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Navigating the Level of Self-Esteem of University Students with Separated Parents
Francine Kyle D. Baracao, Jayzekiel Dizon, Hany Mae Ulep
College of Arts and Sciences, Isabela State University
PSYCH 311: Field Methods in Psychology
Mary Grace O. Gumpal, RPm, PhD
December 16, 2024
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TRANSCRIPT Initial Code Coding Theme
PARTICIPANT 1
Kumusta ka Insecurity 1. Insecurity
naman? Your and low self-
overall well-being? confidence
Low Self
I--I’m pretty insecure Insecurity and confidence 2.Need for
about every little fear of future Validation and
things I do. Especially Achievement
my capabilities in Need for
every aspects that's-- validation 3.Family
why I'm scared about Relationships
my future.
Aim for 4.Trust and
How is your achievement Belief Issues
confidence?
Low self- 5.Resilience
IUhh..it’s okay but confidence Family and
not enough to say I'm relationships Adaptability
pretty confident.
Resilience 6.Support
Do you feel good Systems
about yourself? If Adaptability
so, In what 7.Emotional
situation do you Support systems and Coping
typically feel good Challenges
about yourself? Emotional
Seeking challenges
Most of the time, No. validation and
I only feel good when achievement Coping
I achieve something challenges
or when the
superior... figures in Unbelieving
my life gives me the
validation that I Trust Issues
want.
Are there times
when you feel less
confident? If so, Social
what are those Comparison
instances? and self-doubt
I feel less confident
when I'm with
capable and out-
going people. it just
make me belittle
myself, you know.
Like what am I even
doing here, mingling
with this people? Resilience and
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adaptability
What are some
things that you
value the most
about yourself?
My resiliency and my
capability to adapt.
Do you feel close
to either of your Fear of
parents? How’s reprimant and
your relationship casual bond
with them?
In a sense, no.
Because I'm still
afraid to reach out to
them, or even tell
them things due to
the fear that they
might reprimand me
instead of comforting
me. We have a
casual bond.
Messy but
Can you describe loving with
your relationship boundaries
with your family?
Are you close with
both sides of your
mother and father?
Messy yet loving.
Though I'm close with
both of my parents
side, I still put
boundaries between
me and them.
In what ways, if Insecurity and
any, do you fear of
believe that having commitment
separated parents
has impacted your
social
relationships?
It made me insecure
and scared of
commitments. I know
that it's not a shame
on my part that my
parents are
separated, but I'm
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afraid of people
asking me every Friends as
details regarding it. support
system
Are there certain
people or support
systems that are
helpful in dealing
with family-related
challenges?
I think, my friends Emotional
are my biggest distress and
support sysytem. coping
Yeah.. challenges
What are some
specific challenges
you face as a
student with
separated
parents?
The emotional Sadness,
torture and the stress anger, and
the separation brings helplessness
to me lowers my
ability to cope
healthily.
How do you feel
about the changes
that had come
when your
parents’ parted
ways? Focusing on
studies and
I feel sad, angry and personal
helpless. growth
How have you
coped with any
negative feelings
or experiences
you’ve
encountered
related to your
parents’
separation?
Through busying
myself with my
studies and assuring
myself that this
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struggle will soon
pass.
PARTICIPANT 2
How do you
generally feel
about yourself?
Gratitude and
I’m grateful and quite happiness
happy.
Can you describe
your self-
confidence? Moderate self-
confidence
My self confidence
level is not that really
good. In a scale of 1-
10? Masasabi ko na
5/10
Do you feel good
about yourself? If
so, In what
situation do you Feeling good
typically feel good about
about yourself? accomplishme
nts
Yes, I do feel good
about myself
especially kapag
natatapos ko ang
isang bagay na
nakabubuti saakin or
sa lahat
Are there times
when you feel less Feeling less
confident? If so, confident in
what are those unfamiliar
instances? situations
Yes, this typically
occurs kapag hindi
ako familiar sa
nangyayari or I don’t
have any idea how to
do things. Streangth and
resilence
What are some
things that you
value the most
about yourself?
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Yung pagiging
matatag ko kahit
may mga problems
akong kinakaharap.
Close with
Do you feel close mother,
to either of your distance from
parents? How’s father
your relationship
with them?
I can say that I’m
close with my mom.
But my papa? I don’t
think so. *sad*
Can you describe Messy family
your relationship relationships
with your family?
Are you close with
both sides of your
mother and father?
It’s not that good or I
must say magulo,
and masasabi kong
mas close ako kay
mom kesa kay papa.
In what ways, if Impact on
any, do you trust and
believe that having belief in love
separated parents
has impacted your
social
relationships?
Yes, it really affects
my social
relationships such as
building my trust and
believing if love does
really exist.
Friends and
Are there certain family as
people or support support
systems that are system
helpful in dealing
with family-related
challenges?
As a person na
nakaka experience
ng family-related Impact of
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problems. Yes,meron separation
andyan ang iyong
mga
pinagkakatiwalaang
kaibigan, other
family members.
Sa sa mga
nakaapekto saakin
bilang isang
estudyante na
separated ang
parents ay yung pag
manage ng time
between two
household.
Naranasan ko yung
mahirapan sa pag-
aaral dahil sa away
nila na isunusumbat Difficulty on
saakin and it affects adjusting
my social life separation
nahirapan akong
makipag-kapwa tao.
How do you feel
about the changes
that had come
when your
parents’ parted
ways?
Noong una, hindi ko
maintindihan atSeeking
nahirapan ako mag support from
adjust safriends and
paghihiwalay nila. families,
engaging in
How have you hobbies
coped with any
negative feelings
or experiences
you’ve
encountered
related to your
parents’
separation?
Sa pamamagitan ng
pag open up sa mga
kaibigan na
pinagkakatiwalaan
ko, sa mga pinsan
lalo na sa mga lolo’t
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lola ko. Nililibang ko
din minsan ang aking
sarili sa paglalaro ng
mga online games at
panonood.
PARTICIPANT 3
Do you currently
live with your
parents?
No, po --
How long since
your parents
parted ways?
Siguro more than 10
years.
--
Can you share us/
or tell us, how you
feel about yourself
knowing your
parents
separated?
Disappointed at saka
siguro galit at some Disappointme
point. nt, anger
Can you share to
your experiences
that you’ve
encountered when
your parents
separated?
Mas nagging mahirap Lack of
sempre yun para support
sakin,kasi walang
sumusuporta ganon .
Could you describe
your feelings
about the
separation of your
parents? And how
do you cope with
it?
Struggle to
Pagcocoope ba yung, cope
kasi until know
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parang dipa ako
nakakarecover, dipa
ako okay sa
nangyare.
How do you
generally feel
about yourself? Self-pity
Ahm wala, naawa sa
sarili.
Can you describe
your self- Low self-
confidence? confidence
Ah siguro ano hindi Lack of
ganon kataas yung guidance
self-confidence ko,
kasi ano walang
parang nagguguide
or parang naggive
nang dapat kong
marinig na inaasahan
ko mga parents ko
sana.
Do you feel good
about yourself? If
so, in what
situation do you Negative self-
typically feel good image
about yourself?
I don’t feel good
about myself, kasi
siguro sa ano
physical appearance
at yun nga absence
of parents.
Frequent low
Are there times self-
you feel less confidence
confident?
Maraming times
Are there times
you feel less
confident po, if Low
nakafeel kayo nun confidence in
what are thoses social
instances? interactions
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Halimbawa po
ganon.
Kunwari, ano po sa
labas ganyan sa
pakikipag salamuha
sa mga tao or
schoolmates ganon. Self-value
What are those
things you value
the most about
yourself?
Siguro since ano ako
lang yung meron
ako, siguro yung
sarili ko po. Distant from
parents
Do you feel close
to either of your
parents? How’s
your relationship
with them?
Ahmm wala po,
siguro po dahil may
sari-sari na silang
pamilya kaya parang
hindi na po ako
nakikialam sa Closer to
kanilang dalawa. father’s side
Can you describe
your relationship
with your family,
are you close with
both sides of your
mother and father?
Ah sa father side po
kasi dun po ako
nagstay ngayon, and
sila po yung Difficulty to
nakakasama ko self-
ngayon since wala po expression in
akong parents. social setting
In what ways po in
any do you believe
having separated
parents has
impacted your
social
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relationships?
Sa mga ano nga sa Friends and
pakikipag socialized family as
kasi parang support
nahihirapan akong system
iexpress yung sarili
ko ganun.
Are their certain
people or support
system that are
helpful dealing
with family related
challenges?
Financial
Meron po,yung mga challenges
bilang na kaibigan
saka ibang
meyembro nang
pamilya.
What are some
specific challenges
that you face as
student with
separated
parents?
Ahmm yung pinaka
challenging talaga is
yung sa financial
talaga, since wala Lack of life
ngang sumusuporta direction
dun pinaka
nahihirapan. Siguro
hindi lang ako kundi
lahat ng nakakaranas
nito lalo na sa
financial kung
student palang and
wala ngang
sumusuporta.
How do you feel
about the
challenges that
had come when Resorting to
your parents distractions
parted ways? Social support
during lowest
Siguro mas nagging points
mas mahirap para
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sakin, siguro kasi
matagal na yun e,
kasi diko pa alam
kung anong yung
gagawin ko nung
nangyari yon.
How have you cope
with negative
feelings or
experinces that
you encounter
related to your
parent separation?
Ah nililibang ko
nalang sarili
ko,minsan nakiki
sama nalang sa mga
kaibigan ko, minsan
di rin kaya icope
parang nakakapunta
rin sa lowest point.
PARTICIPANT 4
Do you live with
both of your
parents po?
--
P: Hindi na po
Who do you
currently live with?
Lives with
Apparently po, I’m aunt
with my autie sister
of my father.
How long it has
been since your
parents parted
ways?
--
Since I was high
school siguro mga six
years or seven years
na.
Can you share to
us or tell us about
how you feel
knowing your
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parents are Initial
separated? unawareness
At first nung bata
ako, hindi ko pa
masyadong alam or
hindi pa nagsisink in
sakin kasi before Later
naman ganon na understanding
talaga. of
permanence
Minsa uuwi yug
mama ko sa kanila,
sasama nya kami
mga anak nya pag
nagaaway sila and
noong high school
nako dun ko lang
naintindihan na wala
na talaga separated
na talaga, hindi na
kami mabibigyan ng
chance na marebuild.
Can you share your
experiences that Feeling
you encounter responsible
when your parents for siblings
separated?
Taking up
Ako kasi yung pinaka parent’s role
matanda so I feel
responsible sa aking
mga sisters since yun
nga waala hindi
naman kami nakatira
both of both sa
parent. So I feeling
ko yung half ng life
ko is kailangan nasa
mga kapatid ko.
So how could you
describe your Perceived
feelings about unfairnes
your parent
separation and
how did you coop
up with it?
Noong bata pa ako
ayun nga diko pa
masyado
nararamdaman, but
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as I growold I feel na
unfair kasi both of
them my families na
and kami parang
kami yung naiwan
yung first family so
parang saakin ang
unfair kasi sila
parang maganda
yung buhay at meron
silang family na
kasama kami hindi, High hopes for
we have to deal with reconciliation
the fact na hindi (with parents)
kami buo and we
have to live with our Taking care
own. taker role for
siblings
So how do you
generally feel
about yourself?
Noon siguro, I have
high hopes na
getting back together
but this time na High self-
parang ako na yung confidence
tumatayong nanay due to jobs
tatay ng mga kapatid
ko minsan , I feel na
all I have to do is to
provide for my
sisters.
Can you describe
yourself-
confidence?
Hindi naman sya, I
have high confidence
naman, kasi I need Balancing
sa job sa trabaho responsibilitie
para makipag s and fun
interact sa trabaho
which I build
connections na
nagagamit ko.
Do you feel good
about yourself? If
so in what
situation you
typically feel good Needing
about yourself? parental
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comfort
I feel good about
myself, when infact Reliance on
na kaya ko friends and
pagsabayin yung relatives
responsibilities and (support
having fun and system)
having self
fullfilment.
Are there times
that you feel less
confident? If so,
what are those
instances?
Less self-confidence
siguro pagka yung
time na na parang
you needed a father
and mother figure na
mag ccomfort sayo Acceptance of
whenever you feel the family
down you need situation
comfort, kailangan
mo ng magulang to
comfort you dun lang Desire for
but I’m thankful kasi I success
have friends and
relatives na I can run
to whenever I feel
down and burnout.
Do you feel close
either of your
parents? How’s
your relationship
with them?
I’m close to them
naman kasi at this
age I accepted the Closer to
fact that yun nga father’s side
were a broken family
already, hindi ko na Good
or hindi nako relationships
nagdedeal sa past with both
what I want most is if sides
mag success man
ako, magsuccess din
sila in their lives and
then eventually to
help my other
siblings pa.
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Can you describe
your relationship
with your family,
are you close with
both side of your Developing
mother and father? trust issues
Sa father side kasi Anxiety about
dun kami mas relationships
naiwan, I’m really
close to them and sa
mother side naman
occasionally we get
together and I can
say that I don’t have
any badblood with
both side of my
parents.
In what ways in
any do you believe
that having
separated parents
has impacted your Close friends
social as support
relationships? system
My chance lalo if Reliance on
their getting in a Aunt
relationship na, kasi
you have trust issues
na what if matulad sa
parents mo, yung
nangyari sa kanila
kasi there is cheating
issues within the
relationship of my
parent kaya parang
sayo you feel anxious
and you have issues
Are their certain Independence
people or support
system that are
helpful dealing Self-provision
with family related
challenges?
Yes, I have close
friends we’re I run to
especially when
things are getting a
bit messy and you
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don’t know what to. I Learning
have friends I have independence
close friends and I due to lack of
have my auntie parental
whom I relay on so support
much.
What are some
specific challenges
you face as a
student with
separated
parents?
Ahm challenges
siguro when, while
studying I have to be Deep thinking
an independent
student and I needed Shrugging
to provide for myself. problems off
How do you feel
about the
challenges that
has come when
your parents
parted ways?
The only challenge
that I see when my
parents parted ways
is that I don’t have
anyone to give what I
want so in that case I
learn to be
independent and I
learn to provide for
myself.
How do you cope
with any negative
feelings or
experiences that
you encounter
related to your?
I cope-up with deeply
thinking are those
challenges na if it has
to be deep na
kailangan ba ng
deeply thinking or
kailanagan ng more
time because
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sometimes I need to
shrug it off.
PARTICIPANT 5
Do you currently
live with your
parents?
--
Ah hindi po
Who do you
currently live with?
Lives with
Sa side po ng nanay mother
ko.
If yes, how long
has it been since
your parents --
parted ways?
Since, second year
high school po ako.
Can you share to
us/ tell us how you
feel about yourself
knowing that your
parents are Difficulty
separated? adjusting
Since noong bago Not used
palang po parang being alone
sempre mahirap
pang mag-adjust kasi
hindi ako sanay na
mag-isa.
Can you share your
experiences that
you’ve Hiding
encountered when emotional
your parents pain,
separated?
Maintaining a
Hindi ko po bubbly
pinapahalata kapag personality
may mga kasama
ako, kasi kilala nila
ako na I have a bubly
personalityp ero para
sakin po kasi e
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masakit yun
Could you describe
your feelings Difficulty
about the accapting the
separation of your situation
parents? And how
do you cope with Coping
it? through
studies and
Ah para po sa akin social
sempre mahirap po activities
para sakin kasi hindi
na katulad dati na
pwede ko silang
makasama pareho
ganon po, siguro up
until now hindi ko
parin tanggap at
siguro po yung way
ko ng pag cope up is
yung pag aaral ko
mas ginagawa kong
busy yung sarili ko,
minsan lumalabas Feelings of
kasama yung mga loneliness
kaibigan.
Unconsistent
How do you feeling better
generally feel
about yourself?
Minsan po kasi
feeling ko okay
naman,pero kapag
dumadating po sa
point nasa down time Decreased
ako ganon feeling ko self-
mag-isa ako at doon confidence
bumabalik sa isip ko
yung mga nangyari Loss of
po. interest in
studies
Can you describe
your self-
confidence?
Kung idedescribe ko
po siguro, hindi na
kagaya nang dati na
super active po ako
ganon, nawala po
yung spark ko sapag-
aaral at saka
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nabawasan po ang
self-confidence ko Feeling good
talaga sa sarili ko. with mother
Do you feel good
about yourself? If
so, in what
situation do you
feel good about
yourself?
Less active in
school
Sometimes po, kapag activities due
nakakasama ko po to decrease of
gumala yung nanay self-
ko. confidence
Are there times
when you feel less
confident? If so,
what are those
instances? Valuing sense
of humor
Opo madalas kasi po
dati very active ako
sa mga school
activites pero ngayon
madalang nalang po.
What are
somethings that
you value the most
about yourself?
Sempre yung
pagiging makwela ko Closer to
po sa mga kaibigan mother’s side
ko ganyan, bilang
lang po natututwa Occasional
ako kasi nakakapag talk with
pasaya ako ng ibang father
tao.
Do you feel close
to either of your
parents? How’s
your relationship
with them?
Ah sa father side po
madalang at sa
mother side naman
po kasi doon ako Closer to
lumaki sa mother mother
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side, nakakausap ko
naman po yung Good
father ko relationship
occasionally ganon. with both
Can you describe
your relationship
with your family?
Are you close with
both sides of your
mother and father?
Limited social
Mas close po ako sa interaction
mother side pero
okay naman po Less vocal
relationship ko about feelings
bothside.
In what ways, if
any do you believe
that having
separated parents
has impacted your
social relationship?
Yun nga po nalilimit Selected
po yung sarili ko sa friends,
pakikipag interact sa mother, and
ibang tao at hindi na siblings as
po ako nagiging support
vocal kadalasan sa system
mga nararamdaman
ko.
Are there certain
people or support
system that are
helpful in dealing
with family related Financial and
challenges? emotional
challenges
Meron naman po
mga piling kaibigan
lang at saka yung
nanay at mga
kapatid ko.
What are some Significant
specific challenges impact on
you face as emotional and
student with mental
separated aspects
parents?
Lack of
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Commonly ang guidance
pinaka po is yung sa
financial at
emotional.
How do you feel
about the
challenges that
had come when
your parents
parted ways?
Malaking impact po
talaga as in para
sakin, kasi parang
hindi pa po saakin
nagsisink in kasi ay
bata pa ako pero
ngayo po matanda
na ako mas
naiintindihan ko na Coping
po na sempre malaki through
pong epekto saki lalo listening with
na emotional and music
mental. Since wala
na akong
masandalan or
matanungan
mahingaan ng
guidance sa mga
bagay-bagay na hindi
ko pa alam.
How have you
coped with any
negative feelings
or experiences
you’ve
encountered
related to your
parent separation?
Yung pakikinig po or
paggawa ng kanta
doon po ko po mas
naexpress po talaga
yung nararamdaman
ko.
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The general objective of this study is to understand the factors influencing
level of self-esteem level of university students with separated parent.
Specific Objective
1. To analyze the level of self-esteem of university students with history of
parental separation
Theme 1: Insecurity and low self-confidence
Participants consistently revealed struggles with insecurity and low
self-confidence, often marked by self-comparison and doubt in their
abilities. These emotions were closely ties to the absence of stable family
structures and a lack of parental affirmation. The fear of the future,
coupled with pervasibe self-doubt, emerged as recurring themes in their
experiences.
Many participants attributed these struggles to the emotional
impact of their parents’ separation, which shaped their interactions and
self-perception. One participant shared, “I’m pretty insecure about every
little thing I do, especially my abilities in every aspect. That is why I’m
scared about my future.” Another reflected, “I feel less confident when I’m
with capable and outgoing people. It makes me belittle myself, like that,
what am I even doing here, mingling with these people?”
These reflections highlight the profound effecr parental separation
can have on student’s self-esteem, fostering chronic insecurity and
diminished confidence in both social and personal contexts.
Theme 2: Need for Validation and Achievement
The need for validation and achievement was a recurring theme
24
among participants, with many expressing that their self-worth was closely
tied to accomplishments and external approval.
Participant 1 explained, "I only feel good when I achieve something
or when the superior figures in my life give me the validation that I want."
This illustrates the reliance on external approval to affirm their self-
esteem, suggesting that participants struggled to find self-worth
internally, instead depending on recognition from others to feel validated.
This reliance on achievement as a means of self-affirmation further
underscores the fragility of their self-esteem, which was heavily influenced
by external factors rather than personal accomplishment.
Specific Objective 2: To explore the influence of family structure
on the level of self-esteem among university students with
separated parents
Theme 3: Family Relationships
The influence of family dynamics, especially in the context of
parental separation played a critical role in shaping participants’ self-
esteem, especially in the context of parental separation. Many described
their relationships with their parents as complex and emotionally charged.
Participant 2 shared, "I'm close with my mom, but my papa? I don’t
think so." This reveals how parental separation often led to distance
between children and one parent, affecting their emotional security and
self-esteem.
25
Another participant (4) stated, "Messy yet loving. Though I'm close
with both of my parents' sides, I still put boundaries between me and
them."
The complexity of these family dynamics show the emotional
turmoil participants faced, impacting their self-image and relationships
with others
Theme 4: Trust and Belief Issues
Another key issue arising from parental separation was the
development of trust and belief issues, which had a long-lasting effect on
the participants' ability to form and maintain healthy relationships. For
many, witnessing the breakdown of their parents’ relationship led to
difficulties in trusting others and believing in love.
Participant 3 explained, "It affects my social relationships such as
building my trust and believing if love does really exist." This statement
demonstrates how parental separation can lead to skepticism about
relationships and trust.
Additionally, Participant 2 admitted, "I find it hard to express myself
socially because of the fear and insecurity stemming from my parents'
separation," emonstrating how the emotional impact of their parents’
separation hindered their ability to trust and connect with others.
This indicates that trust issues, often tied to the fear of emotional
betrayal, can impair one's ability to engage in meaningful relationships,
thereby affecting self-esteem and social interactions.
26
Specific Objective 3: To explore personal experiences and
challenges of students with separated parents
Theme 5: Resilience and Adaptability
Despite the emotional challenges brought on by parental
separation, many participants emphasized their resilience and ability to
adapt to difficult circumstances. One participant (1) reflected, "My
resiliency and my capability to adapt are what I value the most about
myself." This highlights the strength that participants found in their ability
to endure and adapt to the emotional toll of their parents' separation.
This sense of resilience was a central theme in the participants’
coping mechanisms, as they developed strategies to manage their
emotional distress and continue with their daily lives, despite the adversity
they faced. Resilience and adaptability became a core aspect of their
identity as they navigated the emotional and practical challenges of living
with separated parents.
Theme 6: Support Systems
The role of support systems, particularly friends and extended
family, was crucial in helping participants cope with the emotional and
practical challenges of parental separation. Many participants described
turning to close friends or other family members for emotional support
during difficult times.
One participant (Participant 2) shared, "I think, my friends are my
biggest support system," which illustrates how peer support played an
essential role in their emotional well-being.
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Another participant (Participant 3) emphasized the importance of
family support, saying, "As a person experiencing family-related problems,
yes, there are friends and other family members who support me."
These support systems helped participants manage the emotional
distress caused by their parents' separation, providing them with the
stability and emotional support necessary to maintain their self-esteem
during difficult periods.
Theme 7: Emotional and Coping Challenges
Parental separation created emotional and coping challenges for
the participants, as many described feeling sadness, anger, and
helplessness. These emotions were deeply tied to their experiences of
family dysfunction and the impact of parental separation on their mental
health.
Participant 1 expressed, "The emotional torture and the stress the
separation brings to me lowers my ability to cope healthily." This
statement illustrates how overwhelming emotional pain made it difficult
for participants to manage their emotions and daily responsibilities.
Another participant (5) shared, "I feel sad, angry, and helpless."
These feelings of emotional distress highlight the profound impact
parental separation had on their mental health and overall well-being,
which in turn affected their self-esteem and coping abilities.
