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Research entitled

“NEGATIVE AND POSITIVE EFFECTS

ON THE PSYCHOLOGICAL WELFARE OF CHILDREN
WITH OFW PARENTS IN THE PHILIPPINES”

is presented
as a partial requirement in

Bachelor of Arts in Communication (ABM-COM)

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology-Reduce (ABPsych-reduced)
Bachelor of Secondary Education Major in English-Reduced (BSEDEng-Reduced)
Bachelor of Science in Information Technology (BSIT)

On the subject
The Contemporary World (GE6102)

Submitted by:

JUDITH ANN QUINIO

LEORNARDETTE ANN CHUA MARCO
MARY ANN CHUA MARCO
KARL LITO V. PAULO
Researcher

Submitted to:

PROF. GABRIELLIE ROSE R. NEPOMUCENO

Research Adviser

Month Finished 2020

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APPROVAL SHEET

In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the subject course, GE102 – The
Contemporary World this research paper entitled " NEGATIVE AND POSITIVE
EFFECTS ON THE PSYCHOLOGICAL WELFARE OF CHILDREN WITH OFW
PARENTS IN THE PHILIPPINES " has been prepared and submitted by Mary Ann
Marco, accepted and approved in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree
Major in Marketing Management Bachelor of Science in Business
Administration (BSBA) who is hereby recommended for oral examination.

__________________________________
PROF. GABRIELLIE ROSE R. NEPOMUCENO
Research Adviser

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

First and foremost we would like to express our unending gratitude and praise to God
the almighty, our brother Jesus Christ and to all the saints in heaven for showering all the
blessings, knowledge, guidance and strength given to us to finish this research work
successfully and achieve our goals for the betterment of our families and status in life, may
the glory and praise be to God always.

In presenting our research, we had to take the help and guideline of some respected
persons, who deserve our greatest gratitude. The completion of this research gives us much
pleasure. We would like to show our gratitude to the AMA University Student for giving us a
good guideline for this research throughout numerous consultations. We would also like to
expand our deepest gratitude to all those who have directly and indirectly guided us in writing
this research.

Also, we thank you, Professor GABRIELLIE ROSE R. NEPOMUCENO, who approved

this topic and allowed us to tackle this research of “The Negative and Positive Effects on the
Psychological Welfare of Children with OFW Parents in The Philippines"
We thank the AMA University (AMAOED) for consent to include copyrighted pictures as a
part of our paper.

Although it is difficult for us because we can only communicate through online we did
it before our deadline. We thank the online respondents who answered our online survey
which has to serve Data for the research paper, many thanks especially to our Team
members itself for contributing opinions and suggestions. We may have a difference in time
but we made it all possible, we thank all the people for their help directly and indirectly to
complete this research.

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ABSTRACT

Title : NEGATIVE AND POSITIVE EFFECTS ON THE

PSYCHOLOGICAL WELFARE OF CHILDREN WITH OFW
PARENTS IN THE PHILIPPINES

Researcher/s: Judith Ann Quinio

Leonardette Ann Chua Marco
Mary Ann Chua MArco
Karl Lito V. Paulo

Adviser : -Bachelor of Arts in Communication (ABM-COM)

-Bachelor of Arts in Psychology-Reduce (ABPsych-reduced)
-Bachelor of Secondary Education Major in English-Reduced
(BSEDEng-Reduced)
-Bachelor of Science in Information Technology (BSIT)

Program : Business Administration

Major in Marketing Management (BSBA)

School : AMA University Online Education

The research entitled “NEGATIVE AND POSITIVE EFFECTS ON THE

PSYCHOLOGICAL WELFARE OF CHILDREN WITH OFW PARENTS IN THE
PHILIPPINES” to determine the negative and positive effects on the psychological
welfare of the children with OFW parents in the Philippines. The residents of
Flordeliza Street will be the subjects of this study. The focus of this study is to
determine what the negative and positive psychological effects to children with OFW
parents are, to provide guidance in lessening the negative psychological effects the
children are dealing with and promote more positive effects in the children’s life.

In an attempt to meet the research ends; the researcher utilized descriptive

method. The researcher – made multiple choice survey questionnaire which was also
the principal tool used in gathering data.

A total of 20 respondents from residents in Flordeliza Street were involved in

the study. The validated multiple choice survey questionnaire was personally
administered and retrieved by a member of a family living in the same street. The
research revealed the negative and positive psychological effects on children with
OFW parents.

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From the data gathered, the researcher found out that children aged 6-8 felt
that they want their parents to be present in their life but due to the circumstances
faced by the family commonly financial problems, they accepted it with a smile and
hoping one day their parents will come home and never leave; whereas teens aged
18 & up felt that this is a motivational ground to help their parents on the paths they
paved for their brighter future.

From the results, the researcher also recommends the following topics for
further study: Effects of the surroundings on the children with OFW parents.

Keywords

To further understand and comprehend the intention of the study, the researchers

defined the following concepts conceptually and operationally;

Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) – Refer to persons of Filipino origin who live/work outside

Philippines. This term applies to Filipino workers who are abroad indefinitely as citizens or as

permanent residents of a different country and to those Filipino citizens abroad for a limited,

definite period, such as on a work contract.

Left-Behind Children – Children of OFW parents left in the country of Origin.

Coping Mechanisms – Is a psychological strategy or adaptation that a person relies on to

manage stress. Sometimes, coping mechanisms are intentional choices, while other times a

person may be unaware that they’re using them.

Migrants – a person who moves from one place to another, especially in order to find work or

better living conditions.

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Abroad – It means to go beyond the boundaries of one’s country or in a foreign country.

Psychological Effects – impact is defined as the effect caused by environmental and/or

biological factors on individual's social and/or psychological aspects. Several psychiatric

disorders may affect psychological and social aspects of individual's lives.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Preliminaries
Title Page …..…………………….…………………………………………………… 1
Approval Sheet ……………………..………………………………………………… 2
Acknowledgement ………………….……………………………………………… 3
Abstract ...………………………….…………………………………………………… 4
Table of Contents …………………………………………………………………… 6
List of Tables …………………………………………………………………………. 27-33
List of Figures ……………………………………………………………………… 24-26

Part I. Introduction
Background of the Study ……………………...………………………… 9
Statement of the Problem ………………………….…………………… 11
Objectives of the Study ………………………………….……………… 11
Significance of the Study ……………………………………………… 12
Scope and Limitation …………………………………………………… 13
Hypothesis ……………………………………………………………… 13
Conceptual Framework ………………………………………………… 14
Theoretical Framework ………………………………………………… 16
Review of Related Literature …………………………………………… 19

Part II. Methodology

Research Design ………………………………………………………… 23
Population, Sample Size and Sampling Technique ……..………….. 24
Description of the Respondents ……………………………………… 24
Research Instrument …………………………………………………… 25
Data Collection or Data Gathering Procedure ……………………….. 25
Statistical Treatment of Data ……………………..………………….… 25

III. Results
Data Presentation, Interpretation and Analysis …...…………….…… 27

IV. Discussion
Summary of the Result …………………………………………………. 34
Conclusion ……………………………………………………………… 35
Recommendations ……………………………………………………. 35

References ……….……..…………………………………………………………… 37
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Appendices …………………………………………………………………………… 40
Appendix A: Research Instrument ………………………………… 41
Appendix B: Topic Proposal Sheet ............................................ 44
Biography …………………………………………………………………………….. 45

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Part 1

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

Overseas Filipino is a person of Filipino origin who lives outside the Philippines

according to Wikipedia. This term applies to Filipinos who are in other countries indefinitely as

citizens or as permanent residents of a different country and to those Filipino citizens abroad

for a limited, definite period, such as on a work contract, family ties or as students. Overseas

Filipino can also refer to a person who is of Filipino descent. As of 2019, there are over 12

million overseas Filipinos.

This research paper will be tackling the psychological welfare of children with OFW

(Overseas Filipino Worker) parents here in the Philippines. It will show the positive and

negatives effects to the psychological well-being of children with absent parents during their

childhood, along with their psychological needs during the early stages of growth and growing

up without being guided by their parents.

OFWs find work overseas and live in other countries some for a couple months, most

for years, they leave behind their families in order to provide for the family needs and

sometimes leisure. According to Reyes (2008), with this huge number of Filipino migrants

leaving the country temporarily, more pressing concern is regarding children being left behind

remained unnoticed. In terms of investments in education, the earned money by migrant

parents increase the levels of educational attainments among their children, opening more
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opportunities for their future. Moreover, having Overseas Filipino Worker parents can have a

huge impact on the children’s life. It can either be a positive effect or it will lead to emotional

imbalance that will affect their future. In some cases, they can lead to peer pressure,

smoking, drug use, pre-marital sex, cutting classes, pregnancy, etc. Therefore, it is really

important for the children to acquire deeper knowledge about its effects so that they can

obtain a good coping mechanism and avoid ruining their lives.

Most overseas Filipino workers sacrifice their time spent with their loved ones and

have to leave them behind thinking it is for the betterment of the whole family, but even

though OFW’s are thinking for the betterment of their family sometimes their children have

been affected by their parents after leaving them as they start to grow up, develop and realize

that their parents are not beside them to nurture and help them grow into an adult or it can be

the pushing force for the children as they see their parents working hard to provide their

needs and other necessities to study hard, achieve more awards that can help them land a

better job so their parents overseas can go back home already and stop working far away

from them. The psychological effects depends all on how strong willed the children are and

how their parents raised them during their time spent together.

The study on the psychological welfare of the children of OFW parents will help

people to understand and realize what the children are going to respond and feel towards

their parents about going overseas for work in order to support the everyday expenses and to

achieve stability in life due to high foreign currency exchange in the Philippines.

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The study will help OFW determine if children nowadays are mostly upset and unruly

due to their parents unable to see them grow, provide proper guidance or even provide even

a single hug and kiss from them and deals a heavy blow on their psychological welfare on the

negative side or are the children happy that their parents can provide them a better way of

living by being an OFW, resulting in a powerful driving force that will help the children to do

better in their studies, strive harder to get a sufficient job that can be a leeway to make their

parents stop working overseas and comeback in the country in order to spend more time

together, engage in to a timely adventures, to live happily together and to place happy

memories in the children’s minds.

Statement of the Problem

There are 4 problems that the study aims to answer:

 What are the negative effects caused by OFW parents to their children?

 Who is more affected on this kind of environment, the parents or the children?

 How can parents avoid the negative psychological effects on their children?

 How can we build up more positive psychological effects on their children?

Objective of the Study

The main objective of this study is to:

 To enlighten the OFW parents on what are the negative psychological effects to

the children.

 To know what are the positive effects to children of having an OFW parents.

 To know how the OFW parents can avoid having negative psychological effects

on their children.

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Significance of the Study

The significance of this study if to determine what the negative and positive

psychological effects are to the children of OFW parents making them realize what the

children are experiencing, to be able to prevent and avoid having negative and boosting the

positive effects for the children.

The results of this study will greatly benefit the following individuals:

CHILDREN: The children with OFW parents will have knowledge on what those negative

psychological effects are, and learn how to cope up and gain the ability turn it into something

positive. This will give them a new perspective to look into the bright side of having an OFW

parent and to be grateful for all of those sacrifices that the OFW parents have done in order

to give them a fortunate and uncluttered way of living.

PARENTS: The OFW parents will be able to know what the negative and positive

psychological effects are that affects their children, the parents will learn how to make

compromises in their family relationship, learn how to connect and communicate despite the

fact that the parents are not together physically with their children.

FUTURE RESEARCHERS: The ideas presented in this research may be used as reference

data conducting new researches or in testing the validity of other related findings. This study

will also serve as their source of the background and overview regarding Overseas Filipino

Workers and how leaving their children affected them in a positive or a negative way.

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Scope and Limitation

The study covers the children experiencing negative and positive psychological

effects from the OFW parents from year 2008 up to present, aiming to help all the OFW

parents and children to give awareness about the negative and positive psychological effects.

The study is for all OFW parents and children who are experiencing negative and

positive psychological effects, though the targeted location will be the country Philippines

since the country has a lot of OFWs estimated 2.2 million according to Philippine Statistic

Authority (PSA) excluding the OFWs living and working in the country on the month of April to

September 2019.

Hypotheses

This study is conducted to conceptualized and asses the hypotheses that negative

and positive psychological effects on children who have OFW parents are all dependent on

how the parents raised their children before they work abroad to provide the family’s needs

for better living and for the children’s brighter future.

This study will also give light and clarification that parents keeping in touch with their

children via calls, text and other means of communications even if they are overseas can

greatly aid in keeping a healthy and loving relationship with their children in order to keep

them from having those negative psychological effects.

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Conceptual Framework

This study is entitled “NEGATIVE AND POSITIVE EFFECTS ON THE

PSYCHOLOGICAL WELFARE OF CHILDREN WITH OFW PARENTS IN THE

PHILIPPINES” which has been a controversial topic in every corner of the world due to

financial problems of a family. In order to support the family, parents decide to leave their

children to work overseas to support their studies, provide better living and give materialistic

things. According to International Immigration Review parents leaving their children to work

abroad affects their studies and roles in the household (Arguillas & Williams, 2010). That

being said it falls under the negative effects on the psychological welfare of the children.

According to Elspeth Graham and Lucy P Jordan who researched about “Migrant Parents

and the Psychological Well-Being of Left-Behind Children in Southeast Asia”, In mental health

studies, separation from a parent has been shown to have detrimental effects on the

psychological well-being of children in a number of different circumstances as stated by

Amato & Cheadle, (2005); Huurre, Junkkari, & Aro, (2006). Relatively little attention has been

paid to separation resulting from migration, and those studies that do examine impacts on

children left behind tend to be retrospective; Parreñas, (2008), Families divided across

national borders may reap economic benefits, but they also make sacrifices in terms of

geographical and emotional closeness Ehrenreich & Hochschild, (2002); Orellana, Thorne,

Chee, & Lam, (2001). Such costs may be especially high for mothers separated from their

children. The continuing feminization of transnational migration has prompted studies of how

gender identities are reworked when women migrate;Elmhirst (2007); Hondagneu-Sotelo,

(1994) and provoked popular anxieties about a care crisis and the future of the family in

sending countries such as the Philippines.; Asis, Huang, & Yeoh, (2004); Parreñas, (2003),

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hence adding another negative psychological effects to the children who will be worried for

the safety of their parents besides being far away at each other.

Even though there are negative effects there is always the other end of the stick that

proves there are positive psychological effects for children with OFW parents. Hadi, (1999);

Jones & Kittisuksathit, (2003) said that those left behind may thus benefit from increases in

family income spent on improved nutrition, housing, access to health care, and schooling,

elaborating it futher, Hadi, Jones & Kittisuksathit are trying to say that even if they are far

away it will help benefit the family in more ways than the negative effects can such as

providing safety and stability in finance that will be used for the children’s better future, further

more these OFW parents still try to do some “transnational parenting” while abroad, using

various strategies and forms of communication technology to maintain emotional ties with

their children; Parreñas (2001), that being said means that even if they are far away from

each other, there is always a way to keep in touch with their children to know how they are

doing inside the school, relationship with friends, if they are mentally and physically healthy

and many other things that parents should do even if they are not physically in contact, by

doing so this can lessen the negative and replace it with positive psychological effects that

can help the children think of a way to get their parents to stop working and stay with them

together, motivate themselves to do better in educational attainments, extracurricular

activities, social involvement, job opportunities and many various ways. Most psychologist

including S. Freud, C. Jung, K. Horney and M. Klein believed in the notion that filial neglect or

pampering shapes the personality and well-being of a child. As cited in Feist & Feist, (2006),

therefore the relationship between the negative and positive psychological effects are

presently affecting the children with OFW parents.

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Theoretical Framework

Many children are dealing with various effects on having OFW parents, some are

positive, some are negative, some of them chooses to build up stress, anger and

disappointment towards their parents, some are inspired to study harder, attain excellent

credentials, find a decent job to help their parents, creating a way for their parents to come

home and be with them already. The Philippines is the focus of the analysis because it is a

‘‘major source of labor migrants for many countries around the world, perhaps the prototype

of a labor-exporting nation’’ Semyonov and Gorodzeisky, (June 2004).

[Link] (Anonymous, April 2018) said that children of OFW parents

experiences 4 types of sad realities or negative psychological effects:

 Indifference - A classic example of how children, especially those at a very

young age, react when their OFW parent arrives in the Philippines. The

scenario is very common among those who have never seen their parents for

a long period of time. When children and parents meet each other for the first

time in a long while, their initial reaction would be to maintain their distance

and be aloof.

 Turns to rebellion – Most people have seen this familiar scenario: an OFW

parent returns home to find that his kids have adopted a way of life different

from what they have envisioned. Some OFWs even recount finding out that

their kids have become addicted to various vices, some of them even

becoming pregnant at a young age.

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 Mama’s boy and daddy’s girl no more - Many OFWs, before leaving the

country, keep a close bond with their children. Unfortunately, the time the

parents spend working overseas leaves a dent on their relationship with their

children.

 Self-pity and jealousy - Choosing to become an OFW means choosing to be

absent in important milestones of their children particularly graduation and

birthdays. Thus, their children inevitably feel jealous and fall into self-pity,

comparing themselves to their classmates who have their parents to snap their

photos while they receive their diploma and medals.

Additionally, those who are leaving the Philippines in search of work overseas are

increasingly the mothers of young children Parrenas, (2001), connecting it to the statement of

Banico (2010) posits that the children's physical separation from their parents eventually

results in the communication gap between the children and their parents. Then, the gap

disrupts family organization, Perennas and Banico’s statement emphasizes that parents

leaving their children have massive negative psychological effects upon them such as failing

in studies, rebellion against parents and other gestures that will grab their parents’ attention

towards them.

Looking at the positive psychological effects on the children having an OFW,

According to daily [Link] (March 2013) Children of OFWs believe their parents are

working abroad to give them better food, better education and better home. The eldest child

then assumes the role of a parent. Alongside with daily [Link], [Link] (August 2008)

said that Children of OFWs are able to join academic organizations and extra-curricular
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activities. A significantly higher proportion (compared to children of non-OFWs) has received

academic and non-academic awards. Most of the guidance and supervision is exercised by

the school authorities. Aunt-carer of four year-old girl said “I tell them they should really study

well as that will be the only legacy that their mother can give them. That’s why she works

hard abroad so they will be able to finish their studies.” The aspiration to provide a better

future for their children via education plays a crucial role in the decision of Filipinos to work

abroad; ECMI/AOS-Manila et al., (2004); Aguilar et al., (2009); Asis et al., (2005), In a study

of older children 13-16 years old, children of OFWs were found to be more likely to join

academic organizations and participate in extra-curricular activities; also, they were more

likely to receive school awards compared with the children of non-OFWs; Edillon, (2008).

Limiting the sample to children belonging to two-parent families (and thereby controlling for

variations in family structures), overall, the study found that two-parent families tended to

cope with the strains and stresses of migration. In turn, this contributes to the children’s

adjustment to the absence of one or both parents. Therefore not all children with OFW

parents suffer negative psychological effects, some children turned these events as an

opportunity to prove themselves worthy of those sacrifices that their parents made in order to

provide all the needs to be successful in their studies, another research found that children

who arrived as part of a family unit were less likely to report depressive symptoms than

children whose families had been geographically separated prior to reunification, but no

significant difference between separated and non-separated children on other measures. The

length of separation from a parent was not found to be associated with psychological

symptoms; Suárez-Orozco et al., (2002).

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Review of Related Literature and Studies

This chapter includes the review of related literature and studies wherein the

researchers have persuaded to shed the light on the topic under the study about the effects

of having Overseas Filipino Worker parents to their children.

Local Literature

According to Philippine Statistic Authority (PSA), there are about 2.2 million

Filipino who work abroad. With this huge number of overseas Filipino worker, lot of children

were also left behind here in the country. The reason behind this migration event is because

they want to sustain or give the needs of people whom they love. This needs include shelter,

food, clothing and education. Minda (2017), said that most Filipino migrant parent think that

the closeness of their relationship cannot measure by physical relation but it is how parents

do their role to make their children’ lives good. Marave and Asis (2013) stated also that

Filipino parents see education as one of most important things in earth and they are the one

who should find a way to make her/his child attend to school. To perform this role, parents

choose to work abroad.

The Philippines, one of the largest migrant sending countries around the world where

approximately 10% of the country’s population is abroad, has always been in the leading

edge in the promotion and protection of human rights, and more importantly children’s rights.

Enclosed in its constitution in the Article 13 on Social Justice and Human Rights, the

Philippines has bring into existence some institutional machineries and in authorization to

realize the state’s policy of valuing the worthiness of every human person and guaranteeing

the complete respect for human rights. Furthermore, the country is a signatory to all the

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seven core international instruments on human rights and had moved over to several laws

and policies to accomplish such commitment.

The migrations of the parents have a lot of effects to those children left behind. It

affects the child emotional aspect, social aspect and the perception in life of the child. These

children are vulnerable to lots of problem and also becoming self-doubting because of the

lack of attention from parents; Minda (2017). Additionally, Minda (2017), explained that

children who left behind are more likely being materialistic than having good values and also

being rebellious to both parents.

Local Studies

Children have various levels of tolerance or acceptance of the situation

depending on their cognitive development and the surrounding atmosphere. Related studies

on children left behind by their parents to work abroad have several factors that may

negatively or positively affect the personal development and psychological stability of the

children.

One factor is the academic performance and school behavior of the children.

Dissimilar from the perceived odds and ends, children of migrants performed better in terms

of academic performance than that of the non-migrant children. Battistella and Conaco

(1996), indicated in their study that this finding is rather true, and the study seems to imply

the significance of the mother’s presence to the children with their school behavior. At the

same time, Cruz (1987) mentioned that the children of migrants and non-migrants did not

show significant difference towards their performance in school, there is even a majority of

good ratings in terms of conduct and discipline received from the teachers where 78% are

children of migrants while 81% children of non-migrants. The children of migrants interact

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more with classmates and actively participate in class and the activities and extra-curricular

activities as stated in his study Cruz, (1987).

Foreign Literature

Children growing up without their parents have shown to have been negatively

and positively affected psychologically. According to Bowlby’s Attachment Theory in the

developmental years of children, Bowlby firmly believed that the attachments such as bonds

and loyalty formed during childhood, because childhood attachment is crucial to later

development, Bowlby argued that investigators should study childhood directly and not rely

on distorted retrospective accounts from adult; Bowlby, (1969), Feist & Feist (1988). That is to

say that children who have been separated from their parents in an early age would have a

much more complicated psychological growth compared to normal children. Children will

need the guidance of their parents to be able to learn about their bonds with others. Though

OFW parents have got their jobs for the benefit of their children, leaving their children in their

growth may be doing more harm than good. This paper aims to know whether or not there

are negative and positive psychological effects dealt to the children of OFW parents.

During a child’s growth it is important that the parent and the child will be able to

communicate and build a stable relationship with each other, this relationship will help with

emotional and social aspects of the child. But with an OFW parent, thee child not be able to

create an intimate relationship with their parents. In (n.a., 2019) “The Parent-child relationship

Of An OFW” explains that the relationship between OFW parents and their children which

showed that the children understood the situation they were in and even though the children

are able to communicate with their parents through the internet, they wanted the physical

intimacy with their parent and missed them greatly. Some of the children even showed

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indifference when asked whether they missed their parents. Quality time together with

parents is important for the child to nurture them emotionally. According to

Edward Kruk, Ph.D. as cited by (Tiffany Raiford, n.d.) “Children with absent fathers are more

likely to develop behavioral problems. These problems are often a shield that kids use to

protect their deep issues of abandonment, fear and unhappiness. For example, a child living

in a fatherless home is more likely to develop a careless attitude with a cocky swagger and

mean persona to hide the fact that he really wants his father in his life.” A child is better to be

guided by his own parents in order to grow up properly and not have complications

psychologically.

Foreign Studies

The role of both parents is very important to child welfare. Other studies also

show that the role of parents is important to their children. Zarra- Nezhad et al (2015),

explained that the effect of mothers’ high affection is having less negative emotions of

children. A supportive mother and father and shows more affection will make their

children have a good psychological functioning; Stafford et al., (2015). Graham and

Jordan (2011), conducted a study about migrant parents and the psychological well-

being of the children left behind. The research results indicated that children who left

behind suffer from psychological distress because of separation of parents from them.

It also shows that children who are separated from his or her mother are prone to

negative impacts that include physical health.

More materialistic children and adolescents also show less interest in school;

Goldberg, Gorn, Peracchio, & Bamossy, (2003), have poorer motivation for learning in

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school; King & Datu, (2017); Ku, Dittmar, & Banerjee, (2012) and actually show poorer

academic performance; King & Datu, (2017); Ku, Dittmar, & Banerjee, (2014). Such

negative consequences of materialism on well-being have been replicated in different

cultural contexts; Karabati & Cemalcilar, (2010); Ryan et al., (1999); Stevens,

Constantinescu, & Butucescu, (2011), including the Philippines; King & Datu, (2017)

and other Asian countries; Choong, Ong, & Moschis, (2013); Kasser & Ahuvia, (2002);

Ku et al., (2012, 2014).

Part 2

METHODOLOGY

Research Design

This study prioritizes what can be the negative and positive psychological effects on a

children whose parents are OFWs. In order to reach the purpose of this study, the

researchers incorporated exploratory research design and will prepare a series of questions

for interview to collect the necessary data for the study. It attempted to reach the children of

the OFW parents in order to know what are the psychological effects that occurs or occurring

to them right now and determining the coping mechanisms that the parents are using in order

to avoid those negative psychological effects.

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Population Frame and Sample Size

The population frame of our study will be at Flordeliza Street, Barangay Batingan,

Binangonan, Rizal only and not the populated areas due to the spread of the pandemic virus -

Corona Virus 2019 (Covid-19), the researchers are quarantined inside the house and not

allowed to go outside without the approval or consent of barangay officials. With the

pandemic going on the researchers reach are limited. The neighborhood of Flordeliza Street

was the only option and is composed of 40 families and 58 children. Out of 58 children 20 of

them have parents that are OFWs.

Description of Respondents

The respondents of this study are the children of OFW parents in Flordeliza Street

who are aged from 6 to 22 years old. The researchers acquired 20 respondents among the

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families living in the Street that will answer the questions readied. The researchers have 20

respondents because Crouch and McKenzie (2006) proposed that less than 20 participants in

a qualitative study helps a researcher build and maintain a close relationship and thus

improved the open and frank exchange of information.

Research Instruments

The information for this study were gathered through series of questions by the means

of a multiple choices surveying that the researchers prepared to perceive how involving their

coping mechanism, academic performance, health condition, and their relationships with

other people.

Data Gathering Procedure

As the researchers about to conduct the data gathering, consent of the OFW parents

to interview and make their children answer a multiple choice survey is needed first for

privacy and legal matters to avoid any leakage of sensitive information about the family; and

the possible lawsuits that may arise from disclosing personal information without the subject’s

consent.

Statistical Treatment of Data

The frequency of the response will be determined on the number of respondents who

will check in the particular item. The demographic profile of the respondents will be

determined by using this formula:

Where: P = Percentage
F∗100
P= F = Frequency
N

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N = Total number of respondents

100 = Constant Multiplier

After acquiring and tallying the answers of the respondents, the researchers were able
to procure a statistic graph using the formula.

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Part III

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RESULTS

Presentation, Analysis and Interpretation of Data

This chapter presents, analyzes and interprets the data gathered from the 20

respondents of the Flordeliza Street, Barangay Batingan, Binangonan, Rizal. The children

ages from 6 and up and most of them varies in their answers in a positive way.

1. What is your age?

6-8 9-11 12-14 15-17 18+

15% 10% 15% 20% 35%

2. Do/Does your OFW parent/s maintain a frequent and healthy communication with

you?

Yes No
100% 0%

Table 2 shows that out of 20 children, all of the parents have a healthy communication

and are always keeping in touch with their children even with the busy work schedule and the

Universal Timeline Coordinated (UTC).

3. How often do you communicate with them?

Everyday A couple of days a week Rarely

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50% 40% 10%

Table 3 shows that out of 20 respondents, 50% of them communicates with their

parents regularly, 40% does it a couple of days maybe due to work and busy schedule and

the last 10% respondents said they rarely talk to their parents, maybe due to the timeline

difference and busy work schedule. The researchers asked one of the 10% respondents who

answered rarely to ask why they rarely talk to each other, the respondent said “kasi po may

family din po siya dun sa ibang bansa kaya bihira po kami magusap. Busy siya sa work and

family nya don kaya po ganon pero naiintindihan ko naman po yun.”, saying that they rarely

talk because of busy work schedule and even though the parent has a different family

overseas the respondent understands the circumstances.

4. How has your family member's departure affected your relationship with them?

Positively Negatively Nothing has changed

40% 0% 60%

Table 4 shows that out of 20 respondents none of the relationship with their parents

are affected, moreover 8 of them has a positive outcome. The researchers asked one of

those 40% respondents and said “Kasi po mas kelangan ko po pag butihin pag aaral ko

para po makakuha maganda work and mapauwi ko na po si daddy sa bahay, para po di

na po siya aalis!”, thus proving that not all of them are dealing with negative psychological

effects.

5. Has your psychological health been affected by your situation? If so, in what way?

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Yes, it has affected my Yes, it has affected my No, it has not affected my

psychological health but psychological health but in a psychological health in any

in a positive way negative way (Relationship way.

( Relationship has grown has grown apart/ Healthy

stronger/ Healthy communication is not

communication is maintained, etc.)

maintained , etc)

50% 5% 45%

Table 5 shows that 50% of the respondents are positively affected by the situation of

having their parents to go overseas, the researchers asked in what way they are positively

affected, the respondents have similar thoughts saying that “they have been motivated by the

events to study harder, do more useful things, explore talents and to be able to find a proper

job in order to help their parents so they can come home and spend the rest of their days

living together.” 5% of the respondents said that the events happening have negative effects

on them saying the same thing as table 3, “kasi po may family din po siya dun sa ibang bansa

kaya bihira po kami magusap. Busy siya sa work and family nya don kaya po ganon pero

naiintindihan ko naman po yun.” Saying that they rarely talk because of busy work schedule

and even though the parent has a different family overseas the respondent understands the

circumstances.

6. What actions have you taken in order to deal with your psychological health?

Confided with my Confided with people Dealt with the issue None, my

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parents outside of my family on my own psychological health

has not been

affected in any way.

20% 15% 25% 40%

In table 6 the researchers asked what methods have they done in order to overcome

or deal with the psychological effects of having an OFW parents. 40% of the respondents

said that their psychological health has not been affected in any way and everything is normal

as it is, 25% of the respondents said that they dealt with the psychological effects on their

own to lessen frustrations and worries to their parents abroad. The 15% dealt with the

psychological issues by means of hanging out and doing activities with friends. Lastly the

20% dealt it with speaking directly with their parents what they are feeling and what the effect

are on their psychological health.

7. Do you think that your parent/s made the right decision to work abroad for more job

opportunities?

Yes, in order to support us and make a No, they can work here without even

living. starving.
100% 0%

Table 7 shows that 100% of the children agreed that their parents made the right decision

to work abroad for better job opportunities in order to support and provide a better way of

living. The researchers asked one of the children ages 6-8 years old since that age is part of

the growing stages and was able acquired an answer “ opo okay po na iniwan nila ko kay lola

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para mag work kasi araw araw po nag call sila sakin and kinukumusta ako and binibigay po

nila lahat ng kelangan ko to be happy and umuuwi naman po sila dalawang beses sa isang

taon po kaya po okay lang po”, thus giving further enlightenment that some children do

understand the state of the family and making necessary sacrifices are beyond objections in

order to have a better living.

8. What are the things that you would like to be improved in terms of your relationship

with your OFW parent/s? There can be multiple answers.

Communication Time management Comfortability in Ability to deal with

terms of sharing situations as a

personal struggles family, not as

individuals

2 7 8 5

Even if the children are very understandable and flexible with their parents going

overseas in order to find a better work to support the family, table 8 shows that even

though they are satisfied with the attention they are getting, they want more in order to

eradicate the negative psychological effects of being an OFW children.

9. Who do you think needs to put in more effort in your relationship?

OFW parent/s Yourself None, we are putting

enough efforts for each

other.

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0% 0% 100%

Even though in table 8 they are asking for more attention from their parents, In table 9

shows that 100% of the respondents answered that both of parents and children are exerting

sufficient efforts for each other in order to overcome the negative psychological effects.

10. When your OFW parent/s were deciding to work abroad, did they have your approval?

Yes No My OFW parent's was/were

already working abroad

before I was born

70% 5% 25%

Table 10 shows that 70% of the respondents have their consent about their parents

going overseas in order to find a better work to provide a better living, 25% says that their

parents are already OFWs before they were born and 5% said that their parents did not ask

for consent on being an OFW.

11. If circumstances can be changed, would you rather have your OFW parent/s stay with

you than work abroad?

Yes No
95% 5%

In table 11, 95% of the respondents would rather have their parents stay with them

rather than being an OFW parent in order to reduce the negative psychological effects they

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have to deal with every day and 5% said that they would rather not have their parents to stay

with them, out of curiosity the researchers asked the 5% respondents why and said “mas

mabuti mag trabaho sa ibang bansa kasi po pangit ang ekonomiya ng Pilipinas, mas may

chance po na maging maganda buhay sa ibang bansa kesa sa sariling bansa na puro

corruption ang alam.” Having that said is another realization that being an OFW parent is not

the only factor that gives a negative psychological effect, thus even the government and the

status of the country makes the children unstable.

12. Does having an OFW parent makes you feel like you have to strive and work hard in

order to help your parents get home and be with you?

Yes No Indifferent
75% 15% 10%

Table 12 shows that out of 100% respondents, 75% said that having an OFW parent

has a positive psychological effect of striving harder in studies and extra-curricular activities in

order to land a better job for their parents; 10% said that neither does it make them feel that

they need to strive harder or being a laid back person; and 15% of the respondents said no

as

they were the 6-8 years old in table 1, the respondents are more in a playful state and still

enjoying their childhood.

Part IV

DISCUSSION

Summary of the Result

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This educational research sought to describe the positive and negative psychological

effects on children with OFW parents with age of 6 years old and above which is aimed to

answer the following questions:

 What are the negative effects caused by OFW parents to their children?

 Who is more affected on this kind of environment, the parents or the children?

 How can parents avoid the negative psychological effects on their children?

 How can we build up more positive psychological effects on their children?

To attain the objectives of the study, the purposive sampling is used for choosing the

respondents. The researchers used the multiple choice survey questionnaire and interview

method to collect the data which ware also the principal tools used in gathering data needed

to attain the objectives of the study interview method to collect the data that is needed to fulfill

the goal of the study.

After the surveying and interviewing, the researchers were able to attain answers.

Mostly the negative psychological effects are overthinking about their parents losing time for

their children, not paying attention and time management to talk to their children. In this kind

of situation both are equivalently affected by the environment, for the parents; it is due to the

timeline difference in different countries and the pain of the parents not having to be able to

talk to their children; for the children the longing of care and affection from the parents are

what affects them the most that can lead to negative psychological effects, though the

parents can avoid these kind of negative psychological effects and build up more positive

effects by spending more time talking and reaching out about what is happening to the

children’s daily activities, school works, friendships and other important occurrences in the

children’s life.

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Conclusion

The researchers found out that having Overseas Filipino Worker Parents have a great

negative and positive psychological effect on the children left behind. There are positive

effects, negative effects and coping mechanism. Most respondent are in the positive

psychological effects that most of their reasoning are about understanding on the status of

living their family has and in order to give the brighter future their parents want for them their

parents need to go overseas for a better work opportunity and salary; Therefore motivating

themselves more by studying well in order to land a high salary job and make their parents

come home and spend life together happily. Thus saying that most are positive negative

psychological effects are always present such as overthinking that their parents are spending

more time in working rather than taking an interest in talking to them about their daily

activities and achievements.

Recommendations

After all the researching, analyzing, data gathering and accumulation of studies, the

researchers have the conclusion about the negative and positive psychological effects in

children with OFW parents. Knowing all the effects, the researchers have come up with a

recommendations of maintaining proper and healthy communication with each other to

prevent the children from overthinking about their parents’ showing signs of neglect and not

paying any attention; make sure that proper time management is frequently practiced in order

to provide enough time for tasks like helping with the children’s studies, daily activities or how

are they doing in their everyday life. Most importantly, it is vital that both the parents and their

children exert effort in terms of keeping their relationship strong. There must always be a

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middle ground in all relationships where both sides can meet to show mutual respect,

admiration and affection.

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REFERENCES

Arguillas, M., Williams, L. (June 2010). The Impact of Parents’ Overseas Employment on

Educational Outcomes of Filipino Children

[Link]

%27_Overseas_Employment_on_Educational_Outcomes_of_Filipino_Children

[Link]

Botezat, A., Pfeiffer, F. (May 2014). The Impact of Parents Migration on the Well-being of

Children Left Behind: Initial Evidence from Romania

[Link]

Valdehuesa-Mahilum, J. (December 2013). Nuts in a Shell: Exploring the Impact of OFWs

Phenomenon on the Family in Region X

[Link]

%7CA512855480&sid=googleScholar&v=2.1&it=r&linkaccess=abs&issn=20941064&p=AON

E&sw=w

Graham, E., Jordan, L. (August 2011). Migrant Parents and the Psychological Well-Being of

Left-Behind Children in Southeast Asia

[Link]

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Manalo, Z. (2019). Negative Effects on the Psychological Welfare of Children with OFW

Parents in the Philippines

[Link]

_of_Children_with_OFW_Parents_in_the_Philippines_Negative_Effects_on_the_Psychologic

al_Welfare_of_Children_with_OFW_Parents_in_the_Philippines_BFA_Visual_Communicatio

Edillon, R. (August 2008). The Effects of Parent’s Migration on the Rights of Children Left

Behind in the Philippines

[Link]

on_on_the_Rights_of_Children_Left_Behind_in_the_Philippines(1).pdf

Philippine Statistics Office (June 2020). Total Number of OFWs Estimated at 2.2 Million

[Link]

Susan, K. (March 2013). Do children understand why their parents leave?

[Link]

Castro, E., Del Rosario, J., Gonzalez, A., Jimenez, J., Tae-Kyu, K. (September 2011).

The Psychological Effects of the Absentee Parents to the Personality Development of

College Students

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[Link]

to-the-Personality-Development-of-College-Students

Bernardo, A., Tan-Mansukhani, R., Daganzo, M. (March 2018) Associations between

Materialism, Gratitude, and Well-Being in Children of Overseas Filipino Workers

[Link]

Wikipedia (September 2020) Overseas Filipinos

[Link]

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APPENDICES

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Appendix A: Research Instrument

The information for this study were gathered through series of questions by the means

of a multiple choices surveying that the researchers prepared to perceive how involving their

coping mechanism, academic performance, health condition, and their relationships with

other people.

SURVEY: There are no correct or incorrect answers in this survey. Please respond to each

question as honest and accurate as possible for it will help the researchers determine the

outcome of the study. Your answers will be kept strictly confidential. Thank you.

1. Do/Does your OFW parent/s maintain a frequent and healthy communication with you?

A.) Yes

B.) No

2. How often do you communicate with them?

A.) Every day

B.) A couple of days in a week

C.) Rarely

3.) How has your family member's departure affected your relationship with them?

A.) Positively

B.) Negatively

C.) Nothing has changed

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4.) Has your psychological health been affected by your situation? If so, in what way?

A.) Yes, it has affected my psychological health but in a positive way ( Relationship has

grown stronger/ Healthy communication is maintained , etc)

B.) Yes, it has affected my psychological health but in a negative way ( Relationship has

grown apart/ Healthy communication is not maintained, etc.)

C.) No, it has not affected my psychological health in any way.

5.) What actions have you taken in order to deal with your psychological health?

A.) Confided with my parents

B.) Confided with people outside of my family

C.) Dealt with the issue on my own

D.) None, my psychological health has not been affected in any way.

6.) Do you think that your OFW parent/s made the right decision to work abroad for more job

opportunities?

A.) Yes, in order to support us and make a living.

B.) No, they can work here without even starving.

7.) What are the things that you would like to be improved in terms of your relationship with

your OFW parent/s? There can be multiple answers.

A.) Communication

B.) Time management

C.) Comfortability in terms of sharing personal struggles

D.) Ability to deal with situations as a family, not as individuals

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8.) Who do you think needs to put in more effort in your relationship?

A.) OFW parent/s

B.) Yourself

C.) Both

D.) None, we are putting enough efforts for each other.

9.) When your OFW parent/s were deciding to work abroad, did they have your consent/

approval?

A.) Yes

B.) No

C.) My OFW parent's was/were already working abroad before I was born

10.) If circumstances can be changed, would you rather have your OFW parent/s stay with

you than work abroad?

A.) Yes

B.)No

11) Does having an OFW parent makes you feel like you have to strive and work hard in

order to help your parents get home and be with you?

A.) Yes

B.)No

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Appendix B: Topic Proposal Sheet

Proposed Title Negative and Positive Effects on the Psychological Welfare of Children with OFW
Parents in the Philippines

Area of Flordeliza street, Barangay Batingan, Binangonan, Rizal.

Investigation

Reasons for Since I am one of those OFWs that has a child in the Philippines, I want to be
Choice of Topic able to share my knowledge as a parent dealing with negative and positive
effects in the well-being of my child psychologically.

Importance of To learn what can be the negative and positive effects on the psychological
the Study welfare of OFW children, how can it be avoided and what solutions can be
produced to prevent negative and raise the positive effects of being an OFW
parent to our children.

References [Link]

[Link]
%7CA512855480&sid=googleScholar&v=2.1&it=r&linkaccess=abs&issn=209410
64&p=AONE&sw=w

Reviewed and Endorsed by:

Prof. Gabriellie Rose R. Nepomuceno
_______________________
Research Adviser Date:
__8/29/2020___________

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BIOGRAPHY

In paragraph form, you will discuss your personal information in the first paragraph. 2 nd

paragraph will tackle about your educational background and the last paragraph will explain

your personal purpose and reasons for studying this topic research. Don’t forget to attach

your 2x2 picture.

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