Parent-child relationship of adolescents with separated parents.

• Main Authors: Castro, Carla Christine Mercedes A., De Castro, Kristy Ann V., Sarabia, Ma. Katrina L.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2001
• Subjects: Children of separated parents; Parent and child; Psychology
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_bachelors/10378
• Institution: De La Salle University

The study aims to describe the parent-child relationship of adolescents with separated parents, effects of the separation on the parent-child relationship with the parent he/she is living with and not living with, and the coping strategies of the adolescent. The variables: communication, warmth or affection, time spent together, autonomy and living arrangements were used to describe the parent-child relationship. This was made possible through interviews with the adolescents. The respondents in this study were twelve adolescents, ranging from twelve to nineteen whose parents separated within that age range before the study. The data gathered was analyzed qualitatively through the categorization of themes. The results showed that there are five major themes (with fifteen subthemes) for the effects on the parent-child relationship, and three major themes (with six subthemes) for the coping strategies. The common themes of the adolescents' relationship with the parent they are living with were open communication, verbally and behaviorally affectionate, frequent time together, partial dependence and high satisfaction on the living arrangements. The common themes of the adolescents' relationship with the parent they are not living with were partial-open communication, behaviorally affectionate and frequent time together. The effects were assumption of adult role, improved relationship of the adolescents with the parent they are not living with and family triangle. The common theme for the coping strategies was seeking social support. An adolescent's present relationship with his/her parents is anchored on the foundation before the separation and the effects of the separation on the parent-child relationship depends on the reasons for the separation.