Effects of Parental Absence on Psychosocial Development of Adolescents

Abstract

This descriptive quantitative correlational study systematically examined the effects of parental absence—both physical (e.g., migration, work) and emotional (e.g., limited engagement)—on the psychosocial development of 30 adolescents aged 13-19 years residing in selected barangays (Sto. Cristo, Divino Rostro, Tayhi, Pawa) of Tabaco City, Albay, Philippines, conducted from May to June 2025. Employing a researcher-developed, expert-validated structured questionnaire with 5-point Likert scaling (5=Always to 1=Never), the research profiled respondents' socio-demographics, quantified health effects across physical (10 items: fatigue, sleep disruption), psychological (10 items: anxiety, self-worth), and social domains (10 items: peer substitution, risky behaviors), tested Pearson r correlations with demographics, and proposed evidence-based interventions.

Key findings revealed a respondent profile dominated by late adolescents (17-19 years: 57%, f=17), females (57%, f=17), middle children (40%, f=12), high school enrollees amid dropouts (40% enrolled, 30% dropped), and nuclear families (50%, f=15), reflecting OFW-impacted Bicol youth vulnerable during Erikson's identity formation. Physical effects manifested "sometimes" (overall WM=2.70): hygiene often maintained via remittances (WM=3.43) but poor sleep (2.93), weakness (2.83), headaches (2.73) prevalent from absent routines/affection. Psychological impacts peaked "sometimes/often" (WM=2.90) with anxiety over expectations (3.43, "Often") and mood swings (3.40, "Often") leading, alongside low self-esteem (2.80), peer preference (3.03); social effects averaged 2.82 ("sometimes") highlighted by peer openness (3.43, "Often") and premarital sex risks for belonging (3.40, "Often"), signaling Family Systems triangulation. Statistical analysis showed moderate significant positive correlations: gender with physical/psychological effects (r=0.362*/0.333*, p<0.05), education attainment with both (r=0.291*/0.308*); age, birth order, family type negligible (r<0.20, ns)—indicating emotional voids transcend structure, disproportionately burdening females/higher-educated via internalization/awareness. Guided by Bowen Family Systems Theory (disrupted emotional units prompting cut-offs) and Erikson's Identity vs. Role Confusion stage (guidance deficits), results affirm emotional absence's equivalence to physical per Pandey (2023), despite financial buffers, challenging Filipino resilience amid PSA-noted OFW surges.

The study concludes moderate pervasive impacts necessitate multi-level responses: parents/caregivers prioritize virtual rituals/coordination; schools deploy resilience counseling/mentorship; barangays/LGUs expand RA 11908 seminars/youth camps; policies enhance DOH Adolescent Health (AO 2013-0013) with digital monitoring. Limitations include small purposive N=30, cross-sectional self-reports (bias risks), no pilot/Cronbach's, and barangay-specificity curbing generalizability. Future research warrants longitudinal/mixed-methods across Bicol, intervention RCTs, and resilience mediators. This contributes localized evidence aligning Family Code (EO 209)/RPRH Law (RA 10354) mandates with migrant realities, fostering policy-responsive family strengthening in 4th-class Philippine cities.