Views toward marriage of young adults with separated parents

• Main Authors: Borromeo, Federico Lauro Jose Aguila, Fuentes, Raul Ma. Jose Mauricio, Tomaneng, Maria Eliza De la Vega
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 1998
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_bachelors/16542
• Institution: De La Salle University

This study focused on views toward marriage of young adults with separated parents. It is mainly an exploratory study which utilized the case study approach, facilitated by the in-depth interview. Thirty respondents, with ages 15-20, and whose parents separated when they were 7-12 years old, coming from three different classes, namely upper, middle and lower classes, were interviewed through the chain referral method. These respondents were taken from areas in Metro Manila, specifically in Makati, Alabang, Pasig, and Parañaque. It was discovered that the most common reason for separation is partner's infidelity, usually on the father's part. For the lower class, separation is rooted in fathers' gambling and indulging in other vices. It was also found that the children carry this hatred toward the parent who left the family or who is believed to be at fault. While the respondents from lower class coped easily with the situation, those from the upper and middle classes had a harder time adjusting. This is because those from the lower class had to stop schooling so that they can work immediately to help the family with additional income. They have become too preoccupied with work to let their situation bother them. Recommendations were addressed to future researchers and counsellors. Two hypotheses were generated at the end of the study. First was that, there is a difference in period of adjustment and acceptance of parent separation by young adults among the three social classes, namely the upper, middle and lower. The young adults from the upper and middle classes had a harder time coping with their parents' separation while those from the lower class adjust easily. The second was that, young adults, even if their parents marriage did not succeed, still would like to get married in the future. But some are still uncertain.