Problems and coping strategies of college students living with single parents

• Main Authors: Selvio, Donnabel A., Ramos, Ma. Carmen H.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 1998
• Subjects: Children of single parents > Psychology; College students > Psychology; Psychology
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_bachelors/4018
• Institution: De La Salle University

This study describes the problems (which were categorized into familial aspect, social and sexual aspect, emotional and attitudinal, personal, scholastic, and finally physical/health aspects) and coping strategies of students living in single-parent homes, particularly: female college students living with the mother, male college students living with the mother, female college students living with the father, and male college students living with the father. It determined whether there are differences according to the sex of the parent and sex of the child in the current problems experienced, and coping strategies used. The current level of adjustment of college students living with single parents is also probed. Facts were gathered through the survey method, the Rotters' Incomplete Sentence Blank (RISB) and in-depth interviews. Data were analyzed through frequencies, and content analysis. The findings revealed that the most number of problems dealt with by the students were regarding family related matters, followed by social and sexual relations, emotional and attitudinal aspect, personal life, scholastic performance and lastly concerning physical/health aspects. With regards to the coping strategies used, it is usually seeking help from other people as the primary recourse. Seconded by avoidance of the person causing the conflict or the situation and lastly, rationalizing their own situation. Generally, it showed that the group of females living with their mother had the most occurrence of experiencing the problems while either seeking help from others or avoiding the problem. It was also found that there is no difference when comparing the sex of the parent and the sex of the child in terms of the problems experienced by each group, as well as the coping strategies. All the subjects were maladjusted, ranging from slight to moderate.