Effects of Being a Single Father

Chapter 1
INTRODUCTION
Marriage is a legal union to God that contract between two people that establish their rights and obligation. It is also an important culture to a Filipino people and one of the most very important in their life. But some Filipinos can’t carry the burden of their obligation to their family and they can’t handle the pressure. According to an article in Manila Standard Today:
Manila, Philippines – A progressive woman lawmaker is pushing for the enactment of a bill into law that seeks to provide financial security blanket to single parents. Youth Against Corruption and Poverty (YACAP) party-list Rep. Carol Jayne Lopez, principal author of the House Bill 6184 said there is a pressing need for Congress to pass the proposed Solo Parents Welfare Act, which seeks to amend the Republic Act 8972 or the Solo Parent’s Welfare Act of 2000 to provide comprehensive package of benefits to at least 14 million single parents. She made the call after a group of solo parents from the Department of Social Welfare and Development-Central Office (DSWD-CO) asked the Aquino government to “focus on the real situation, needs and concerns” of solo parents. “In these hard times, we always hear about the financial problems being faced by a traditional family with both parents, thus, one can just imagine the plight of solo parents and their children especially those belonging to the underprivileged sector,” Lopez, a single parent, said. “The bill does not only intend to grant discounts to those entitled but likewise provides for additional non-monetary benefits,” she stressed in pushing for the passage of the bill. Solo parents comprise about 14 to 15 percent of the country’s current 94 million populace, a World Health Organization-funded study said. Last June, the House approved on third and final reading HB 6184 which gives discounts to solo parents. Once the measure is enacted into law, single parents will enjoy a 15-percent discount on milk and other food supplements, as well as a 10-percent discount on clothes, for their babies until the children are two years old.
Under HB 6184, single parents will get a 15-percent discount on clothes for their children until they are five years old. Violators of the propose Act, particularly those fraudulently securing the discounts shall pay P10,000 to P50,000 and shall be imprisoned for six months.
Those who fail to give discounts shall pay P10,000 to P50,000 on the first offense. For the second offense, they will be fined P100, 000 to P200,000 and imprisoned for a maximum of two years.

This article shows that there are many Filipinos that are single parents and are being mistreated hence the Solo Parents Welfare Act 2002 helps them on a discount on their daily needs for their children.
Many of the Filipino’s are being mistreated that’s why there are so many Filipino’s that are single parent, some cases they are being rape, some are and some are fights or misunderstanding of parents. Fights are one of the reason Filipinos are separated and it makes the children suffer.
Separations are also about religious, Catholics are not allowed to be separated when you’ve made a pledge in front of God, religious like Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs and Jains. According to the news at GMA, Filipinos, most, if not all of them Catholics who are supposed to be monogamous and loyal to their partners, are trooping to the courts to file cases of annulment or legal separation. In 2007, there were 7,753 cases of annulment and legal separation filed at the Office of the Solicitor General, a 71.5 percent jump from the 4,520 cases filed in 2001. From 2001 to 2007, the OSG received 43,617 cases of annulment and separation. The figure could have been higher if more married people have the means to break their ties legally. Based on the 2000 Census of Population and Housing, of the 57.1 million Filipinos aged ten years and over, one percent or 558,023 were either divorced or separated; 2.4 million or 4.3 percent were in live-in arrangements; 4.1 percent or 2.4 million were widowed; 45.7 percent or 26.1 million were married; and 44 percent were single. Based on the 2002 Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality Study, 40 percent of the youth would support a bill to legalize divorce in the country. The Philippines and Malta are the only remaining countries in the world where divorce is banned.
According to a magazine in Single Parent Magazine:
Whether you are a single father raising your children full-time or a non-custodial father with regularly scheduled parenting time one thing is for sure, you are in the minority. There are more of you than 10 years ago but you still have to deal with the cultural phenomenon devoted to nourishing single mothers. The good news is, in spite of the statistics and all the attention paid to single mothers, gender has no say in a person's ability to raise and positively impact a child. And when it comes to meeting a child's needs you single fathers are as important as us single mothers. In some ways more important. Mothers and fathers complement each other. Mothers provide emotional warmth while fathers provide a strong sense of security. Mothers soothe a child, fathers stimulate a child. All parents play an important role in their child's life. Showing a better appreciation of the role single fathers play will lead to happier, healthier children. In the end, it isn't about whether or not you are a single parent, married parent, custodial parent or non-custodial parent. It is about parenting and the impact you, as a parent can have on your child.
Being a single father is hard as being as a single mother. But what to father’s know how to raise a child? How to feed milk when they are hungry? How to do chores in the house while doing work for their money? and it’s the same for the mother it really hard to work and be a house wife at the same time.

1.1 Statement of the Problem
This study will aim to know if what the psychological effects of being a single father to their daily life. This will also make the researches to know what the effects of their father to their children are.

This study will verify the following questions of the researches: 1. What are the effects of the parent to the child in terms on how they raise their child? 2. What is the emotional effect of the parent in his status? 3. What is the biggest problem in his life that came to him/her, after he lost his wife/husband? 4. How can she handle work and house chores at the same time? 5. Did he/she still confront his/her husband/wife? If yes what did he/she react? If no why didn’t you do it? (If the husband/wife is still alive) 6. How did he/she explain it to his child? 7. How did the child react? 8. Do you think that your child need some father/mother? Why or why not? 9. Does your child comply about your situation? 10. What is the greatest challenge you have encounter?

1.2 Importance of the study
The study aims to know what the psychological effects of the father being a single parent. This will also give information on how they handle their situation of being a father and mother at the same time. This will strengthen some of the laws that can give rights to parents like the Solo Parents Welfare Act 2002 or even the approving of the divorce law. This can also give importance to the parents who are thinking of leaving their wives or husbands. It can also give students information on what they deciding in their future when they have a family. This can also decrease the person on getting divorce. This will also give information on how to hndle this situation.

1.3 Scope and Limitation This study will be limited only to the single father in Philippines on 2012. It does not tell where region in the Philippines the researchers will get information on the interviewee. The researchers will not know what is the cause of his being single parent. The researches will not get a person that is legally divorced because of the law in Philippines. The background of the family will not get involved of the research but his child may also be an interviewee. The researchers will interview only a mentally normal person. The researchers will only ask the questions that are asked in their research paper. Also the researches will not know what the religion of the interviewee was.

1.4 Definition of Terms For the purpose of the study, the following terms are defined accordingly:
Solo Parents Welfare Act – is the policy of the State to promote the family as the foundation of the nation, strengthen its solidarity and ensure its total development. Towards this end, it shall develop a comprehensive program of services for solo parents and their children to be carried out by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Department of Health (DOH), the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS), the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), the National Housing Authority (NHA), the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and other related government and nongovernment agencies.
Religion- is an organized collection of belief systems, cultural systems, and world views that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values.
Catholic - Catholicism or catholic is a broad term for describing specific traditions in the Christian churches in theology and doctrine, liturgy, ethics and spirituality.
Hindus - the complex of beliefs, values, and customs comprising the dominant religion of India, characterized by the worship of many gods, including Brahma as Supreme Being, a caste system, belief in reincarnation, etc. It is the predominant religion of the Indian subcontinent.
Buddhists - is a religion indigenous to the Indian subcontinent that encompasses a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, who is commonly known as the Buddha (meaning "the awakened one" in Sanskrit and Pāli).
Sikhs - the doctrines of a monotheistic religion founded in northern India in the 16th century by Guru Nanak and combining elements of Hinduism and Islam.
Jains - a dualistic, ascetic religion founded in the 6th century B.C. by a Hindu reformer as a revolt against the caste system and the vague world spirit of Hinduism.
Interviewee – the one who is interviewed

Chapter 2
Review of Related Literature
The scope of psychological effects of a single parent derives a wide scope of related literature that is worth mentioning. In this regard, this literature review concerning the psychological effects of a single parent, will address the following areas relevant to this study: Why Does a Parent Become Single?, Negative Effects to Their Children.
Why Does a Parent Become Single? In contrary to publics opinion that the decision for divorce/ separation is nowadays often a spontaneous one, some main results indicate that this decision is the result of a long process. Especially partners with children only make this decision after careful consideration. The initiators for a divorce/separation are in most cases women. Usually men are surprised when their wives tell them that they want to get divorced, this is maybe because of some problems in their relationship like for example when the wife caught his husband with other girl. In the Philippines, we don’t implement divorce that’s why in some cases, couples just separate leaving their children to one of them and try to raise them alone. Death of the spouse is also the cause of being single parent. His/her partner is left behind with their children.

Negative Effects to their Children Children who come from single parent families are faced with a number of academic risk factors. Single parents are often the sole breadwinners for the family. They do not always have time to come to school functions or help children with their homework. In addition, single parents may have lees parental control and less direct involvement with their children because they have to spend much time away from home.

2.1. Theories Bearing on the Problem
Financial Challenges A single parent often faces financial challenges. The death of a spouse can leave the surviving spouse with unexpected bills and reduced income, plus the responsibility of raising the children all alone. Single parents are also restricted in the type of work opportunities and available hours due to abundant family responsibilities. This can lead to limited income and an inability to pay for basic necessities.
Logistical Challenges A single parent faces logistical challenges that impact his/her ability to provide for his/her family financially and emotionally. She must often work full-time and depend on full-time child care services. A parent must have a flexible job that allows his/her to leave work for sick children, doctor’s appointments, parent conferences and school performances.

Emotional Challenges A single parent faces may emotional challenges as he/ she mourns the loss of a deceased spouse or absent parent. The sudden death, divorce or birth of an unexpected baby takes an emotional toll on a single parent, who may not have anyone to talk to intimatele about his/her personal challenges. A single parent may become depressed and emotionally unavailable. Alternatively, he/she may hold back her own feelings to help his/her children overcome their emotional struggles. He/she must help them work through the loneliness and anger that they experience. Otherwise, they may develop a low self-esteem and anger issues.
Social and Academic Challenges

The financial, logistical and emotional struggles a single parent faces absorb the abundance of his/her time. He/she may not have time left for a social life. His/her financial limitations may leave nothing left for his/her personal needs or any social activities. He/she also may not have resources for child care to go out, because he/she already uses child care full-time during the week to enable him/her to work. Many single parents work and go to school to improve employment opportunities. This leaves little time to help the children with homework.
As a result, the children's grades may sink, they begin to fail classes and eventually drop out of school. Chapter 3
Methodology
This study used the descriptive-normative research method. The descriptive method is appropriate when determining who, what, and how questions; so as with the needs, perceptions, and attitudes of the respondents. The normative method is considered suitable since the researchers asked questions to the respondents. The respondents were asked several questions that are needed by the researchers to come up with the results related to their topic.

The researchers gained data from several single parents within the Philippines and of Filipino nationality regardless of their age, and gender. Almost all of the respondents came from poor families. Many of them are female and only few are male. One female respondent a mother of 3 children, she said that she became a single parent because her husband left her with her children. She singly strive to send her children to school and fulfill their needs. Many of the respondents are of this type. They became single parents, because they are not that ready to be in a serious relationship and due to fear of commitment. Some cases are due to quarrels that both partners didn’t thrive to settle.

Research Instrument
The researchers formed 5-6 questions regarding the effects of being a single parent to their psychological health. The respondents were asked to answer those questions with pure honesty. The researchers interviewed single parents of the year 2012 regardless of what their gender is, where they are from, what their age is and how it feels like to be a single parent. Isn’t hard for them to manage their family now that they don’t have any companion?

Procedure of Gathering Data
The researchers first went to their own barangays to inform the captain their intention of searching for the respondents which are the single parents. Then the researchers went to the houses of each respondent and ask them if they are willing to be interviewed. After the confirmation of the respondents, the researchers laid in questions that are going to be answered by the respondents with all of their honesty and without concerning anyone. After the interview, the researchers recorded the gathered information and proceeded with the analysis of the results.

Chapter 4
Results and Discussion

The researchers interview a single parent mother named Grace T. Anib. The researches ask Grace if it’s okay to be interviewed and she agree about it. The researchers ask about the questions they prepare for the interviewee. 1. What are the effects of the parent to the child in terms on how they raise their child?
I raise them to have good manners and conduct

2. What is the emotional effect of the parent in his status?
This thing will never go away even when I am sleeping I still think of my late husband sometimes because my son and two daughters kept on nagging about his disappearance in the house.

3. What is the biggest problem in his life that came to him/her, after he lost his wife/husband?
My biggest problem is the income in our expenses I can’t handle it alone and I don’t even have a permanent job.

4. How can she handle work and house chores at the same time?
With the help of my children I can still do work while my childrens do some chores.

5. Did he/she still confront his/her husband/wife? If yes what did he/she react? If no why didn’t you do it? (If the husband/wife is still alive)
Actually I did, he responds one of my texts and wanted to see the children but I was afraid to let them see their father because he could take them away from me.

6. How did he/she explain it to his child?
My child knows our situation already because they are all mature when my husband left me.

7. How did the child react?
They were just sad to see me and my husband separated from each other.

8. Do you think that your child need some father/mother? Why or why not?
Of course every child needs some father and mother to help them grow up and for the child to be tender loving care.

9. Does your child comply about your situation?
Nope because I think that I gave them their essential needs not just physically but emotionally as well.

10. What is the greatest challenge you have encounter?
When my husband left me and I don’t have any money left at that time I was so frustrated that time and didn’t know what to do.

Chapter 5
Conclusion and Recommendation

Conclusion

There are many difficulties faced by a single parent. Being a single parent is a difficult task to do and it requires great amount of time and effort, just like the case of the respondent, but not all single parents suffer this kind of situation. There are some that can handle being single and some are being supported by their relatives. In the case of one of the respondent, it is hard for her to thrive her family and provide them with their needs. She, herself plays the role of a mother while also being a father to her children. The researchers come up with the conclusion that being a single parent is a difficult task. Only one parent has to take the responsibility of the other. In terms of financial, only one parent has to make a living for the family. In parenting, a single parent has to make sure that his/her children are safe, guide them and teach them the right things in life.

Being a single parent also has a great effect on the psychological facilities of the individual. Some cases, an individual may suffer depression due to longing of the presence of his/her partner. Absence of the emotional bond, and the expression of love and acceptance. These are factors that are difficult to overcome, but are needed to be overcome by the single parent to keep his/her family stable even without a partner.

Recommendation
This research can be studied through observation, by observing every single parent on how they can survive, handle and manage their family alone. Also another topic that can be recommended by the researchers is the effect of a single parent to his/her children. We know that all of us, every child is longing for the love and care of their parents, especially those who are not mature enough to handle themselves alone. The researchers need some longer time to study further effects of it. The researchers also recommend knowing what the reason of separation in Philippines is likely. The researchers also need to have a background in what law implements in single parents. This research need to have a specific place in the Philippines because some regions in Philippines cultures are allow having separation. Also they need to find out what religion the interviewee.