kami sang tawo
tungod sa amon kahimtangan.)
2.3. Educational Values on Outlook towards Education (Edukasyonal nga pagpati sa panan-
awon sa edukasyon)
sugot)
1. It is important for me to finish my education.
(Kinahanglan ko gid matapos ang akon pagtuon.)
2. It is necessary for my children to finish their
education.
(Kinahanglan nga matapos gid sang akon
kabataan ang ila pagtuon.)
3. I was not interested to study because of lack of
money.
(Indi ako interesado magtuon sadto tungod sa
kakulangan sa kwarta.)
4. Even if we are not financially well-off, I
encourage my children to pursue education.
(Bisan may kakulangan kami sa kwarta,
ginaengganyo ko gid ang akon kabataan nga
magpadayun sa pagtuon.)
5. I believe that education is a way of improving
our status in life.
(Nagapati ako nga ang pagtuon amo ang paagi
para mag-uswag kami.)
6. I advise some of my children to stop schooling
because we do not have enough money.
(Ginalaygayan ko ang akon kabataan nga mag-
untat na lang sa pagtuon tungod wala kami
bastante nga kwarta.)
7. I work hard and even borrowed some money
just to pay for my children’s tuition and other
expenses.
(Nagabakas ako kag nagapangutang pa gid sang
kwarta para sa tuition o galastuhan sang akon
kabataan.)
8. I advise my children to study hard and get good
grades.
(Ginalaygayan ko ang akon kabataan nga magtuon
171
gid para makakuha sang mataas nga grado.)

9. If my children do not want to go to school, I
don’t mind.
(Kun indi luyag sang akon kabataan nga mag-
eskwela, ginapabay-an ko lang sila.)
10. Skills and experiences in life are more
important than education.
(Ang kina-adman kag ekperyensya sa kabuhi
labing importante kaysa sa edukasyon.)
2.4. Educational Values on Decisiveness (Edukasyonal nga pagpati sa paghimo desisyon)

sugot)
1. My children can not easily deceive me because
I know better than them.
(Indi ako basta matunto sang akon mga anak
tungod mas may ihibalo ako sang sa ila.)
2. As long as they stay in my house, my children
should follow my decisions.
(Samtang nagapuyo sila sa akon balay,
kinahanglan magsunod ang akon kabataan sa akon
desisyon.)
3. Most of my major decisions in life seem to be
wrong.
(Kalabanan sang akon mga desisyon sa kabuhi,
sala.)
4. I let my children do some decisions of their
own such as choosing their friends.
(Ginapabay-an ko nga magdesisyonsa sila sa ila
kaugalingon pareho abi sang pagpili sang ila
abyan.)
5. I decide what school or course my children
should take up.
(Ako ang nagadesisyun kun ano ang eskwelahan
kag kurso ang kuhaon sang akon kabataan.)
6. I cannot decide what is best for my children.
(Indi ako makadesisyun kun ano ang maayo para
sa akon mga kabataan.)
7. My parents are the ones taking care of my
children.
(Ang akon ginikanan amo ang naga-asikaso sang
akon kabataan.)
8. It is hard for me to convince my children to
follow my decision.
(Nabudlayan ako magpasunod sang akon mga
kabataan sa akon desisyon.)
9. My children are free to decide on what they
want to do.
(Pagusto ang akon kabataan sa pagdesisyun kun
172
ano ila gusto.)

10. I justify my decisions and stand firm on it.
(Ginatindugan ko gid ang akon desisyon.)
3.1. Economic Values on Lifestyle (Ekonomik nga pagpati sa pangginawi)

sugot)
1. We economize on clothes by buying relief
goods or getting second hand things.
(Nagatipid kami sang bayo paagi sa pagbakal sa
ukay-ukay o pagbaton sang mga nausar na nga
bagay.)
2. We spend leisure time together because the
family enjoys each other’s company.
(Upod kami sa paglagaw-lagaw tungod ang amon
pamilya nagakalipay sa isa kag isa.)
3. Members of my family have regular medical
check up at least once a year.
(Kada myembro sang akon pamilya may regular
check-up sa doktor bisan makaisa sa isa ka tuig.)
4. My family avoids buying expensive furniture
and equipment.
(Ang akon pamilya nagalikaw sa pagbakal sang
malahalon nga mga gamit sa balay.)
5. Members of the family prefer to eat meat than
vegetables.
(Mas ginapili sang myembro sang akon pamilya
ang pagkaon sang karne sang sa utan.)
6. Members of the family use spoon and fork
when eating.
(Ang myembro sang akon pamilya naga gamit sang
kutsara kag tinidor kung magkaon.)
7. We prefer to buy ready cooked foods than
preparing it.
(Mas ginapili namon ang magbakal na lang sang
luto na nga pagkaon kaysa sa maghiwat pa.)
8. I go out with my friends at night to party once
in a while.
(Naga upod ako sa akon nga mga abyan nga
maglagaw kung gab-e kun kis-a.)
9. I allow my children go out with friends to
attend parties once in a while.
(Ginapasugtan ko ang akon mga anak nga mag-
guwa upod ang ila nga mga abyan para mag
lingaw-lingaw kun kis-a.)
10. I pamper my children in buying the things they
like.
(Napasugtan ko ang akon nga mga bata sa
pagbakal sang bisan ano lang nga ila naluyagan.)
173
3.2. Economic Values on Work Ethic (Ekonomik nga pagpati sa pamatasan sa obra)
sugot)
1. I am sincere in my work.
(Sinsero ako sa akon nga trabaho.)
2. I am motivated to work.
(Ganado ako sa trabaho.)
3. I report to work punctually.
(Naga-sulod ako sa trabaho sang timprano.)
4. I have different work every month.
(Lain-lain ang akon nga trabaho sa kada bulan.)
5. I am lazy to wake up early in the morning to go
to work.
(Ginatamad ako nga magbugtaw sang temprano
para magkadto sa trabaho.)
6. I easily get bored at work.
(Madali ako nga matak-an sa trabaho.)
7. Money is the only purpose why I work.
(Nagatrabaho ako tungod lang sa kwarta.)
8. I easily get distracted at work because of
personal problems.
(Madali ako matublag sa trabaho tungod sa mga
personal nga problema.)
9. I have good interpersonal relationship with my
co-workers.
(Maayo ang akon nga relasyon sa akon kaupod sa
trabaho.)
10. I am happy with the salary I receive in my
work.
(Nalipay ako sa ginabaton ko nga sweldo sa akon
trabaho.)
3.3. Economic Values on Security (Ekonomik nga pagpati sa seguridad)

sugot)
1. I am not financially secured because I have no
job.
(Wala ako kasiguraduhan sa kwarta tungod wala
ako obra.)
2. I have to work hard to cope with my financial
needs.
(Kinahanglan ko magbakas obra para mapun-an
ko ang akon kakulangan sa kwarta.)
3. I strive to own a house of my own.
(Nagatinguha ako nga maka-angkon sang
kaugalingon nga balay.)
4. I plan to acquire educational and pension plans.
(May plano ako nga magkuha sang educational
174
kag pension plan.)

5. Having SSS and Philhealth plans is a necessity
for me.
(Importante gid nga may SSS kag Philhealth ako.)
6. I make it a point to save for the future of the
family.
(Ginatinguhaan ko nga makatipon para sa
buasdamlag sang akon pamilya.)
7. I advise my children to be thrifty.
(Ginalaygayan ko ang akon kabataan nga
magtipid.)
8. I work with dedication to maintain and keep my
job.
(Naga-obra ako sang matutum para indi ako
mapahalin sa obra.)
9. Aside from my work, I seek extra source of
income.
(Maluwas sa akon trabaho, may iban pa gid ako
nga pangita.)
10. I have different jobs every month depending on
the needs of the customer.
(Sari-sari ang akon obra kada bulan depende sa
pagkinahanglan sang mga customer.)
3.4. Economic Values on Social Status Sensitivity (Ekonomik nga pagpati sa pagiging
sensitibo sa estado sang kabuhi)
sugot)
1. I wear branded and expensive clothings.
(Malahalun nga beste ang akon ginasuksok.)
2. I select friends who belong to the same social
economic status.
(Ginapili ko ang akon mangin abyan nga pareho
sa akon sang estado.)
3. I am shy in attending school activities because I
might feel out of place.
(Nahuya ako magtambung sa mga buluhaton sa
eskwelahan kay basi indi ako nagakabagay didto.)
4. I am contented with my life and don’t crave for
things I could not afford.
(Kuntento na ako sa akon kabuhi kag wala na
nagahandum sang mga butang nga indi ko
masarangan.)
5. I try to give my children what they want even if
this would cost me much.
(Ginatinguha ko nga mahatag sa akon kabataan
ang ila gusto bisan pa namahalan ako sini.)
6. I feel so insulted when people mention my
being a single parent.
(Nainsulto ako kun ginamentionar sang tawo ang
175
akon pagiging single parent.)

7. My family should be happy despite of our
situation because we still have each other.
(Dapit mangin masadya ang magpamilya kay
ululupod kami sa pihak sang amon kahimtangan.)
8. Despite my situation, I have a lot to be thankful
for and one of it is my children.
(Sa pihak sang amon kahimtangan, madamo ako
sang dapat nga ipagpasalamat kag isa na dira ang
akon kabataan.)
9. My children are ashamed to associate with
other children because of my being a single
parent.
(Nahuya makipag-upod sa iban nga mga bata ang
akon mga anak tunod sang akon pagiging single
parent.)
10. I am not ashamed of my status in life.
(Wala ko ginakahuya ang akon estado sa kabuhi.)
Part III. Experiences.

Please indicate your answer by checking the box on how often these situations
happens to you. (Palihog butangan sang check kun san-o pirme nagakatabu ini nga mga
sitwasyon sa imo.)
4.1. Experiences on Child Rearing Practices (Eksperyensa sa pagpadaku sang kabataan)

Statement Almost Often Sometimes Seldom Never
Always (Pirme ) (Kun kaisa) (Talagsa- (Wala)
(Pirme hun lang)
gid)
1. I punish my children when I am angry.
(Ginapinahan ko ang akon kabataan kun naakig
ako.)
2. When I punish my children, I leave visible
marks.
(Kun sila ginapinahan ko, may makita gid nga
lagub sa lawas.)
3. As a parent, I think I am punishing my
children too much.
(Bilang ginikanan, nabatyagan ko nga sobra gid
ang akon pagpina sa ila.)
4. I feel that my children take up much of my
time.
(Laban sang akon tyempo nagakadto gid sa akon
kabataan.)
5. I get angry with my children.
(Nagaka-akig ako sa akon kabataan.)
6. People tell me I’m too lenient on my child
when he or she misbehaves.
(Ginahambalan ako sang tawo nga daw wala lang
sa akon kun magsinutil ang akon bata.)
7. I am not bothered when my children shouts
176
back at me.
(Daw wala lang sa akon kun ang akon mga anak
magsinggit sa akon.)
8. I am more strict with my children than most
parents are.
(Mas istrikto ako sa akon kabataan kesa sa iban
nga mga ginikanan.)
9. It really bothers me when my child whines
because he or she wants something.
(Nagakabalaka gid ako kun magsinutil ang akon
mga anak kun may gusto sila pangayuon.)
10. I am not worried when my children come
home late at night.
(Wala ako nagakabalaka bisan gab-i na magpuli
ang akon mga anak.)
4.2. Experiences on Time Management (Eksperyensya sa pagbahin-bahin sang oras)

(Pirme hun lang)
gid)
1. I am always busy, but I feel I haven't
accomplished much.
(Pirme lang ako masako pero daw wala man ako
sang madamu nga hinimuan.)
2. People have to wait for me, or for work I'm
supposed to get done.
(Sa masami, ang tawo nagahulat sa akon ukon sa
akon ubra nga dapat ko tapuson.)
3. I have to wait for the right mood to do creative
work.
(Dapat maayo ang akon modo antes ako
makahimo sang trabaho.)
4. I seem to jump around from task to task and
often leave things unfinished.
(Daw nagalumpat-lumpat ako sa akon trabaho,
pero daw wala man ako sang natapos.)
5. Unnecessary socializing takes up too much of
my day.
(Ang labay-labay nga pakipag-istorya ang
nagapuno sang akon oras sa bilog nga adlaw.)
6. I don't interrupt the time I spend with my
family in order to get job-related work done.
(Wala ko gina-intrahan sang trabaho ang akon
tion sa pamilya.)
7. I can find time whenever I need it.
(May tyempo ako sa pagpanumdum kun san-o
gusto ko.)
8. I don't have enough time for my family and
friends.
(Kulang ang akon oras sa pamilya kag mga
177
abyan.)
9. Crises and problems seem to be happening in
my life all the time.
(Pirme lang may krisis kag problema sa akon
kabuhi.)
10. I find time to relax and be with friends.
(Ginaplano ko nga maglingaw-lingaw upod sa
akon abyan.)
4.3. Experiences on Financial Management (Eksperyensya sa pag-budget sang kwarta)

(Pirme hun lang)
gid)
1. I do not have funds for household expenses.
(Pirme lang ginakulang ang akon kwarta sa mga
galastuhan.)
2. I am an impulsive buyer. I have a habit of
buying unimportant things.
(Daso-daso ako kun magbakal. Batasan ko nga
magbakal bisan indi importante nga bagay.)
3. I budget for my whole expenses beforehand.
(Ginaplanuhan ko gid ang akon nga mga
galastuhan.)
4. I borrow money from other people to
compensate my inadequate income.
(Pirme ako gapanghulam kwarta para mapun-an
ang akon kakulangan.)
5. I have other sources of money aside from my
stable income.
(Maluwas sa akon regular nga kita, may ekstra pa
ako nga ginakita.)
6. I rely on my parents and relatives to sustain
my children’s needs.
(Nagasalig ako sa akon ginikanan o paryente para
masustentuhan ang akon kabataan.)
7. I lend money to others in case of emergency
even if it is intended for my own needs.
(Ginapahulam ko ang akon kwarta sa iban kun
sila may emerhensya bisan pa may ginatigan-an
ako sini.)
8. I keep tract of my expenses. I know where my
money is being used.
(Madumduman ko ang akon ginakagastuhan.
Kabalo ako kun diin nagakadto ang akon
kuwarta.)
9. I misplaced or lost some of my money.
(Nagakawasi o nagakadula ang akon kwarta
prime.)
10. I allot a portion of my salary for savings.
(Makatago kag makatipon ako sang kwarta.)
178
4.4. Experiences on Self Image Perception (Eksperyensya sa panan-awon sa kaugalingon)

(Pirme hun lang)
gid)
1. I accept responsibility of my own actions.
(Ginabaton ko ang kunsekwensya sang akon
nahimo.)
2. I learn from my own mistakes.
(May natun-an gid ako nga leksyon kun may sala
ako nga nahimo.)
3. It would be hard for me to develop close
intimate, personal relationships again.
(Nabudlayan na ako makipagrelasyun liwat sa
iban.)
4. I can love others without expecting them to
love me in return.
(Sarang pa ako nga maghigugma sa iban nga
wala nagapaabot nga higugmaon man nila ako.)
5. I have positive relationships with both men
and women in my life.
(Maayo ang akon relasyon sa babaye o lalaki sa
akon kabuhi.)
6. I feel positive about myself as a person.
(Maayo ang akon panan-awon sa akon
kaugalingon.)
7. I feel that my life has a purpose.
(Nabatyagan ko nga may katuyuan ang akon
kabuhi.)
8. My actions are guided by my own beliefs, not
the beliefs of others.
(Ang akon nga ginahimo naayon sa akon pagpati
kag indi sa pagpati sang iban.)
9. I still cry a lot when I remember my problems
in life.
(Nagahibi/nagatangis pa ako kun madumduman
ko ang akon problema.)
10. I feel that I have no more hope left in me.
(Nabatyagan ko nga daw sa wala na gid ako sang
paglaum sa kabuhi.)
Part IV. Coping Mechanism (Pagsugata sa problema)

As a single parent, I cope with my problems by… Almost Often Sometimes Seldom Never
Always (Pirme) (Kun kaisa) (Talagsa- (Wala)
(Bilang isa ka single parent, ginasugata ko ang (Pirme hun lang)
akon problema paagi sa…) gid)
1. praying and attending church activities
(pagpangamuyo kag pag-intra sa buluhaton sang
simbahan)
2. going to the parlor/spa
(pagkadto sa parlor o spa)
179
3. playing mahjong, card games, etc.

(paghampang sang mahjong, baraha, etc.)
4. raising pets/animals
(paghupot sang kasapatan)
5. keeping myself busy at work or at home
(pagiging masako sa akon trabaho sa obra o
balay)
6. day dreaming
(pag-“day dreaming”)
7. taking anti-stress pills
(pag-inom sang pampakalma nga bulong)
8. reading pocketbooks, magazines, comics, etc.
(pagbasa sang pocketbooks, magasin, komiks, etc.)
9. socializing with friends
(paglingaw-lingaw upod sa akon mga abyan)
10. spending quality time with my children and

others
(paghatag sang maayo nga tinion sa akon
kabataan)
11. Others (iban pa): ______________________________________________
Focused Group Discussion Guide

“Familial, Educational and Economic Values and Experiences
of Single Parents in Capiz”
1. How does it feel to be alone in taking care of your child?

Ano ang imo nabatyagan nga naga-isahanun ka nga naga-atipan sang imo
kabataan?
2. How do you adjust being a mother and a father at the same time?
180
Paano ka naka-adjust nga maging nanay kag tatay sa imo anak?
3. How much time do you usually spend for “personal things”?

Pila ka oras ang imo ginatigana sa mga personal nga bagay?
4. What are your trials and difficulties as single parents?

Ano ang imo mga pagtilaw kag kabudlayan bilang isa ka single parents?
5. As a single parent, how can you make your child feel loved or comforted?
Bilang isa ka single parent, paano mo mapabatyag ang imo pagpalangga kag
pagtatap sa imo anak?
6. Who do you approach if you want to seek advice in times of problems and financial
constraints?
Sino ang imo ginapalapitan para mangayo sang laygay kun ikaw may problema
kag kabudlayan sa kwarta? Nga-a?
7. Do you feel that other people misjudge or belittle you because you are a single parent?
Nabatyagan mo bala nga ginahusgaran o ginapakanubo ka sang iban nga tawo
tungod sa imo pagiging single parent?
8. Do you think education is important for you or your children despite of financial
constraints?
Nagapati ka bala nga ang edukasyon importante sa imo ukon sa imo kabataan sa
pihak sang pinansyal nga kabudlayan?
9. Do you still have time to pray or go to church despite of your difficulties?

May tyempo ka pa bala nga magpangamuyo okun magsimba sa pihak sang imo
kabudlayan?
10. From 1 – 10 with ten being the highest, how do you rate yourself as a parent?
Halin sa 1-10 bilang pinakamatas, paano mo markahan ang imo kaugalingon
bilang ginikanan?
11. What is the most important lesson in life that you have learned as a single parent?
Ano ang pinakaimportante nga bagay ang imo natun-an bilang isa ka single
parent?
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Focus Group Discussion on Familial, Educational and Economic Values and

Experiences of Single Parents in Capiz
October 27, 2009, 9:00 am
Hercor College Main Campus, Function Room
Moderator: Ms. Doreen Demalata

Notetaker and Recorder: Ms. Mae Theresa Albaladejo
Mr. Emmanuel Española
Moderator: How does it feel to be alone in taking care of your child?
D1: Good morning everyone. At first, it is hard for me and I am sad. But lately, I
feel more convenient because my children have been good and there are many people
who supported me.
D2: I also felt that at first because my child is a boy. It is very hard to adjust and
balance. It is okay if it is a girl. But it is better that I have my parents to give advice and
support me.
D3: Of course, it is hard to be a single parent. I am not used to depend on my

parents and relatives. The only thing I trusted is my big faith in God. Others can’t help
you but if you are with God, nothing is impossible. I am thankful because even if I’m a
single parent and this had happened to me, I still finished my studies. This is my capital
in raising my child.
D4: In my part, I find it difficult because I am the only one working. That’s all.
D5: I felt self pity and so alone in raising my children. Of course, how should I
feel in raising six children? I rely on my family’s support. I find difficulty in disciplining
my children especially my boys. It is very hard for me to discipline them.
D12: It was in 1976 when my husband died. My son was six and my daughter
was 5. Those times, I don’t know where to start because I have no one to lean on. My
salary was small as a teacher and it is lacking. I let my children understand that they are
different than the others in school and in the community. Now that they’ve grown, I think
they have been advised well, because they’ve grown in to kind persons. I pity myself
before when their father died. But I have God on whom I can trust and I lead my children
to have faith in Him. I am now fulfilled because of my children’s status. They all have a
good life now. I am happy now and I live these days as my last day. I am ready to die
because I will leave my children fulfilled.
D7: Being a single parent, I can’t give time to my child so I leave that to my
mother. I am busy working. Sometimes, my child is with her mother so I only see her
during weekends. It is hard but I have to work to sustain her needs.
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D8: It is hard for me because I have twins. The demand for time and attention is
twice and I strive to give what they demand. I am scared for their future and how I could
provide for it. It’s okay for now because I am still strong and young. But when they get to
college, it would be hard because I have no one to depend on. It is hard because I don’t
know what kind of future I could give them.
D9: In my part, it is hard but I have to face the responsibility of being a parent.
D10: In my part, it is hard but I prefer that I do not have a husband. Of course, I
don’t have to worry. If he is here, we are always fighting. It is better if I don’t have a
husband. It is not good to have him here because pans are flying around and our furniture
is always broken. So, it is okay if he finds another woman. It is okay even if I am alone
so I have no one to worry about.
D11: I am 7 years separated from my husband. We separated because he had an

affair with another woman. I can’t accept it at first because I am afraid of living alone. I
left my children to my parents so I could work. I could not give them the love of a mother
because I am not at their side. It is hard because despite of my hardship, I could not see
them. I am working hard to educate them and no one is there to help. It is different to
have a father to have someone to help me. In my situation, I don’t know why we he
deserted us. It is maybe because I lack something.
Moderator: How do you adjust being a mother and a father at the same time?
D10: At first, I could not adjust. My family thought I am mad because I do not
sleep. At 4: am in the morning, I am still drinking coffee. It is the first time we are
separated and it is so sudden. It is hard to accept. But that time, I have lots of friends.
They supported me. That time, I bear in mind “I don’t need a husband, I need my child.”
I have to work. One time, I left my child alone. I was so shaken and disturbed that time.
He was playing unsupervised and he was wounded with a sharp object. There was a lot of
blood and I could already see his bones. Before, I could not think straight. I thought,
“Why should I care for this child? His father fooled and left me.” But when I saw him
bleeding, I ran to my sister and asked for help. There, I realized, I need my child. So I
strived to find work to buy his milk. I learned to do crafts so I could sell it for money. I
adjusted mostly because of the support of my friends and family.
D8: I had adjusted, too. My child was 5 years old when we separated. He was my
adviser and I was very thankful. It took three years until my family found out about the
separation. My child kept on advising me. He told me that they might be happy now but
in the afterlife, they will surely be sad because of what they are doing. He told me to be
strong and we can make this.
D6: I learned to adjust when my husband died. My children and I slept together. I
tried to fill in the lacking role of a father. I ask them if they have assignments and I
helped them with it. They could not sleep without me. When they were in college, I
would visit them and we would lay the mat on the floor in their boarding house and sleep
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together. It gave me comfort. They only stopped sleeping with me when they got married.
But even so, they still slept with me when they had time to visit. I live with my son right
now. He still finds time to hug me and give me a massage. That helped me adjust.
D5: At this point, it is not really hard for me. Before my husband died, we are
already separated. I am used already in the lack of money and financial crisis. I already
felt that I am alone in raising my family even before he died.
D3: As a father and mother, it is hard. My child is already fatherless when he was still
in my womb. So, when he came out, it is hard because I can’t afford to buy his milk. But
thankfully, my sisters helped me. I strived to take up Board Exam. I am happy to say that
I am this because of him. He is a blessing. I am now well adjusted. I have no problem
with him. My problem now is on how to sustain his allowance since he is studying in
college. I am so proud of him. We are close friends.
Moderator: How much time do you usually spend for “personal things”?
D3: When my child was younger, I have no personal time. But now that he is
grown up, I already have time for myself. I trusted him. We don’t have time seeing each
other except in sem break and texting because he is at school in Iloilo. I now enjoy
working with my co-teachers.
D5: Personal time? Maybe none. My vacant time is my own time. If I don’t have
work for my children, then, that is my own time.
D6: It is hard for me to have personal time. I just make sure that in the morning I
could wash myself. I forget personal time already. When I attend PTA meeting, I would
hide my fingers because I don’t even have time for manicure. I would rather save the
money and spend it on my children’s allowance because we are lacking. I try to be thrifty
in clothings.
D11: I tried to enjoy myself by going to church. I asked Him about what is in for
me and I believe that only God could give me answers.
D7: I am young, so it is okay if I come home or not because I have my mother to

rely on. I tried to enjoy myself and go out often. I do not want to be down because of my
situation as a single parent.
D8: The same with me. I do not always have time for myself. I realized that when
my kids told me to go out and enjoy with friends. Maybe, they sew that I am always
nagging so they told me to go out and enjoy my life. So, I can say that I have time for
myself. It doesn’t mean that I am neglecting my kids when I gave personal time for
myself. I don’t want to spend the rest of my life just taking care of my kids. At least, I am
not being bitter with life. It is good to have balance in myself.
Moderator: What are your trials and difficulties as single parents?

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D1: Many, when my children were young. The worst trial was temptation. To be
honest, my second child was of different father. I think it was the worst because I feel
that I was put to shame especially on my first born. But my parents, my friends and my
school still love me. They were there. I was not bitter at that time. I was sad because I
need somebody. It is hard to be young and separated. I need somebody. I advise my
young students not to be separated because it is not easy to be alone. There is time when
you feel lonely, it is not good… the scene, the consequences, seeing your child. It is not
easy to answer their questions. It is lonely time. It is good to have friends and people who
are around me giving support. Mostly, there is God who forgives and work on the hearts
of people around me.
D5: I experienced difficulties when I was not even a single parent. I experienced
it because my husband’s vices such as drinking, smoking and women. We are already
separated before he died and my children are living with me. I do not say that I am happy
when he died. But somehow it gave me small relief because I have no one to worry
about. He left us a small pension and I used it to sustain my children. Life became lighter
when he died, I felt that my family loved us and supported us more when he died.
Somehow, we overcame the difficulties in life.
D12: Trials depends on how one faces it. When I was newly widowed, I don’t
know when to start. There was a time when I even asked my son to commit suicide with
me. He told me that he would die with me. But when I asked my daughter, she refused. I
remembered that because I don’t want to leave her behind. She will just suffer under the
care of her grandparents and they will make her work in a farm. I pity them. It is good
that we die altogether to end our suffering but my daughter would not come. That cleared
my mind and thoughts. I am happy now because they’ve become good children
Moderator: Being a single parent, how can you make your child feel loved or
comforted?
D7: That is one reason why we work, to sustain the needs of our children.
D8: Time is important for my children because they need it. As single parents, we
need to have many jobs because we think that we should give in to all their needs. But no
matter how much we spoil or give in to their needs, time is more important. It might be
good to say that we are busy in work because it is also for them but time is more
important than giving in to their material needs. We also need to discipline them so they
will not be spoiled because we are the ones who would eventually suffer.
D3: My child is a boy and is studying in college far away from me, so what I do is
text him. I will tell him to try his best and not put me in shame. I do not have vices. I
want to be his model. I do not do things that will make him angry with me. I advise him
to be open with me. Even if we are faraway, I still do my duty as a mother such as texting
him to eat and to take care of himself.
185
D8: We play together and go to church. We would sleep together and talk
together. I told him to tell me his problems because I am the only one who understands
him as his mother. I want him to be open to be. Even if he is already in Grade 3, he is
already the one carrying the money to pay his own tuition. I told him that I am working
because of him so he should not put me to shame.
Moderator: Who do you approach if you want to seek advice in times of

problems and financial constraints?
D1: I am blessed to have many friends in school. It is not hard to ask advice and
lend money. I just go to them. I also ask for help from my parents, relatives and other
friends.
D2: I would approach my parents. In money, it is hard for me because I do not

have work. I want to work but they will not let me. My sister and parents sustain me.
D3: Who do I approach in difficulties? No man could help me. I just sat down and
pray to God and ask Him who I will approach to help me solve the problem. After three
days or one week, my problems are solved. That is how simple it is.
D5: It depends on the problem. In financial, I approach my parents and friends.

But in my personal problems, I approach my friends. I do not share it with my parents or
family ever since because I do not want them to worry about me.
D6: I approach God mainly. I include it in my prayers for Him to help me with
my problems. Msg. Hilata inspired me in my life as a single parent. He would advise me
to approach him every time I have problems even until now. He treated my children as
his own. In financial crisis, my husband’s cousin helped me. He is God’s answer to my
prayers. They promised me that until my children are studying, they would help me.
Their family are close to God and I am very thankful to them. My children are also very
thankful.
Moderator: Do you feel that other people misjudge or belittle you because you
are a single parent?
D3: Judgement is natural but it hurts us as single parents especially at work. They
are pressuring us. But I have to fight for myself that even if I am a single parent, I could
also do their work and even better. I told them not to judge me and my life because ever
since, I have not judged anybody
D1: Maybe at first, such as in my case. I was put to shame. I learned that people
indeed judged me. But I learned that if I treat myself that God had forgiven me and I
don’t mind anymore what happened to me, people would stop minding anymore. They
were rather inspired that I had overcome it. But being Filipinos, it is in our culture that
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people would judge your past. But as long as you treat yourself and accept that you are
threading a good life, that’s it.
D11: I feel that people are judging us in our capability of feeding our children.
What do I do to get those material things for your children? They would say that I can’t
make it because I have no husband. But it is where I fight and told myself that I can do
this. I will do this. If men could work, why can’t I. If you want to work for your kids,
people can do nothing about it. I just leave them be as long as I do my work well. It is
natural for people to judge me. I do not mind as long as I do things for my children.
D5: I also experienced this that people belittle us. One relative once asked me
where I get money to feed my children. She seems surprised that we are not starved. She
is wealthy but I did not mind her. She is supposed to help us instead rather than ask
where we get the money. There was also this one guy where he would give money to my
children just to get through me. I was insulted because he is belittling my situation.
D8: People laughed at me because I send my child to a private school. They

would ask me where I would get the money. But my kid loves to go to a private school.
So I told my kid to strive on his own because I would work hard for him. Let the people
laugh. At least, I had given them happiness somehow.
D5: I also experienced this judgment when there is one drunken man who would
insinuate insulting jokes. I did not entertain him because he might get used to it. I am
different from others. My in-laws would even tell me to get married because I am still
young. But I said, I don’t want to and they would be the first to know if I married again.
So until then, they saw that I am a righteous woman and many admired me that even if I
am widowed, I did not get married. Although, I need a husband to help me raise my
children, I tried not to because I know my children are good children. I will just tend
them well. My husband told me to take good care of them because they are smart. I live
with his words. I supported their school works. And now, I see the truth in his words. I
did not regret not marrying now seeing my children.
Moderator: Do you think education is important for you or your children despite
of financial constraints?
D7: I remember my mother saying that it is important for me to finish my studies.

It is that principle that I would keep in mind for my children. I struggled now to earn in
preparation for my kid’s future. Education is important for us.
D8: I got pregnant at the age of 19, I was in college. I told my mother that I would
stop schooling to take care of my kids. She would not let me. I gave birth in October and
by November, I went back to school. I realized lately that there is a difference in getting
work if you have a degree or not. I also encouraged my children to go to school diligently
even if they do not get good grades. As long as I see them learning, that is okay with me.
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D3: When I was young, my parents told me that intelligence is the only heritage
that they could give us. It is also an important thing that I could give my child so as they
will not be fooled. If we are fooled now in our love life, hopefully next time, we will not
be fooled again. We will be a model for them. They need education for a lifetime.
D1: I told my children to study well. If possible, away from me so they can learn
to cook, wash and budget their own money. I let them understand the importance of
education. High grades are not necessary as long as they don’t get sick or mad. It is not
good to pressure them. As long as they could finish, get a good job and be a good person.
D5: I let my children understand that education is a way of uplifting our status. I
have no land or inheritance to leave them. They should strive on their own. My boys,
however, are indifferent to it but I sill kept on telling them the importance of education.
D6: Education is important for me. I was a working student and finished my
degree. I let my children understand the importance of education. Even if we have
nothing, as long as they could study, I would approach person for help. Dr. Llanera
helped my son with his studies in college and it is a big help for me.
Moderator: Do you still have time to pray or go to church despite of your

difficulties?
D1: I said to God, “Lord, maybe you gave this problem to me so I will pray
often.” Of course, in difficulties, we could approach no one but Him. The most important
one to approach is God. I realized that maybe God gave me this problem so I could not
stay away from him. So now, I always have time to pray and go to church. As a single
parent, this is the only thing that we hold on, that is to pray.
D3: I don’t know if you will agree with me knowing that we might have different
denominations here. Prayer is not only done in the church. Anywhere, any time any
place, we could pray. It is our personal connection to God. That is where I am faithful.
But I am not faithful in going to church. That is my failure. I am ok with prayers, though.
D5: I strived to pray and go to church to do every time. Going to church makes
me feel strong. Problems could often drag us down and makes us weak, but going to
church and hearing his word would make me feel strong. It makes me feel that I am not
alone because I have somebody in the church to ask for advice. In God, you will feel light
amidst heavy burden so we must not neglect it. Regardless of our sect and religion, it is
very important for everyone. With or without problems, we should make it a habit to seek
God.
D6: I gave time in praying. Even if I am busy, I find time to pray for my children.
Before they left, I pray for them and encourage them to pray for themselves, too. It feels
light to go to the church and one feels like a new person. Going to church and attending
in prayer meetings give us strength to remain in God as long as we live.
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D7: It often came to my mind that I may lack in prayer because I did not resist the
temptation. Maybe if I had prayed for faith and resistance in temptation, this had never
happened. But it’s okay. Prayer is important in a person, Even if I had sinned, that is not
the reason why I should not pray. I admit that I’ve sinned that is why I’ve become a
single parent. Still, I pray for forgiveness and strength to resist temptation again.
D8: I am ashamed to say that I do not have time to go to church but I still pray. I
would often say to myself that I would go to the church on Sunday but it would never
happen. I am thankful that my children are not like me. They often go to church and are
often angry if they could not do so. But I always promise to go inside the church and
pray.
Moderator: From 1 – 10 with ten being the highest, how do you rate yourself as
a parent?
D1: 8 only because I also did my best but there are still failures. I am busy with
work so 8 will do.
D2: Maybe 7 because I feel that I haven’t done enough for the needs of my child.
D3: If I rate myself, it will be perfect 10. I am the only one supporting him
starting when he was very young until now that he is about to graduate. I know I can raise
him alone and I admit I can do it.
D4: I am also 10 because I am the only one caring for him starting when he was
very young.
D12: I could rate myself only in the scale of success or failure. It would be ‘or’. I
could not say that I succeed because not all of my children are successful. Not all of them
have good jobs. I just let other people judge me if I am a success or failure.
D6: I have shallow happiness. I am happy now that my children have their own
family, they had graduated in their own and they had realized thier dreams. Before, they
have different likes in course but I convinced them to take up education because it would
be easy for me to go and plea for their tuition to rightful person. They obeyed me and I
was happy. I would rate myself as 10.
D11: I don’t know. I’m still young. Maybe I could try to be a 10. I will find ways
in good ways.
D10: I am also 10 because I will also do my best.
D9: I am also 10. If others can do it so why can’t I?
D8: I am seven because I feel that I’ve done everything but there seems to be
lacking still.
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D7: I am also ten. I am very confident. Whether they become successful or not,
that is not my failure because I know that I am a very responsible father. I did my
responsibility.
Moderator: What is the most important lesson in life that you have learned as a
single parent?
D7: I’ve learned as a single parent that if I could turn back time, maybe I
shouldn’t have done it. I’ve learned from experiences that we should be ready with the
consequences of our actions. We should not be hasty in making decisions. We should
face it according to our faith.
D9: I’ve learned here that I am not alone in my fate. We should not be hasty in
marrying. We must understand our children and their future. We should educate them and
give our best to them. However, we should also realize that we could not give the love of
a missing father.
D3: Maybe, the most important lesson is we should stand on where we fall. We
should be strong. We could do anything that would happen in the future. At least we have
a chance of experiencing it while others do not yet. Why? Do we like what happened to
us? I married at the age of 31 and this is what happened to me! But I was not
discouraged. Why should I? This is intended for me. Maybe someday or somehow,
someone is waiting for me to be happy than the painful past. But pain will not last and it
will soon pass away.
D1: I learned to be strong and follow my dreams. I learned to pray and everything
will just follow. God had given persons as instruments to have a good life as single
parents. I could raise my children as good person someday. I am not sad now. Before
maybe, but not now. I am blessed with today’s trend where there are now many of us.
There is already acceptance among my students and parents. Before, my parents feel bad
that I was neglected but now they enjoyed their grand kids. I am happy. Although, I am
also sad sometimes because my kids are studying already and they would soon depart
from me. I told my youngest whom will I kiss if he is not here. I am happy and I learn to
pray daily for sustenance and blessing.
D5: I learned that I should be strong to face problems. I was never emotional. I
never showed my children how I felt. I want to be a model for them that if ever this
would happened to them, they should be strong also. They will not suffer. They should
also be independent and not rely on their parents. They should not depend on their
partners. So if unexpected happens, they are ready.
D6: I’ve learned to have faith in God and He will answer our prayers as long as
we ask it from him with all our hearts, nothing is impossible if you ask for your needs.
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D2: I learned that women should look for a right guy. Maybe, if I had chosen a
right guy, this should not have happened.
D11: I feel like single again. It is sad and it pains me to see them together. But I
ask for help from God. It is better to be single so that no one could shout at me to go
home and cook. It is okay for me to be a single parent if you have a job and no problem at
finances. It is better to have finished your studies. The sad part is when my children grow
up and depart and I will be alone again. But it will be better if I could find a right guy,
maybe God would provide.
D10: I’m happy and sad at the same time. I feel like cursing my child’s father.
Financially, I could do it. I have to be strong. My child is still small.
D8: I learn to be sensitive on how my child felt. I thought it is okay with them
without their father. I learned that my children also felt sad without their father. My child
cried once to her father. She saw her father in Friendster with a woman. She is blaming
her father and she used it to bribe him on gaining something she wants. I learn that they
are also sensitive even if they are young. I thought they are happy with me but I did not
know that they also kept sadness inside. It pains me to see them crying to their father. I
tried to be civil with my husband so as not to hurt them.
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Frequency Table
Table 1 Socio Demographic Characteristics of Single Parents
sex
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative

Percent
Valid male 57 14.5 14.5 14.5
female 336 85.5 85.5 100.0
Total 393 100.0 100.0
age

Percent
Valid young 137 34.9 34.9 34.9
middle aged 158 40.2 40.2 75.1
old aged 98 24.9 24.9 100.0
Total 393 100.0 100.0
place of residence

Percent
Valid urban 44 11.2 11.2 11.2
rural 349 88.8 88.8 100.0
Total 393 100.0 100.0
religious affiliation
Frequency Percent Valid Cumulative

Percent Percent
Valid Roman Catholic 350 89.1 89.1 89.1
Baptist 10 2.5 2.5 91.6
Assembly of God 7 1.8 1.8 93.4
Jehovah’s Witnesses 6 1.5 1.5 94.9
Iglesia ni Cristo 11 2.8 2.8 97.7
Seventh Day Adventist 6 1.5 1.5 99.2
Mormons 3 .8 .8 100.0
Total 393 100.0 100.0
educational attainment
Frequency Percent Valid Cumulative

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Percent Percent
Valid elem level 57 14.5 14.5 14.5
Elem graduate 55 14.0 14.0 28.5
High sch level 53 13.5 13.5 42.0
High sch graduate 75 19.1 19.1 61.1
Vocational graduate 26 6.6 6.6 67.7
College level 63 16,0 16,0 83.7
College graduate 52 13.2 13.2 96.9
With masteral units 10 2.5 2.5 99.5
With doctoral units 1 .3 .3 99.7
Doctoral degree 1 .3 .3 100.0
Total 393 100.0 100.0
Occupation

Percent
Valid employed 152 38.7 38.7 38.7
Self-employed 148 37.7 37.7 76.3
unemployed 93 23.7 23.7 100.0
Total 393 100.0 100.0
Estimated monthly family income

Percent
Valid low 346 88.0 88.0 88.0
Average 35 8.9 8.9 96.9
high 12 3.1 3.1 100.0
Total 393 100.0 100.0
Number of children

Percent
Valid few 264 67.2 67.2 88.0
Many 95 24.4 24.4 96.9
Very many 34 8.6 8.6 100.0
Total 393 100.0 100.0
Number of years as single parent

Percent
Valid short 287 73.0 73.0 73.0
long 106 27.0 27.0 100.0
Total 393 100.0 100.0
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Classification as single parent

Percent
Valid widowed 185 47.1 47.1 47.1
Separated 109 27.7 27.7 74.8
unmarried 99 25.2 25.2 100.0
Total 393 100.0 100.0
Table 9
Socio-Demographic Characteristics as Predictors of Familial Values

R Square Change B SEB Beta F F
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Sex 0.003 0.000 0.000 0.002 0.041 0.003 0.003 0.956 ns
Age 0.075 0.006 0.006 0.028 0.019 0.075 1.099 0.334 ns
Religious affiliation 0.119 0.014 0.007 -0.029 0.018 0.083 2.809 0.061 ns
Occupation 0.209 0.044 0.015 -0.046 0.018 -0.125 2.948 0.008 s
Estimated monthly
family income 0.216 0.046 0.003 0.035 0.033 0.053 2.681 0.010 s
Number of children 0.066 0.004 0.000 0.013 0.046 0.015 0.571 0.634 ns
Number of years as
Single parent 0.032 0.001 0.001 0.021 0.032 0.032 0.412 0.521 ns
Classification as
single parent 0.051 0.003 0.002 0.014 0.018 0.041 0.516 0.598 ns
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Table 10
Socio-Demographic Characteristics as Predictors of Educational Values

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Sex 0.030 0.001 0.001 0.027 0.044 0.030 0.364 0.547 ns
194
Age 0.031 0.001 0.000 0.000 0.020 -0.001 0.182 0.834 ns
Place of residence 0.031 0.001 0.000 -0.006 0.050 -0.007 0.126 0.944 ns
Religious affiliation 0.041 0.002 0.001 0.007 0.014 0.026 0.160 0.958 ns
Occupation 0.225 0.051 0.010 -0.041 0.020 -0.102 3.427 0.003 s
Estimated monthly
Income 0.237 0.056 0.005 0.054 0.036 0.076 3.267 0.002 s
Number of years as
Single parent 0.009 0.000 0.000 0.006 0.035 0.009 0.034 0.855 ns
Classification as
single parent 0.073 0.005 0.005 0.028 0.019 0.074 1.033 0.357 ns
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Table 11
Socio-Demographic Characteristics as Predictors of Economic Values

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Sex 0.102 0.010 0.010 0.083 0.041 0.102 4.124 0.043 s
Age 0.104 0.011 0.000 0.007 0.019 0.017 2.117 0.122 ns
195
Occupation 0.161 0.026 0.000 -0.004 0.019 -0.012 1.705 0.118 ns
Estimated monthly
Income 0.185 0.034 0.002 0.029 0.034 0.044 1.948 0.061 ns
Number of years as
Single parent 0.037 0.001 0.001 0.024 0.033 0.037 0.537 0.464 ns
Classification as
single parent 0.060 0.004 0.002 -0.017 0.018 -0.049 0.714 0.490 ns
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Table 12
Socio-Demographic Characteristics as Predictors

of Experiences of the Respondents

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Sex 0.102 0.010 0.010 0.083 0.041 0.102 4.124 0.043 s
Age 0.104 0.011 0.000 0.007 0.019 0.017 2.117 0.122 ns
196
Occupation 0.161 0.026 0.000 -0.004 0.019 -0.012 1.705 0.118 ns
Estimated monthly
Income 0.185 0.034 0.002 0.029 0.034 0.044 1.948 0.061 ns
Number of years as
Single parent 0.037 0.001 0.001 0.024 0.033 0.037 0.537 0.464 ns
Classification as
single parent 0.060 0.004 0.002 -0.017 0.018 -0.049 0.714 0.490 ns
Table 13
Difference in the Values and Experience of the Respondents

when Classified According to Place of Residence
Variables Mean Mean Sig.

Difference t-value (2tailed) Probability
_____________________________________________________________________________
Familial Values
Urban 3.68
0.11 2.319 0.024* s
Rural 3.80
Educational Values
197
Urban 3.77
0.00 0.093 0.926 ns
Rural 3.77
Economic Values
Urban 3.76
-0.02 -0.353 0.726 ns
Rural 3.78
Experiences
Urban 3.36
-0.05 0.826 0.413 ns
Rural 3.42
Legend: * s = significant @ alpha 0.05

ns = not significant
198
CURRICULUM VITAE
Name : Olive Joy Guillergan-Abing
Address : Mission Hills Subd., Milibili, Roxas City
Date of Birth : July 21, 1981
Age : 28 years old
Parents : Joel Palma Guillergan (deceased)
Nida Molato Asis
Husband : Nimrod Alonzo Abing
Children : Alethea Nicole Guillergan Abing
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
Elementary : Cala-agus Elementary School

Cala-agus, Mambusao, Capiz
Secondary : Iloilo National High School

Iloilo City
College : Bachelor in Secondary Education major in English

Filamer Christian College
Master’s Degree : MAT English

Filamer Christian College
Work Affiliation : Acting Dean, Education Department

Hercor College

Familial, Educational and Economic Values and Experiences of Single Parents in Capiz

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FAMILIAL, EDUCATIONAL, AND ECONOMIC VALUES

AND EXPERIENCES OF SINGLE PARENTS IN CAPIZ

THE FACULTY OF THE GRADUATE SCHOOL

COLEGIO DELA PURISIMA CONCEPCION

IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS

FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY

OLIVE JOY G. ABING

This dissertation, entitled FAMILIAL, EDUCATIONAL AND ECONOMIC

FELISA P. JAVIER, Ed. D.

Approved by the Committee on Oral Examination with a grade of PASSED on

JOCELYN A. ALBA, Ph. D.

REV. FR. REYNALDO A. VILLANOY, PH.D. SALVIO E. LLANERA, Ed.

INMACULADA O. OCBINA, Ph.D. ENGR. JOEL C. VILLARUZ PH.D.

VIRGINIA P. RESURRECCION, Ph.D., CESO 111

FELISA P. JAVIER, Ed. D.

the researcher gave due tribute to them.

completion of the researcher’s doctoral program. Extended gratitude to Manang Kristy

of the Hercor Administration for readily granting her financial needs;

Llanera from FCC;

Lolitz and Mam Tena for their support;

researcher brings back all the glory.

Specifically, this study aims to answer the following questions:

1. What are the socio-demographic characteristics of the single parents in terms

of sex, age, place of residence, religious affiliation, educational attainment, occupation,

and classification as a single parent?

ties, spirituality and respect?

esteem, outlook towards education and decisiveness?

ethic, security and social status sensitivity?

rearing practices, time management, financial management and self-image perception?

7. Are socio-demographic characteristics such as sex, age, place of residence,

religious affiliation, educational attainment, occupation, estimated monthly family

parent significant predictors of familial, educational, and economic values and

experiences of the respondents?

8. Is there a significant difference in the values and experiences of the

respondents when they are classified according to their place of residence?

regression and t-test.

Educational values are deemed as moderately important value by the respondents

economic status and gain a respected reputation in the community.

Single parents consider economic values as another moderately important value to

improvement of their economic status.

Single parents view familial, educational and economic values as moderately

the focal point of their lives.

practices, time management, financial management and self-image perception. They

Occupation, estimated monthly family income and place of residence are

significant predictors of familial values. Educational values are significantly predicted by

and number of children are significant predictors of experiences.

There is no significant difference in the educational and economic values and

Difference only occurs on their familial values.

LIST OF FIGURES xvii

Background of the Study 1

Statement of the Problem 6

Hypotheses of the Study 7

Significance of the Study 10

Scope and Delimitation of the Study 12

II REVIEW OF LITERATURE AND RELATED STUDIES 16

Experiences of Single Parents 36

111 RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY 53

Validation of the Questionnaire 57

Reliability of the Questionnaire 58

Data Gathering Procedure 59

Scoring the Variables 61

Statistical Tools to be Used 62

IV PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATON OF DATA 64

Socio-demographic Characteristics of the Respondents 64