The Power of One: Unveiling the Untold Stories and Experiences of Single

Parents Navigating Life Post-Separation Through an In-Depth Qualitative

Exploration

1.2 Review of Related Literature

This chapter presents the related literature and studies both local and foreign
that are crucial for explaining the key concepts considered by the researchers. By
incorporating these sources, we aim to strengthen the claim and emphasize the
significance of the present study. Furthermore, in the following part of this chapter,
we introduce important terms that are essential for understanding the research.

1.21 Single Parents

According to (Chavda K, Nisarga V., 2023), Urbanization, industrialization,

and modernization challenge traditional family structures, blurring gender roles.
Family instability negatively impacts children's development, mental health, physical
health, growth, and relationships. Single parents face social stigma and lack support,
leading to poor academic performance and emotional and behavioral problems. New
research emphasizes positive outcomes and protective factors for better outcomes.

Transforming family system from two-parent into a single-parent family

system need a variety of adjustment, particularly when two parent divorce. There are
several types of single-parent family system, but most are headed by women. Single
parent system caused by parental divorce may affect children either short or long-term
and positive or detrimental. Short-term effects include behavior difficulties at home
and at school that occurs in association with the initial reaction to parental separation.
Long-term effects may not appear until adolescence or adulthood when individuals
become involved in intimate relationship and experience difficulties in establishing
them. Need a strategy and intervention to children with single parent system. (Yusuf,
Husmiati & Fahrudin, Adi & Budiman, Budiman & Fahmi, Ilman & Fahrudin, &
Fahrudin, Fikran & Budiman, Fahmiilman & Fahrudin, Fikran & Aranda., 2020)

(Kleinschlömer, P., & Krapf, S.,2023). The article suggests that not all
children respond identically to parental separation, and examines the effects based on
parent-child relationship quality. A study of 2,057 children aged 7-15 found that
children with high conflict with the resident parent had more emotional problems and
behavioral problems after separation, while those with few conflicts had fewer issues.

According to (Jones, C., Zadeh, S., Jadva, V., & Golombok, 2022) no
significant differences were found in parental mental health, and both groups sought
supportive networks. Fathers received both positive and negative reactions, but often
faced stigma due to their family type. The findings contribute to a new understanding
of the well-being and experiences of single parents.

(Yuliana and Karim 2024) shows that the role of single fathers in the moral
development of early childhood is a duty that must be carried out by the parent with
love, providing guidance and taking various steps in dealing with the child. First, as
single parents, fathers nurture by feeding, bathing the child, and accompanying them
during homework or Quranic study sessions. Observations of single fathers in
Indonesia, confirm that fathers have undertaken these actions. Second, in educating
morals, single fathers focus all their attention on teaching children to adopt the basics
of good and proper life patterns by instilling moral values to develop a good
personality. Third, as guiding parents, single fathers build habits through setting
behavior rules and monitoring their implementation, such as discipline. Despite the
challenges, fathers persist because they recognize the hope of seeing their children
succeed in the future. Fourth, as friends, in this process, fathers become companions
so that children feel more comfortable sharing stories joyfully and without coercion,
as if the father is engaging in storytelling while interspersing advice without
forcing the child to act, making the child comfortable without feeling intimidated
when receiving advice from the father.

1.2.2 Single Parents in the Philippines

Single motherhood is now becoming a "norm," the number of single mothers

has been steadily increasing for so many reasons such as giving birth outside
marriage, separation, divorce, annulment, the death of a partner, or simply because
some women chose to have a child and stay single. The fundamental question is, what
are the lived experiences of single mothers in child-rearing practices? The study's
findings revealed that financial problems (struggles in meeting the basic needs of the
children/family) and loneliness as the predominant feeling among single mothers are
the common problems and experiences of being a single mother (Ramos & Tus,
2020). Faith, support from family and community, and their job play an essential role
in coping with their situation and helping them survive. It made them feel suitable for
themselves, and they were trustworthy and independent in raising their children as
single mothers.

According to (Hingpis, Rendosa, Pacis, Fajardo, Toribio, and Fabi, 2022),

economic challenges were the common difficulties while socio-psychological
revealed as the coping strategies of single parents. Additionally, the researchers had
three recommendations for further research for the future researchers, first is to
conduct a similar study in a different locale with a larger sample size, second is
different age group, and last is expand the target population that includes other
genders which is also a single parent.

The majority of the single parents physical status were undernourished due to
poor and inadequate diet. They were mentally and emotionally distressed, due to
greater responsibilities and the feeling of betrayal. In addition, the lack of awareness
to the Solo Parents Association which could assist them with their issues. The
majority of them have experienced financial difficulty because they lack regular
source of income to sustain their needs. They use different coping mechanisms, the
majority use physical, spiritual, and social coping strategies in addressing solo
parenting problems. Most of them kept themselves busy with their hobbies or by
spending time with their family. (Dagupon & Garin, 2022)

A single parent may feel overwhelmed by the demands of juggling child care,
a career, paying bills, and maintaining household responsibilities. Single-parent
households frequently deal with several extra obligations and possible complications
that other families would not. According to study of (Baluyot, Yapo, Gatchalian, Jose,
Juan, Tabiliran, and Tus, 2023) it emphasizes the difficulties and coping mechanisms
faced by contractual single parents as well as their lived experiences. The study's
findings, which they based on an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, were as
follows: first is work-life balance can be difficult for single parents. They struggle to
keep their jobs while taking care of their family because they are the only ones in
charge of the children. Next, single contractual mothers face particular difficulties due
to a lack of resources for basic expenses. And last, contractual single women lean on
their kids, the good people in their lives, and their faith in God to get through
problems.

According to the interview of ( Bain, 2020) with the single mothers reveal
that they live under challenging conditions. The cultural norms and practices have
seen to be continually discriminating and undergird inequalities to the daily life
journey of the single mothers in the Philippines. The study reveals that the
paternalistic and discriminatory practices influenced by the society are existing within
the church, deterring the church to fully meet the needs of the single mothers. The
study reveals that the church has primarily been working through traditional ways
(e.g. preaching) as responding to the needs of the single mothers in the Philippines.
The study found out that there is no collaboration between the church and the public
states in response to the needs of single mothers. The church as diaconal agent is
called to respond to the human suffering, injustice, care for creation; fostering
empowerment to every individual, in family and in communities. Empowering single
mothers might be best fulfilled and meet the needs of the single mothers if the civic
society and church are both collaborating between programs and initiatives.

Members:
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