The experiences and moral support received by late adolescents withdying family member.

• Main Authors: Peñaflor, Roy Philip S., Salvid, Junel Marie Antonete L., Santos, Mae Ann G.
• Format: Theses and Dissertations NonPeerReviewed
• Published: 2013
• Subjects: BF Psychology; HQ The family. Marriage. Woman
• Online Access: http://thesis.dlsud.edu.ph/1433/1/PenaflorSalvidSantos%20...%20-%20Dying.pdf; http://thesis.dlsud.edu.ph/1433/
• Institution: De La Salle University

ABSTRACT Name Of Institution : De La Salle University - Dasmariñas Address : Dasmarinas Bagong-Bayan, Cavite Title : The Experiences and Moral Support Received by Late Adolescents with Dying Family Member Proponents : Roy Philip S. Peñaflor Junel Marie Antonete L. Salvid Mae Ann G. Santos Funding Source : Parents Cost : Php 8, 000 Date Started : June 2012 Date Submitted : March 2013 Objectives: A. General 1. To identify the experiences and moral support received by late adolescents with dying family member. B. Specific 1. What is the profile of the respondents in terms of: a. age, b. relationship to the patient, v c. cause of illness of the patient, and d. time of hospitalization? 2. What are the problems encountered by late adolescents with dying family member in terms of: a. financial, b. relationship to other people, c. eating habits, d. sleep patterns, e. academics, and f. coping mechanisms? 3. How are adolescents supported by the following: a. family, b. peer, and c teachers? Scope and Limitation: This study revolved around the narrative accounts of ten late adolescents who are currently experiencing a dying family member and the common moral supports that the respondents usually receive from their family, friends and teachers. Research Methodology The researcher used qualitative research, specifically descriptive research design using case study method since the study focused more on the narrative vi accounts of experiences in terms of the problems they face and the coping mechanisms they use on that event. More so, the common moral supports received by late adolescents in dealing with their dying family member were also looked into. The participants of this study were late adolescents who belonged to the age group of sixteen to twenty one years of age. These participants were experiencing dying family member. These participants were chosen through purposive sampling. In total, there were ten participants for this study. This study used two instruments in order to gather the data. The researchers used interview as the primary research instrument in gathering information particularly face-to-face interview. Further, the other instrument that the researchers used was a self-made test to determine the common psychosocial relationship support received by late adolescents from their family, peers and teachers. The self made test was composed of 30 questions, 10 questions for each domain that were scored using a Likert scale. Each question was answered by: Never, Rarely, Sometimes, Often and Always. After gathering all the respondents’ answers from the interview, responses for each item were obtained and tabulated. Each answer of the respondents was connected and generalized in order to come up with a conclusion about the common experiences of late adolescents in terms of the problems and vii coping mechanisms they use in that event and the psychosocial relationship support they receive from their family, peers and social. Content Analysis based on the respondents’ responses was used. As for the self made test, the test was scored through the use of a Likert scale. Findings Based on the study conducted by the researcher, the following results were gathered: 1. The respondents of this study were composed of ten late adolescents with the mean age of 19. Four of them were aged twenty, two were nineteen, other two were seventeen, one was eighteen and the remaining one was twenty-one years of age. Majority (4) of the respondents had a dying family member, their mother, in which 2 of the patients had breast cancer while the other two had stroke and heart disease. More so, two of the respondents lost their fathers due to stroke and the other one had multiple diseases such as heart disease, pneumonia and diabetes. Also, one of the respondents had a dying sibling due to motor accident. Lastly, the remaining 3 respondents had dying sibling, cousin and uncle because of leukemia, accident and heart disease, respectively. In addition to this, 5 of the respondents confined their loved ones in the hospital for a month, while the other three confined for a week. The remaining confined their dying family member for one year. 2. One of the problems faced by late adolescents was financial and majority of (7) of the respondents said that they experienced financial difficulty. Seven of the respondents (Mark, Buboy, Oyong, Gia, Yna, Arlene, and Biboy) agreed that they viii have problem financially. Most of their reasons were that their parents are unemployed, some have average or minimum income, and others have a lot of bills and debts to pay. However the other three (3) respondents (Margie, Jake, and Jhenny) said that they do not experience financial problem. Further, as to respondents’ relationship with others, six out of ten (Mark, Marggie, Jake, Gia, Oyong, and Biboy) said that their relationship with the people around them does not change even though they are experiencing difficult situation. The other four respondents (Yna, Arlene, Buboy, and Jhenny) said that there are changes in the way they communicate and deal with other people. According to Morgan & Roberts (2010), this experience is a turning point in the emotional, personal and social life of a person. It is an event that initiates a period of substantial change and redirection in the way one views himself and his relationship to others. People become vulnerable to a personal crisis that may not be readily apparent to their lives. In addition, for the eating habits of the respondents it shows that eight out of ten respondents (Marggie, Jake, Jhenny, Oyong, Buboy, Yna, Arlene, and Biboy) said that their appetite have changed because of the situation they are facing right now. Three of them (Marggie, Buboy, and Oyong) said that they eat a lot when they are stressed or depressed, and when they think about their problems they tend to eat again. As to the sleeping pattern of the respondents, majority or six out of ten respondents said that after having a dying family member, they experience changes ix in their sleeping patterns. Meanwhile, four of the respondent said that there are no remarkable changes in their sleeping patterns after this incident has happened to their loved one. More so, for the academics of the respondents, four out of ten respondents said that after having a dying family member, they have experienced changes in their academics. Six of the respondent said that there are no remarkable changes in their academics pattern. Lastly, for the coping mechanisms/strategies of the respondents, nine out of ten of the respondents said that their coping mechanisms are affected positively, specially in terms of becoming stronger and mature and of having positive outlook in life. However, the remaining one respondent said that she is affected negatively. As to moral support test, nine of the respondents scored high in the family support. However, one of them scored the same in the support she receives from her peers. The remaining one received social support. It shows that the respondents are dependent, open and have strong bonding with their families. 3. As to moral support, nine of the respondents scored high in family support. However, one of them scored the same in the support she receives from her peers. The remaining one received social support. It shows that the respondents are dependent, open and have strong bonding with their families. Conclusions In the view of the finding of the study, the following are the conclusion formulated: x 1. In the profile of the respondents, majority are 20 years old. Majority of their loved ones suffering from life-threatening condition are mothers and suffering from breast cancer, stroke/blood pressure and heart disease. 2. The respondents experience different problems. After experiencing distressing incidents, some react in an emotional ways while some show no reaction at all. Some of the changes are in the respondents’ financial status, relationship with other people, eating habits, sleeping patterns, academics and in coping mechanism/strategies 3. Majority of the respondents still have a positive outlook towards the condition of their loved ones. 4. Majority of the respondents receive more support from their families than from their friends and teachers. Some of the factors considered why the respondents scored high support with their families are the tight of bonding in family and the relationship with other members. Recommendations The researchers recommended the following: 1. For the late adolescents dealing with their dying family member, especially for those having a hard time coping up with the situation, seeking support from parents, other relatives, or friends, or professionals and support groups can help normalize their reactions. Also, doing activities that reduce stress can be a big help while going through the whole process. xi 2. For the family, relative and friends of those persons who are experiencing a life threatening condition of their loved ones, they could give more time and attention to deal with these late adolescent. Provide enough support and care for them since this could help a lot in making their situation easier. 3. For the counselors, they may give interference or intervention to the family, relatives and friends who are currently experiencing dying family member, especially for those who are having a hard time in coping with the situation. They could give some brief counselling and some therapy that could help enable their coping processes. This could also help normalize their psychological functioning again. 4. For the future researchers, they could study more on behavioral reactions and coping mechanisms of the late adolescents who are currently dealing with dying family members. They should provide longer time for gathering data so that the obtained data would be more precise. Also, the interview should be more extensive so that the information that will be obtained will be more accurate.