Work demands and perceived family roles of Filipino male doctors: Positive and negative consequences

• Main Authors: Bernardo, Joanne Pamela R., Castro, Katherine Theresa A., Gomez, Maria Michelle Carmen L.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2002
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_bachelors/17209
• Institution: De La Salle University

This basic research study described the work demands and family roles of a Filipino male doctor. Specifically, it looked into how his role of providing for his family through his profession impinges on his role of satisfying basic needs, security, discipline and other personal needs of his family. Consequently, it also illustrated that a conflict arises when there is a clash between both roles resulting to perceived positive or negative consequences on the wife and children. These conflicts were then classified accordingly. Furthermore, the study also examined how the respondents strived to balance such conflict through managing the negative consequences and the outcomes of such on his family roles. Subsequently, in-depth interviews using interview guides were conducted to obtain information vis-a-vis the research objectives. The respondents were composed of fifteen Filipino male doctors specializing in the field of internal medicine aged 30 years old and above. In addition, he must be married to a housewife with at least one child, 7 years old or above. In relation, research generalizations were limited to the respondents' perception of both roles and consequences. Accordingly, the results showed that the conflict is created when the father fulfills his family role as a financial provider by working hard thus satisfying this particular duty but sacrificing his other family roles. Also, a unique characteristic of their profession is being on-call. Therefore, making the doctors more disposed to do the demands of their profession anytime. However, they also have the privilege to choose not to go to work to attend to important family matters. Furthermore, the respondents try to resolve the conflict through dialogue or making their families understand the duties and responsibilities of their profession. Therefore, respondents believe that because through managing the negative consequences they have become better fathers and husbands. Lastly, it was also noted that the negative consequences appear during the early years of practicing medicine. Positive consequences then follow because the family has already learned to adjust.