BEHAVIOR, COPING MECHANISMS AND ACADEMIC STANDING OF STUDENTS

FROM BROKEN FAMILIES

BEHAVIOR,COPING MECHANISMS AND ACADEMIC STANDING OF THE SENIOR HIGH STUDENTS

FROM BROKEN FAMILIES

BAGGAO, WINDEL JOY

DARILAG,KATRIN AERIS

TURINGAN,MARIA THERESA

BACCAY,HILARIO

ABSTRACT

This study intends to determine the behavior, coping mechanisms and academic standing of students from broken
families. Questionnaires were floated to the selected respondents to gather the necessary information for the
study.The data was analyzed and presented through frequency and percentage distribution table.The result of the
study revealed that the behavior, coping mechanisms, and academic standing of the respondents are all positive.
Therefore, the researchers recommend that students should continually accept their predicaments with lightness of
heart so that they may be able to take the situation as a stepping stone and not as a stumbling block and that they
should do the best of their abilities, continually use coping strategies to improve themselves despite of their
situation.

Keywords: Coping Mechanisms, Academic Standing and Broken Families

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 CHAPTER I

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Introduction

Family plays a crucial role in molding one’s personality and capability. Everything about a

man mostly relies on the state of the family he belonged. The way he acts towards other people

could be counted to the people whom he often mingles with. Living under the same roof might as

well add to the reasons how dependent he his to his family. Even so, since every individual has

this reliance towards his family, any diversity would definitely affect his whole being. Such d

evastating matters regarding family relationships like parent’s separation could give a severe

impact to the people concerned ,the children .

Nowadays , many are involved in a broken families. It is very usual for people to think that

teenagers doing such nasty acts are rooted to family disorientation. Even countless studies show

that child’s mislead life is blamed to separated paerents. Children with separated parents do not

perform well in school which is very terrifying incident because a school that is an institution for

learning is failing to deliver education. Thus, it merely becomes unproductive.

Moreover, it is said that children being part of a broken family are suffering five times than

their parents do. Studies also say that those teenagers are worse off than those with continuously

married parents in terms of academic success conduct psychological well-being and peer

relations system. Thus, it appear like teenagers are the innocent victims of their parents inability

to maintain harmonious and stable homes.

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To support the previous statement, children are at risk when it comes to single-parenting

arrangement. Most students living with only one parent are economically disadvantaged. Parent

cannot afford to buy consumer goods in order to give their child status among their peers. It

results to juvenile delinquency of teenagers. Aside, from this, quality of parenting is one

prediction of behavioral problems among adolescents.

The purpose of this study is to know the behaviour of the students and how it affected their

lives.This study will help everyone to understand the value of family and the disadvantages of

being belong to a broken family. The reason why we conduct this study is for us to know how to

treat properly the students that belong to broken famil and the disadvantages of being belong to a

broken family. The reason why we conduct this study is for us to know how to treat properly the

students that belong to broken family. Lastly to learn about the students academic standing in

their studies.

With this , the researchers are motivately to conduct a study about behaviour, coping mechanism,

and academic standing of students from broken families.

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 Statement of the problem

This study intends to determine the behavior, coping mechanisms and academic standing

of students from broken families.

This study specifically answer the following questions;

1. What kind of behaviour do the respondents show in school? ,

2. What are their strategies to cope with their studies?, and

3. What is the academic standing of the respondents ?

Scope and Delimitation

This study focuses on the behavior, coping mechanism and academic standing of students

who belongs to broken families.This study is limited to present the students behavior, their

coping strategies and academic rating in school.This study is limited to some selected students in

PNHS who belong to broken familes.

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Significance of the study

This study is foreseen beneficial to the following:

DepEd - to be aware and respond effectively to the changing needs and conditions through

a system of educational planning.

DSWD - they will know how to handle the students who belong to a broken families. To

provides social protection to students that belong to broken families.

Family/Guradian - this study will make them aware of the condition of the respondents.

Hence, they will be motivated to provide proper guidance to their children.

Teachers – know how to give full understanding and guidance to students. This study will help

teacher know how to approach or treat their students well who suffer on this particular matter and

help them in those situation.

Students – for them to be aware on how to deal with several problems and help their fellow

classmates who are also in this kind of position.

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Definition of terms

Family – this is a group consisting of parents and children living together in a household.

Broken Home – it is a family in which the parents are divorced or separated.

Academic Achievement – it refers to how well or how poorly a students can perform in school.

Behavior – the way in which one act or conducts oneself, especially toward other.

Coping Mechanism – the strategies people often use in the face of stress and/or trauma to

help manage painful or difficult emotions.

Juvenile Delinquency – conduct by a juvenile characterized by antisocial behaviour that is

beyond parental control and therefore subject to legal action.

Home – the place where one lives permanently especially as a member of a family or

household

Divorce – it is the legal dissolution of a marriage by a court or other competent body.

Separated – this means to move or be apart.

Stepfamilies – it is a family that is formed on the remarriage of a divorced or widowed

person and that includes one or more children.

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 CHAPTER II

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES

Related Literature

Family Structure and Children’s Health and Well-being

Dawson (1994), stated that twenty to trirty-five percent of children who are living with both

biological parents are physically healthy than those from broken homes.Childrenwho have

divorced parents have greater possibility to exprience injury, astma, headaches and speech defect

than those children whose parents areintact.

Adolescent Relationships

Buchanan (1991) affirmed that adolescent faces many challenges and changes after the divorce as well.

Literature shows that adolescents perceived themselves as more mature due to the responsibilities they

take on. Parents will turn to the child for emotional support and disclose personal concerns about

parenting or financial issues, in turn the adolescent feels older and mature.

Emery (2004) declared that adolescents from divorced families are also twice as likely to receive

psychological help at some point during or after the divorce and are twice as likely to drop out of high

school. There are four factors that can make these statistics more likely. These include the child's

relationship with their residential parent, the extent of conflict between parents, the families' economic

standing, and the frequency of contact with the nonresidential parent.

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Coping from the pains of a broken family

Galang (2015) noted that on implication of broken marriages to filipino children,the common

reasons why Filipino couples separate include financial problems, lack of communication,

infidelity, and domestic violence. Clinical and therapists note that children caught in the middle

of parents animosity during separation have attention and concentration problems, academic

problems, anger issues, sleep disorders and other psychological, behavioral and spiritual

problems.

Coping and support

Ignacio and Perlas (1994) identified that the coping mechanisms of Filipinos during the family

separation are the following: Spirituality, Bayanihan/cooperative endeavour, Concern for the

welfare of others especially family members and how they can be helped, Gathering of family

members, Over activity (overextension of one’s capacity), Doing relaxing activities/recreation,

Humour/laughter, Passivity/dependency, Anger and blaming others, Suspiciousness, Smoking,

Drinking alcoholic beverages, Crying, Denial of the pain and gravity of the situation.

Disentangling the link between Disrupted Families and Delinquency

Juby and Farrington (2002) revealed that delinquency rates were found to be higher among the children

who live in permanently disrupted families compared to those living in intact families. The same

delinquency not committed by children from intact homes where there is balanced structure of man and

women who act as good role models in child

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acquiring proper roles. While examining the relationship between family structure and juvenile

delinquency, it was found that proportionately more juvenile offenders come from family arrangements

other than the two-parent family home.

Influence of Family Structure on Juvenile Deliquency

Kimani (2010), cited that for a single parent family parenthood, there was a strong correlation between

street life, sex and defilement offences. Children brought up in a step parent home had a strong inclination

towards substance abuse but the correlation was even greater for stealing and refusing school.For children

brought up in a grandparent family structure, the correlation was strong for substance abuse and the

highest for stealing. Murder was the least committed offence while refusing school and street life were the

most dominant.

Effects on Adult Relationships

Kirt (2002), declared that family conflict was typically a strong precursor to divorce and lead children

from divorced families to rate their relationshipsas having greater family conflict. Those from intact

families reported more cohesion, expressiveness , sociability, and idealization and less conflict than those

from divorced families. However, coming from a divorced family did not affect young adult’s self-esteem

, fear of intimacy, or relationship satisfaction, but it did affect fears and expectation for divorce.

Mother-Adolescent Relationship

Fagan (1999), stated that the mother is affected by the divorce as well as the adolescent. Due to this a

study found that mothers that are divorced have a difficult time providing the same level of emotional

support as compared to non-divorced mothers also found divorced mothers to have less affection and

communication with their adolescent, creating inconsistent discipline.

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Lazar (2004), revealed that divorce can be a difficult time for a family, especially if children are involved.

A mother is someone who most children have a relationship with, but a divorce can affect this relationship

in a couple of different ways. The mother-adolescent relationship could be changed due to divorce. The

relationship depends on several factors, such as which the adolescent lives with, closeness prior to

divorce, and socio-economic status .

The Impact of Family Structure and Family Change on Child Outcomes

Mackay (2005) stated that children of single parents, after controlling for other variables like family

income are more likely to have problems. There are impacts of sole parenting on children, however the

weight of the evidence it is suggested, do not appear to support a view that sole parents are major cause of

societal ills and are doing irreparable damage to their children.

Effects of Single-parent family life on Children

Based on the article by McLanahan and Sandefur (1994), the effects of single-parent family life on

children fall into two categories: those attributed to the lower socioeconomic status of single parents and

the short-term consequences of divorce. Four factors are predictive of children's adjustment to the divorce

of their parents: the passage of time, the quality of the children's relationship with their present parent, the

level of conflict between parents, and the economic standing of the children's family. In the first few years

after a divorce, the children have higher rates of antisocial behavior, aggression, anxiety, and school

problems than children in two parent families.

Family Structure and Juvenile Deliquency

Ngale (2009), stated that the moral education of juvenile delinquents is undertaken more by others than

their biological parents; most delinquent children come from the lowest socio-economic stratum of society

about two-thirds of the juvenile deliquents comes from home where seven persons and above live under

the same roof. A growing number of parents need additional socioeconomic support, development of vital
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 skills of responsible parenting, in order to adequately manage periods of rapid social change and

simultaneous multi dimensional challenges.

Influence of Siblings

Sampson and Laub (1993), affirmed that variety of family characteristics are recognized as risk factors for

violent behavior of children, siblings may be particularly likely to influence each other’s behavior,

including acting as deviant peer role models, given the long - term and emotionally close relationships

most share. Thus, a sibling - specific risk factor may operate across the family and peer domains during

adolescence, making sibling influences on delinquency a vital area for research and prevention efforts.

Siegel and Welsh (2010), declared that if one siblings is a delinquent, there is a significant likelihood that

his brother or sister will engage in delinquent behavior. For example, if an teenagers take drugs and

engages in delinquent behavior so too will his/her siblings. Siblings who lived in same environment are

influenced by similar social economic factors, deviance is genetically determined and the traits that cause

one sibling to engage in delinquency are shared by his brother or sister, deviant siblings grow closer

because of shared interests. It is possible that the relationship is due to personal interactions older siblings

are imitated by younger siblings.

The Role of Mother to Child Relationship in Development of self-image,dysfunctional attitudes and

coping strategies

Szili and Gyorgy (2005) stated by dysfunctional attitudes were found to have an effect on coping style.

The results of a study indicate some possibilities for explanation how fragile self-image, dysfunctional

attitudes and self-punishing coping patterns may develop as a possible effect of mother-child interaction

dynamics. Children’s temperament was related to the frequency and quality of conflict, that is children

who were highly active and who had problems controlling their behavior had more conflict with mothers

than less activec children and children who did not have trouble controlling on their behavior.

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The long-term effects of divorce on children

Wallerstein (9991),revealed that after six years of parental marriage separation, a study of

children revealed than even though many years passed, these children still feel ”lonely, unhappy,

anxious, and insecure”.

The contribution of mother-child and father-child relationships to the quality of siblings interaction

Volling and Belsky (1992), indicated that children of involved fathers are more likely to have pro social

siblings interactions, show fewer negative emotional reactions during play with peers, experience less

tension in their interactions with other children and solve conflicts by themselves rather than seeking the

teachers. Children who have involved fathers are more likely to grow up to be tolerant and understanding,

be well socialised and successful adults.

Studies

Ahron (2007), cited that children are encouraged to blame the separation for whatever unhappiness they

mayfeel,which makes them feel helpless about improving their lives.The effort and care that parents put

into establishing their post separation families are crucial and will pay off over the years in their many

benifits to the children.The greater society points a finger at separation as the reason for a wide range of

greater social problems , its also looked at conduct disorders which result in aggressive, violence or anti-

social behavior .

Akinboye (2004), identified that academic performance is of two types: positive and negative

performance. Habits , family, background, perseverance, attitudes, interest all these affect academic

achievement in school and concluded that if these variables are modified and attitude changed positively,

then the level of individuals’ academic performance would improve.

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Anderson, (2002) found that adolescents from single parent families were involved in higher rates of

delinquent behavior and that minorities from single parent families were especially more likely to be

involved in certain types of delinquency than other students. Because of the need to expand the study of

family dysfunction and academic achievement, as well as the established relationship between family

dysfunction and child behavior problems in some studies, and between behavior problems and poor

academic functioning in other studies, the literature described next addresses behavior, achievement, and

family disruption

Amato (2007) affirmed that family stress is the most common cause of behavioral problems of the

students. Parental separation,children born outside marriage, death of a parent, discordant two-parent

families, and stepfamilies are the origins of a broken home .Studies also shows that students from broken

homes are more likely to experience higher incidence of drug use, criminality, broken marriages in their

own lives and depression.

The study of Aquino (2015) shows that children who belong to broken family tend to experiencee more

psychological and socoi-emotional challenges than peers from intact families. On the other hand, despite

many adjustment difficulties these children also shows positive changes such as an impressive

development of maturity, and moral growth, a more realistic understanding of finances, and progression

on taking new family roles and responsibilities.

Biblarz (2000) conducted a study which compared academic performance of children of divorce with

children of widowed mothers. Findings concluded that children of divorcees were less likely to complete

high school, attend college, or attend graduate school than children of widowed mothers.

Burton (2012) reported that a recent study by University of Notre Dame and the University of Rochester

revealed that parents’ marital problems can leave a lasting impact on their young children. Researchers

found that when young children witnessed conflict between their parents, this eventually leads to issues in

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their teenage years, including depression and anxiety. “The results further highlight the possibility that

there will be persistent negative effects of children's early experiences when there is conflict between their

parents, at least when their emotional insecurity increases as a result of the conflict,” according to Mark

Cummings, Notre Dame Endowed Chair in Psychology, who led the research.

Carlos (1995) in general, individuals who have experienced a family conflict have a more difficult time

catching up with their studies and their extracurricular activities in school rather than indivoduals who

have a complete family or blended families. However, every child has adifferent way on adjusting to

parental divorce or seperation. In some circumstances, children that is a product of a divorce family show

only a small negative effect that last for a short period of time; and in few circumstances , some children

exhibit a poor adjustment to the negative effect of parental divorce.

Cole (2007) revealed that most of the time they experience physical and mental symptoms such as fatigue,

panic behavior etc. Aside from physical illness, teenagers often experience emotional distress that leads to

mental illness. Teenagers with family breakup experience five phases of feelings. First is denial wherein

they can’t accept the reality of loss.Second is anger ; they may be in general anger with the world, fate or

god, or an anger directed towards certain people - especially the parent who was gone. Third is bargaining;

when your mind refuses to accept what happened. Fourth is depression and lastly the acceptance.

The study of Corcoran (1997) likewise stated that the children’s psychological reactions to the separation

of their parents vary on three major factors relationship quality of each parent before the separation. The

intensity and duration of the parental conflict, and ability of parents to focus on the needs of children in

their separation.

Dawson (2002), showed that twenty to thirty-five percent of children who are living with both biological

parents are physically healthy than those from broken homes. Children who have divorced parents have

greater possibility to experience injury, asthma, headaches and speech defects than those children whose

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parents are intact.There is a current data which supports that stress in a broken family is mostly affecting

the children. Divorce is seen, as the cause of the negative events and psychological distress to the youths.

Doughty (2008), showed that the research adds to a wealth of data showing that children suffer badly

from parental break up, and that those who are brought up by a single parent are more likely to do badly at

school, suffer poor health and fall into crime, addiction and poverty as adults.

Drysdale and Rye (2007), cited that adolescence is a critical developmental period in everyone’s life.To

become adult,we have to “survive”adolescence.Adolescence are high risk for the development of problem

behaviors that are distressing and socially disruptive.Thus,they are the victims once they have poor family

structure.They are the victims of unintentional broken family.

Fagan (1999), found several factors that influence the relationship. Once a divorce has happened fathers

that do not have legal custody tend to drift away, the younger the child is at the time of divorce. He also

found that fathers who remarry tend to be more involved with the children in that marriage.

Furstenberg (1991), the non-residential parent-child relationship is more difficult to maintain than the

custodial parent-child relationship. Two-thirds of non-residential fathers have no contact with their

children over a one-year period, and the more time that elapses since the divorce, the less involved fathers

become. Many aspects of the visiting relationship make it difficult for a quality parent-child relationship

to be sustained after the physical separation of divorce. One important factor is fathers‟ emotional state

and attitude. Many fathers feel unappreciated, rejected and isolated from their families.

Hauwa. (2005), observed that as children grow older, loss of the father is often more serious than loss of

mother, especially for boys. The mother may have to go to work and with the double burden of home

making and outside work, the mother may lack the time and energy to give children the care they need,

consequently they feel neglected and become resentful, if mother are unable to provide the recreational

opportunities and status symbols children’s peers have, this will add to their resentment.

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Hetherington cited in Hargreaves, (1991), children may experience mood changes, anger and frustration

while at school and children from divorced parents may be more disorderly in class, have less proficiency

in study habits, and be absent more frequently than children from two-parent families

Kelly (2008), additional risk factors identified in the research also include the initial separation such as the

abrupt departure of one parent, continuing parent conflict after separation , ineffective or neglectful

parenting,loss of important relationship such as extended family members, and financial/economic

changes protective factors are competent custodial parents, effective parenting from the non-residential

parent,and amicable versus high conflict relationship between the separated .

Landerkin and Clarke (1990) describe how children’s level of development affects their reactions to

separation of their parents, although they acknowledge that they may be overlap.Regression in

development attainments may be the primary reaction among infants. For pre-schoolers, difficulties may

appear in social relationships and separation anxiety

Lioyd Young, M. (1997), investigated the factors within the students home background or family that

affect their performance in school. The variables are: socio economic status, family size, birth order,

parental attitude, child rearing practices, parental absence or presence have been found to affect social and

intellectual learning experiences of children in schools. This is so because children are born with some

psychological, emotional and intellectual needs such as need for love and security, the need for new

experiences, the need for praise and recognition and the need for responsibility. Many of these needs are

not offered to the children of broken homes which will influence their performance

Maccoby, & Dornbusch ( 2004), this study showed some of the possible factors that create the difficult

relationship with the father and adolescent.father and adolescent relationships are most vulnerable. Several

of these studies concluded that the involvement of the father after divorce is one factor that can aid in the

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father to adolescent relationship. Along with the difficulty of parent child relationships, adolescents face

challenges in their own relationships and also in their own relationships later in life.

Moon (2011) finds that the self-interests and personal experiences associated with marital status influence

perceptions of the effects of divorce on children. Regardless of gender, parents’ marital or divorce

influences their ratings of the impact of divorce on children. Specifically, married fathers and mothers

evaluated the impact of divorce on their children more negatively than did divorced fathers and mothers.

These findings are consistent with the social psychology literature, and the need individuals have to

reduce their cognitive dissonance is extended to the divorce literature. Mothers and fathers whose parents

had remained married also reported the impact of divorce more negatively than those whose parents had

divorced. Parents who initiated divorce reported the effects of divorce less negatively than those that did

not initiate the divorce.

Morris and West (2001), explained that students expriencing post-divorce conflict were more likely to

have engaged in premarital sexual intercourse, their satisfaction with their current relationship was lower,

and they showed a decline in the parent-child relationship. These adult children of divorce also expressed

more difficulty in finding people with whom they could establish rekationships.

Mullens (1991) believed that juveniles from broken homes are 2.7 times more likely to run away from

their family than children living in intact homes. The core belief is that a broken home has an imbalance

and as a result is detrimental to a child‟s socialization and personality adjustment. As a result, a child may

be more susceptible to negative peer pressure and may ultimately commit 55 acts of delinquency not

committed by children from intact homes where there is a balanced structure of man and women who act

as good role models in child acquiring proper roles. While examining the relationship between family

structure and juvenile delinquency, it was found that proportionately more juvenile offenders come from

family arrangements other than the two-parent family home.

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Obioha and M. Nthabi (2010) investigated the social background patterns of juvenile delinquents to

ascertain their contributions to juvenile delinquencies in Lesotho. The results in the main corroborated

what exists in literature that most delinquents come from broken homes; most delinquents are males;

delinquency is at a higher rate in urban areas compared to the rural areas and that most delinquents are

part of peer groups who engage in delinquent behaviours. The most committed offence across the country

was robbery.

Okoye (2008) postulated that sex differences may have little or no effect on academic performance, rather,

he submits that eventual achievement by learners is predicted more on personal effort than sex variable.

However, the overall picture suggests that males and females may learn differently. In the same vein,

socioeconomic background is another factor that may affect academic performance of students. This

background refers to the parent‟s educational attainment, occupation, level of income and social class

placement. When a child‟s needs are not properly addressed, his learning ability could be affected due to

lack of motivation.

Park (2008), the significant disadvantages of children from single-parent of broken families,especially

those who experienced parental divorce,have important implications for stratification and inequality in

Korean in the recent trend of increasing divorce.Under the current context of minimal governmental

support for families, increasing numbers of children from single-parents families due to parental divorce

are vulnerable, facing significant educational and other disadvantages. In the changing demographic

environment, family structure is emerging as an important mechanism through which intergenerational

transmission of socioeconomic status occurs. Given that household income explains a part of the negative

effect of single parenthood on educational aspiration and student disengagement. Income support for

single-parent families seems to be a critical policy. However, the negative effects of single parenthood

especially due to divorce remain significant even after controlling for household income suggests that

other social and culture programs should be available for parents and t heir children to deal with parental

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divorce. Moreover, the relative importance of parent-child interaction for single-father families implies

that special policy focus should be directed to strengthen the positive relationship between a single father

and his children .

Richards (2007) suggested that children of divorced parents can also have a better understanding of life.

They can be more helpful in nature, caring and tolerant because of their experience. The fact that they

have had to go through the parent separation can give them practical skills such as problem-solving skills.

Their parents are not around so much that they have to take on the responsibility Divorce can be positive

but it is mainly down to the parents to make it this way.

Reyes (2000) it was more advantageous to be a solo parent, in the sense that there is more harmony in

their home. To them, there is one policy and one dicipline they were following. Being solo parent is a

tough job, he said. The responsibility of shouldering the double burden can be physically and emotionally

draining. For other people, being a solo parent may be disadvantegeous especially on financial side.

Rodgers and Rose (2001) examined the relationship between family factors and academic performance

among a sample with mean age 15 years old from intact, divorced and blended families. This study

revealed that adolescents of divorced families reported less parental support and monitoring which

strongly predicted their academic achievement.

Smith (1999), some children are flexible and adapt well to change largely due to implementing effective

coping strategies, while other children may react in the opposite way. Children may lose confidence,

blame themselves for the break-up, and see their parent’s separation or divorce in a complicated way. The

range of feelings that a child may encounter include; disbelief and denial, sadness, loss, loneliness,

depression, anger, anxiety, fear, relief and hope. Response to these feelings often results in different levels

of intensity.

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Soriano (2010), stated that delinquency is part also of the behavioral problems of the teenagers. He stated

that juvenile delinquency is a criminal or antisocial behavior of children and youth. The causes of juvenile

delinquency from most theories have focused on children from disadvantaged families, ignoring the fact

that children from affluent homes also commit crimes. The latter may commit crimes because of the lack

of adequate parental control. Also according to him, families have also experienced changes within the

last 25 years. More families consits of one-parent households or two working parents; consequently,

children are likely to have less supervision at home than was common in the traditional family structure.

This lack of parental supervision is thought to be an influence on juvenile crimes rates.

Sweeting, Rogers and Pryor (1998) stated that school age children adolecents are more affected by the

separation of their parents.Thus, respondents were asked what do they consider as the greatest difficulty

they face upon their parents’ separation they react with sadness, somatic complaints, and intense anger

towards parents.The reasons given as to what difficulties students coming from broken family are enough

proof that the most of the time the responsibility of parents are so great that one wrong decision could lead

to subsequent problems concerning their child.

On the sociological perspective, a study conducted by Tarroja (2010) presented a closer look about the

family relationships, structure and composition of Filipino families. Filipinos have been described as

family-centered, and families have been observed to be closely-knit. In 2001, Tarroja reported in her book

the results of the 1996 Philippine Values Survey by the Social Weather Station indicating that "98.86% of

the Filipino respondents believe that the family was very important to their lives, 95% believe that a child

needed a home with both a mother and father to be happy, 80.64% disapprove of a woman having a child

as a single parent without having a stable relationship with a man, and 87.58% disagree that marriage was

an outdated institution." These findings show that through a perspective of an adolescent, having a broken

family equates to one's poor emotional state, behavior and contentment.

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Wallerstein (1980), the study found that academic performance was not significantly related to the father

or mother‘s socioeconomic level. Wallerstein concluded that the divorce did not significantly alter school

performance of the group as a group, but individual effects existed. Children of divorced marriages get

very little support from adults. He further observed that, during this time, adult friends, relatives and

teachers are hesitant to interfere.

Whitemarsh (2008) found that educators are often the first to notice a change in behavior when a family is

in transition to being broken up Teachers have observed that some children from divorced families may

show decreased functioning in academic performance and display oppositional behavior, or signs of

anxiety and depression.

Yeo and Huan (2007), cited that affected teenagers use smoking as coping mechanism to broken home.

Aside from smoking, teenagers also are engaged to drinking, taking illegal drugs, sexual activity and

juvenile delinquency as coping strategies. In terms of psychological, girls are more likely exhibit

emotional distress toward boys.

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 CHAPTER III

METHODOLOGY

This chapter represents and discuss the research methodology that will include research design,

respondents of the study, instrumentation, and data gathering procedures .

Research Design

The main purpose of this study was to identify the behavior, coping mechanisms and academic

standing of selected students belonging to a broken family. To achieve this purpose, the

researchers employed a combination of descriptive and qualitative methods of

research.Descriptive method was used which involves gathering information about existing

conditions supported with descriptive analysis of data gathered from the said survey. On the

other hand, qualitative type of research was also to validate the information provided by the

respondents. This type of research gave the respondents the opportunity to describe their

experiences in their own terms. It determined the necessary information and the completeness

and accuracy of the results.

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Instrumentation

The instrument that the researcher used is a survey type questionnaire. The first part deals with

the personal data of the respondents. The second part focus on the behavior of the respondents

which it has 1 question with 14 choices and you need to check what your answers may. The third

part has 1 question too and consist with 11 choices about coping mechanism of students and in

this part you also need to check what your answers may. The last part has 5 questions pertaining

to their academic standing. The first column shows the YES option and the second column is for

NO option.

Respondents of the Study

The respondents were selected students from senior hig school who belong to broken families.

They were selected by asking them if they belong to broken families. The respondents are 22

students that belong to broken families. The researches chose them because they experience this

problem and they are the only one that can answer our questions.

Data Gathering Procedure

For data gathering purposes the researchers made a letter which will allow them to conduct a

survey to the students. After the approval of the letter the researchers will personally distribute

the questionnaires to the target respondents who belong to broken families. After conducting the

survey, all data will be collected and tallied.

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 CHAPTER IV

I. Behavior of the Respondents

Table 1

Frequency and Percentage Distribution of the Respondents

According to the Behavior of the Respondents

BEHAVIOR FREQU PERCEN

ENCY TAGE

Respectful 21 95.45

Obedient 13 59.09

Good Listener 17 77.27

Ambitious 9 40.91

Kind 21 95.45

Polite 11 50

Aggressive 4 18.18

Bossy 3 13.64

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 Inconsiderate 1 4.55

Rude 2 9.09

Lazy 3 13.64

Volatile(Changi 8 36.36

ng mood)

Always 1 4.55

Goodvibes

The table above presents the behavior of the respondents having a broken family. The data

presented in table 1, most of the behavior of the respondents are positive, their behavior are

respectful and kind with 95.45%, honest has 81.82%, good listener has 77.27%,obedient has

59.09% and polite has 50% and other behavior has a lower percentage in 50%.This findings was

further supported by Aquino(2015), showed that children who belong to broken family tend tend

to experience more psychological and socio - emotional challenges than peers from intact

families.On the other hand despite of these, children also shows positive changes such as

impressive development of maturity. This findings also supported by Richards(2007), children of

separated parents can also have better understanding of life. They can be more helpful in nature,

caring and tolerant because of their experience.This findings was further supported by

Ahron(2007), The greater society points a finger at separation as the reason for a wide range of greater

social problems , its also looked at conduct disorders which result in aggressive, violence or anti-social

behavior . This findings also supported by Burton(2012),reported that there will be persistent negative

effects of childrens early experience when there is conflict between their parents.
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II. Coping Mechanisms of the Respondents

Table 2

Frequency and Percentage Distribution of the Respondents

According to the Coping Mechanisms of the Respondents

FREQ PERCEN

UEN TAGE

CY

Smoking 2 9.09

Drinking Alcohol 5 22.73

Using Marijuana 1 4.55

Going to 2 9.09

Computer Shop

Sleeping 12 63.04

Eating 16 72.73

Dancing 4 18.18

Bonding with 18 81.82

Friends

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 Hiking 7 31.82

Biking 1 4.55

Shopping 5 22.73

Praying and 2 9.09

Worship God

Playing 2 9.09

Basketball

Playing Mobile 1 4.55

Legends

Travelling 1 4.55

Dating with 1 4.55

Friends

Table 2 shows the coping patterns utilized by the respondents who belong to a broken families.

The data presented in table 2 shows that most of the coping strategies of the respondents are

positive, their coping strategies are bonding with friends which has 81.82%,eating has

72.73%,sleeping has 63.04%,hiking has 31.82%,and shopping and drinking alcohol has 22.73%.

This findings was further supported by Ignacio and Perlas (1994),identified that the coping

mechanisms are doing activities/recreation,humour/laughter,passitivity/dependency,smoking

and drinking alcohol. This findings also supported by Hetherington(1991), cited that children

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may experience mood changes, anger and frustration while at school. This findings also

supported by Yeo and Huan(2007),cited that affected teenagers use smoking as coping

mechanism to broken home. Aside from this, teenagers also are engaged to drinking etc.

III. Academic Standing of the Respondents

Table 3

Frequency and Percentage Distribution of the Respondents

According to the Academic Standing of the Repondents

Y PERCE N PERC

E NTAGE O ENTA

S GE

Do you perform

well in your
2 95.45 1 4.55
studies?
1

Do you pay

attention and
2 95.45 1 4.55
listen during class
1
discussion?

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 Do you get good

grades in you every

1 81.82 4 18.18
subject?
8

Do you exert more

effort when you do

1 77.27 5 22.73
difficult
7
assignments?

Do you actively

participate in every
1 81.82 4 18.18
discussion?
8

The table above presents the academic standing of the respondents who belong to broken

families. The data presented in table 3, almost of the repondents are perform well in their studies

and their academic performance are all positive. This findings was further supported by

Biblarz(2000), stated that children of separate families were completely have a good grades than

children of complete family. This findings also supported by Okoye(2008), being belong to a

separated family has no effect on academic performance. He submits that eventual achievement

by learners is predicted more on personal efforts. This findings also supported by

Akinboye(2004), identified that academic performance is of two types: positive and negative

performance. Habits , family, background, perseverance, attitudes, interest all these affect academic

achievement in school and concluded that if these variables are modified and attitude changed positively,

then the level of individuals’ academic performance would improve.

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 CHAPTER V

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS,CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

This chapter presents the summary,conclusion and recommendation of the study.

Summary of Findings

This study intends to determine the behavior, coping mechanisms and academic standing of

students from broken families.

Specifically, this study sought necessary information to answer the following:

1.Respondents Behavior

Most of the respondents behaviior are respectful,kind,honest,good listener,obedient and

polite. Therefore, their behavior are all positive.

2.Respondents Coping Strategies

The result of the study shows that students coping strategies are bonding with

friends,eating,sleeping,hiking,shopping and drinking alcohol. This means that students coping

strategies is mostly positive.On the other side,students also prefer negative strategies .

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3.Respondents Academic Standing

Most of the respondents academic performance are all positive. This means that being

belong to broken families has no effect on academic performance.

Conclusion

1.Students behavior is good despite of having a broken family.

2. Most coping strategies of the students for such problem is bonding with friends which it can

help them to enlighten their dark life.

3. On the other hand, respondents utilize also negative coping strategies such as smoking and

drinking alcohol.

4. Being belong to a broken family has no effect on the academic standing of the respondents

5. Having a broken family has a positive and negative effect to the respondents but the positive is

the most preferred among the two of them.

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Recommendation

1.Students who are experiencing difficult family situation should attract positivity in life by

appreciating everything and every person that comes into their lives.

2.Students should involve in sports or other outdoor/indoor activities which they will be able to

find their self-worth and they can socialize with other people.

3. Family,friends and teachers also encourage to help the students to have a better life. Make

them feel special, guide and motivate them .

4.Students should have optimistic attitude toward life.

5. Students should continually accept their predicaments with lightness of heart so that they may

be able to take the situation as a stepping stone and not as a stumbling block and that they should

do the best of their abilities, continually use coping strategies to improve themselves despite of

their situation.

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