Perceived effects of marital separation and coping strategies among Chinese-Filipino children

• Main Author: Yu, Jeanette O.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2006
• Subjects: Separation (Law) > Philippines; Marital separation; Separated parents; Divorce; Children of divorced parents.; Counseling
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_masteral/3599; https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/context/etd_masteral/article/10437/viewcontent/CDTG004158_P__2_.pdf
• Institution: De La Salle University

The purpose of this study was to determine how parental separation affected the thoughts, feelings, behaviors of Chinese-Filipino children and how they coped with this situation. For the first phase of this descriptive study, the researcher used the survey questionnaire to interview 20 Chinese-Filipino respondents, whose ages ranged from 13-21. For the second phase, the researcher chose four respondents to serve as case studies. The results of this study showed that the Chinese culture was a major factor in the marked differences when it comes to the effects of parental separation on the thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and coping strategies of Chinese-Filipino children. Although the respondents experienced the wide spectrum of thoughts (e.g. uncertainty) and emotions (e.g. loneliness, anger, and hatred) associated with parental separation, none of them became delinquent. On the contrary, they excelled in their studies, worked extra hard to earn money, and shunned away from vices. These findings contradicted other studies which revealed the externalizing problems of children with separated parents. The Chinese philosophy of yun (i.e. man-made fate) and lian (i.e. moral integrity) affected the respondents way of thinking, feeling, and behaving. The Confucian principle of filial piety influenced them to study hard with the aim of giving their custodial parent a more luxurious life in the future. The strict discipline, be it at home or in school, in which they were brought up also shaped their way of behaving. Their socio-economic status may have played a part in the way they behaved and coped. Most of the respondents belonged to the middle-class and had no extra time or money to engage in various vices or in a steady relationship. Due to the Chinese concept of saving face, the respondents found it difficult to open up to others. They only confide to very close friends or relatives. The respondents attributed their resilience to their outlook in life, their faith in God, and their support system.