Faculty Journal

Volume 8 (2019)
Multi-Disciplinary Research Journal of
Bulacan State University - Meneses Campus

Consequences of Parental Absence due to Migration: A Qualitative Inquiry

into Adolescent Students’ Well-being

Jeffrey DC. Lobos1*, Bianca M. Juliata2, & Ericson H. Peñalba3

1
Social Work Department, College of Social Sciences and Philosophy, Bulacan State University,
City of Malolos, Bulacan, Philippines
2
Guidance Office, Sitero Francisco Memorial National High School, Valenzuela City, Metro Manila, Philippines
3
Teacher Education Department, Bulacan State University - Meneses Campus, Bulakan, Bulacan, Philippines
_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Abstract

Overseas work has become a viable solution in addressing the problems encountered by one out of
every 12 Filipino families. Although it has brought opportunities for a better and financially stable
life, it has resulted in inevitable consequences that could affect children who are left behind. This
study explored perceptions of six adolescent students regarding such consequences of being
geographically separated from their parents on their well-being. The thematic analysis of the
responses obtained from in-depth interviews generated a total of four dominant themes, namely
seeking opportunities for sustaining family needs, having indebtedness toward parents, longing for
parental love and care, and facing the negative consequences of parental absence. These themes
provided further evidence on how the changing dynamics in family relationships, as brought about
by migration and parental absence, could have negative consequences, particularly on their
emotional well-being. This study has shown that the interviewees experienced varied negative
emotions arising from the acknowledgment of the sad reality that they were left behind, having to
endure an increasing relationship gap with their parents. The themes, however, indicated positive
perceptions as regards how the interviewees valued the sacrifices of their parents. The results were
used to develop a framework for a social work-based program for enrichment and enhancement of
the well-being of children of migrant workers.

Keywords: parental absence, migration, students, well-being, thematic analysis

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

I. Introduction

In the Philippines, the persistent problem of unemployment continues to affect families,

making overseas work a viable option for addressing such a condition. After all, the opportunity
that can be realized from working abroad is not only aimed at improving living standards but also,
at a larger scale, directing investments towards the development of the human capital, resulting in
more employment prospects (Edillon, 2008). In the 2018 survey of overseas Filipino, the Philippine
Statistics Authority (PSA) reported that the total number of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs)

*
Corresponding Author: Jeffrey DC. Lobos
e-mail: [email protected]
© The Author(s) 2019. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the
creative commons Attribution 4.0 license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), which
permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original
work is properly cited.
Available online at:
www.facultyjournal.site
Consequences of Parental Absence due to Migration: A Qualitative Inquiry

reached 2.3 million, noting that the remittances they sent to their respective families may just be a
part of the total salary” they received (para. 7).
By regarding overseas work as a solution to family-related problems, especially those
concerning how to achieve financial stability, Filipino family structures have evolved throughout
the years. As confirmed by the 2017 Social Weather Station (SWS) survey, there was at least one
family member who works abroad in one out of every 12 families. Mangahas (2017) noted that
these families came from different sectors, and they were most likely not to be economically
deprived.
With the increasing number of Filipino migrant workers, families are challenged not only in
terms of sustaining their children’s needs but also in assuring them the support they need despite
the geographical distance. A key issue faced by OFW families is parental absence, which then
translates into a lack of emotional support for their children that would eventually negatively
impact the latter’s welfare (Asis & Ruiz-Marave, 2017).
In order to guarantee support and communication systems to strengthen their ties and
connections with their children despite the distance, parents resort to asking help from their
relatives who would oversee their loved ones they have left behind (Kilkey & Merla, 2011). The
wide availability of mobile technologies and applications like Facebook and Skype has helped in
removing feelings of sadness and loneliness, which could be both experienced by migrant parents
and their children.
The relationship between parents and their children has been shifting in a manner that
continuously reshapes views about parenting. This condition has resulted in questions regarding
the adverse effects that parental absence could have on the well-being of children who are left
behind. In this study, children's well-being pertains to their psychological, health, and educational
outcomes (Mazzucato & Schans, 2011). In particular, emotional well-being is considered a
determinant of how children would decide, behave, and cope when confronted with complex
situations brought about by parental migration and absence. In the local context, Jordan and
Graham (2012) found that “children of migrant parents in the Philippines had a relative advantage
in terms of psychological well-being compared to their peers in nonmigrant households” (p. 1675).
Past studies on the consequences of parental absence on children's well-being drew insights
from children and teenagers whose perspectives provide a more in-depth understanding of their
experiences as left-behind individuals. Zhao et al. (2018) found that children experienced
challenges to their psychosocial well-being primarily caused by long-term separation from their
parents. These left-behind children experienced emotional distress, which was reflected in their
experiences of loneliness and sadness. The authors further found that parental migration was
deemed as the best choice to improve the family's welfare. Lam and Yeoh (2019) explored how the
need to sacrifice for the 'greater food of the family' influenced parents' decision for migration and
served as children's starting point for understanding and accepting such a decision. They further
found out that eventually, children would resort to measures to convince their parents to go back
home. Isaacs (2012) identified the negative effects of being separated from parents, noting how it
could lead to a feeling of being abandoned and how reunion after several years of separation could
result in conflict. Graham and Yeoh (2013) highlighted the likelihood of experiencing a care deficit
among adolescents. They noted, however, that such deficit could be filled by the "support and
assistance provided by extended family members" (p. 303).
This research is based on the context that experiences and perceptions of left-behind
adolescent students could provide a rich understanding of the consequences of parental migration
to their well-being. It adds to the limited literature that exists for qualitative studies on this
particular research area. Therefore, this research aims to shed light on such consequences, which

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would then be beneficial in crafting a framework for enriching and enhancing left-behind children
through a social-work based program.

II. Materials and Methods

This study utilized a qualitative research design. In-depth interviews were carried out with
purposively selected six adolescent students to explore their experiences and perceptions as
children of migrant worker parents. They lived with their relatives or guardians in Bulacan province
and Valenzuela City. They were chosen based on the following criteria: their age must range from
thirteen (13) to nineteen (19) years old and have parents working abroad for not less than three
years.
A semi-structured questionnaire, containing 11 questions, was prepared. The questions dealt
with reasons why their parents had to work abroad, perceptions of their conditions of having
migrant work parents, the status of their relationships with their parents and other family members,
and their feelings towards their situation. Each participant was given an informed consent that
details the objectives of the research and the permission for them to be a part of the study.
The interviewees’ responses were audio recorded on a smartphone and transcribed. Using
the popular analytic tool for qualitative research developed by Attride-Stirling (2001), the
transcription was transformed into a code material, in which the texts were analyzed and coded to
produce themes. The themes became the basis for the creation of thematic networks.

III. Results and Discussion

Thematic Network Analysis Results

As shown in Table 1, the thematic network analysis of the interview responses resulted in
four dominant organizing themes, namely seeking opportunities for sustaining family needs,
having indebtedness toward parents, longing for parental love and care, and facing the negative
consequences of parental absence. The said themes transpired from the generated 20 codes, which
were further organized into 14 basic themes. The resulting organizing themes comprise the global
theme: Consequences of parental absence on adolescent students’ well-being due to migration.
The organization of codes and themes are illustrated in Figure 1. Each theme is explored in the
following sections.

Seeking opportunities for sustaining family needs

The interviewees were all aware of the primary reasons why their parents had to leave. The
opportunities that could be sought abroad were aimed at sustaining their long-term needs as these
could not be provided if they worked locally. Since their parents prioritized their basic needs, it was
no wonder why they decided to leave the country. As stated by a participant:
“I think the reason why my mom has been working abroad is to provide our needs and
also to support my grandparents who are taking care of us while my mom is away.”

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Consequences of Parental Absence due to Migration: A Qualitative Inquiry

Table 1
Global theme: Consequences of parental absence on adolescent students’ well-being due to
migration
Codes Basic Themes Organizing Themes
Scarcity in family resources
Provision for family’s primary
Availability of work opportunities
needs
Prioritizing basic needs Seeking opportunities
Greater opportunity in
Seeking ‘greener pasture’ for sustaining family
employment
Thinking about the family’s future needs
Sustenance of daily needs
Giving family a better and
Facing financial challenges
comfortable life
Pain caused by separation
Grief over departure
Difficulty in communication due to
Limited communication with
distance
family members Facing the negative
Changing relationship status with
Relationship gap between parents consequences of
parents
and children parental absence
Being used to having an OFW
Accustomed to having distant
parent
relationship with parents
Coping up with the absence
Appreciation for parents’ hard
Sacrificing for the family
work
Having to live away from
Giving back the favor for parents’
parents/children
sacrifices Having indebtedness
Thinking about parents’ hard work
Sharing stories of experiences of toward parents
Being left behind
living and working away from
Stories of struggles of being part
families
of an OFW family

Difficulty in moving forward after

parents ‘departure Sense of loneliness
Feeling sad and alone Longing for the presence of Longing for parental
Always thinking about their parents love and care
parents’ conditions Feeling of emptiness
Fear and anxiety

Due to the availability of work opportunities abroad, their parents were attracted to the idea
of seeking 'greener pasture' and providing better lives for their families. It was as if this was the
only way for them to get away from the financial burden. This condition was evident in this
statement:
“Because of financial needs and the debts our family has to pay, my mother chose to
work abroad as the salary is a lot higher there than here.”
This organizing theme reflects the sad plight of some Filipino families who do not have any
choice but to seek an opportunity that would result in an easier way to earn income. While this
may be a painful situation for them, the decision of their parents to work abroad seems to be a
necessary sacrifice to be made. This situation becomes even more difficult for parents that had to
go through a combination of problems. A participant shared:
“Because my mom is a single parent, she has to work for us. Her salary in her previous
work here is not enough to sustain our needs, especially that I am in college now.”

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Figure 1. Thematic network of consequences of parental absence on adolescent students’ well-

being due to migration

The interviewees' awareness of the reason for their parents' migration reflects the idea that
seeking opportunities was the only way to survive and achieve prosperity. This finding further
supports the idea of Zhao et al. (2018), revealing the hard truth about migrant workers who were
willing to sacrifice for the welfare of their families. Lam and Yeoh (2019) shared this perspective as
they found out that sacrifice, in the context of migration among Filipino parents, had to be done
for the family's welfare. As confirmed in this study, the concept of sacrifice was necessary, and it
was the only action that had to be carried out by migrant parents.

Facing the negative consequences of parental absence

All of the interviewees felt sad when their parents informed them of their decision to work
abroad. Questions came to light as to how they would live, knowing that their parents would no
longer be around to attend to their needs. It was especially difficult for interviewees who had to
experience being left behind at an early age. As shared by the interviewees:
“She started working abroad since I was young. As a child, I found it hard to be apart
from my mom, but as time passed by, I understood the situation why she had to do it
for us.”
“I could not even remember when my mom left when I was three months old. If I can
turn back time at that moment, I would feel sad and longing for her. In my opinion, it
is really very different if children grow up with their parents.”

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Consequences of Parental Absence due to Migration: A Qualitative Inquiry

Eventually, they got used to having an OFW parent. However, there were moments when
they realized that something was lacking in their lives. They admitted that a relationship gap might
have already existed between them and their parents. This situation further facilitated sadness,
loneliness, and other emotional problems. One participant described his father's love as ‘empty.’
For two other interviewees, parental absence turned out to be a motivation to strive harder in their
studies and to be independent in their decisions. They said:
“Sadness and happiness. I felt sad when she had to be apart from us for a long period
when I could no longer feel the presence of a parent. I felt happy as I learned to be
strong and turned this as my motivation to study even more.”
“I learned to be independent and be financially conscious as I had no one to depend
on regarding financial needs as they not there always and most of their support for my
siblings.”
Maintaining a close family relationship had been very difficult for almost all of the
interviewees, even before their parents left. Such difficulty stems from their limited communication
with family members, inability to express their feelings, being uncomfortable in their presence, and
missing the warmth of family. These had resulted in a relationship gap between them and their
parents, as reflected in these statements:
“I rarely speak with my parents. I do not know how to converse with them. I only talk
to them if my siblings are around.”
“At first, I did not have a good relationship with my parents. As I became a teenager, I
started to understand what was happening. Currently, I have a good relationship with
them.”
However, when their parents returned home even for a short period, they would show a
rather opposite reaction. The interviewees mentioned how happy they were to be reunited with
them, indicating that their relationship with their parents as ‘good.’ It was worth mentioning that
the nature of their relationships could change, as verbalized in this specific statement:
"Our relationship is different when she is here and when she is abroad. We seldom talk
when she is here. But I often say I love you and I miss you when she is abroad."
Inevitably, one of the consequences that is most likely to be experienced due to separation from
migration from parents is emotional distress (Zhao et al., 2018). Given the long period of being
separated from each other, it was natural for left-behind children to experience sadness and
loneliness. As emphasized by Isaacs (2012), separation from parents could be a contributing factor
to having a feeling of abandonment. The finding in this study, nevertheless, reveals that it was still
possible for children to foster a good relationship with their parents despite their struggles to fill
in a relationship gap for such a long period.

Having indebtedness toward parents

As they acknowledged the sacrifices made by their parents, the interviewees developed a
sense of gratitude towards them. Notably, they highlighted how their parents had endured all the
struggles as migrant workers. They noted how tough it was for them to be away from their parents,
but they realized that it was more difficult for their parents to live through such struggles in a
distant place.
It was then inevitable for the interviewees to transform their sense of gratitude into a debt
of gratitude. A typical response was about their desire to strive harder and to show to their parents
that they were willing to give back the favor. They mentioned that by finishing their studies, they
could finally pay their parents back for all their sacrifices. Two interviewees commented:

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 Lobos, Juliata, & Peñalba, Faculty Journal, Volume 8 (2019)

“I can repay them by finishing my studies and by living uprightly. I can support them if
I have a decent job.”
“Of course, to finish my studies. My mom would always remind me of it. I should study
well and help at home.”
Adhering to the cultural value of having ‘utang na loob’ somehow made them morally bound
to reciprocate their parents' sacrifices. This adherence illustrates a deep sense of respect towards
their parents, a value that is expected to be acquired by Filipino children (Alampay & Jocson, 2011).
A participant captured this idea when he said: “Of course, they are our parents. I need to ‘return to
them’ whatever I have right now.” Eventually, this could only be actualized when they already find
jobs, which was the only way for them to convince their parents to stop them from working abroad.

Longing for parental love and care

After their parents’ departure, the interviewees experienced difficulty in moving forward with
their lives. It was even more challenging upon knowing that their parents would only return every
after two years. Two of them were not sure at all when they would return, stating: “They have not
returned home since they left.”
While they admitted that they would usually feel sad and alone and be worried about their
parents' conditions, they recognized their parents' efforts to check their situations from time to
time. To make their presence felt, their parents made sure that they found time to catch up with
them, know if they are experiencing problems, and even go home during essential occasions and
emergencies. As narrated by two interviewees:
“They are always around for my siblings and me whenever we encounter problems.
They call us every day, and I can feel their presence.”
“When my sister was hospitalized, we needed her badly. And my mom went home.”
Moreover, although they may not have enjoyed sufficient parental presence, they were still
thankful for the adequate support provided to them by their parents. However, if given another
option, they still wanted their parents to live with them at home, which they regarded as priceless
compared to the material things they received from them. The following verbalizations support
this:
“It is more than enough. I should say I need them more than the things they give. But
I fully understand why they have to leave.”
“No amount of money or gifts from abroad can replace a mother’s love and care.”
The desire for love and care was a natural response among the interviewees, particularly in
the context of long-term separation. This demonstrates what Graham and Yeoh (2013) described
as care deficit, which could then be filled by other members of the family. In this study, the provision
for such support and assistance did not appear in the responses. The interviewees, although stating
that they really longed for their parents, noted that they were still able to get adequate support
from them.

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Consequences of Parental Absence due to Migration: A Qualitative Inquiry

Framework for a social work-based program for enrichment and enhancement of the well-being
of children of migrant workers

Figure 2. Framework for a social work-based program

This qualitative investigation resulted in a formulation of a structure of a program

enhancement for the children of migrant workers (Figure 2) based on the four dominant organizing
themes namely: seeking opportunities for family needs, facing the negative consequences of
parental absence; having indebtedness towards parents, and longing for parental love and care.
The intervention system is placed on a round and closed structure. Within the circle are
activities that can be implemented by professionals not only to assess the condition of children in
OFW families but also to enhance their well-being. The structure is proposed as an improvement
program attending to the parts of the human individual on a tri-overlap approach: Healing, Caring,
and Educating. These three noteworthy angles are coordinated together to guarantee that there is
an all-encompassing improvement of the left-behind children.
The ‘caring’ side of this enhancement program will bargain fundamentally on the ‘body’ of
the human individual, which can be conveyed through games exercises. The exercises will
concentrate on the improvement of their physical bodies so they will probably keep up their well-
being and health; the games exercises will be expected to improve their social associations with
others. These activities will serve as opportunities for social interaction and setting up a care group.
The game exercises will be based on the interests of the children. Visits can be done on a semestral
or yearly basis to facilitate the monitoring of their condition.
The ‘knowledge’ or the education side of this enhancement program, which is coordinated
to the ‘mind’ of the human individual, will give the handle on setting them up for autonomous life.
This enhancement aspect will allow them to be prepared in facing their personal problems. The

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Guidance Office, in particular, can provide activities that are aimed at improving their viewpoints
and making them more resilient in coping with their situation.
The ‘healing’ angle is an essential measurement in the improvement program since this
perspective manages the intangibles in the human individual. The intangibles are the feelings and
sentiments that are not frequently verbalized but instead will have an extraordinary bearing on the
totality of the individual. These are viewpoints that require further understanding of the emotions
experienced by children.

IV. Conclusions

This qualitative inquiry explored the consequences encountered by the interviewees in

having parents who were migrant workers. The findings reveal that despite their full awareness of
the reasons why their parents had to leave, they had to deal with mostly negative consequences
of parental absence on their well-being. Generally, they experienced negative emotions such as
loneliness, grief, sadness, anxiety, fear, and even feeling of emptiness. Such emotions emanated
from the difficulty of moving forward after being separated from their parents, increased
relationship gap, limited opportunities for communication, and acknowledgment of their parents'
sacrifices. Nevertheless, the interviewees still exhibited positive perceptions as they showed their
sense of appreciation towards their parents through the recognition and practice of 'utang na loob'
value and their continuous longing for parental love and care.

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