MENTAL INFLUENCE ON STUDENTS FOR DROPPING OUT AND THEIR

COPING MECHANISM

A thesis presented to

The faculty of the College of Maritime Education

John B. Lacson Colleges Foundation - (Bacolod), Inc

In Partial Fulfillment

Of the Requirements for the degree

Bachelor of Science in Marine Transportation

by:

Neil John E. Pioquinto

Elidel Kim M. Rezaga

Jefferson D. Serdeña

Robert John G. Tabia

Edil Mark B. Torres

 INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

Although drop-outs are normal in certain amount of numbers common in all

institution, university, and schools. They try to shift or change when they find

themselves stuck or in a face on a hard wall, students tend to suffer when facing a

certain problem as a common type of feeling of a student. Dropout has been a pervasive

and costly problem in psychotherapy, particularly for college counseling centers. The

present study examined potential predictors of dropout using a large data set (N =

10,147 clients, 481 therapists) that was gathered through a college counseling center

practice research network as a replication and extension of recent findings regarding

therapist effects on dropout. The final model resulted in a dropout rate of 15.9% and a

therapist effect of 9.51% on dropout variance. Therapist demographic variables were

investigated, though none were found to be significant. Variables found to be predictive

of increased likelihood of dropping out included higher levels of general presenting

concerns, alcohol-related distress, and current financial stress. Ultimately, this study

showed that therapists may play an important role in the likelihood of client dropout,

and that additional research should be conducted to identify additional predictors,

particularly at the therapist and center level. (Xiao, Castonguay & Janis, 2017). Another

study showed that this study examines the mental health consequences of dropping out

of high school. It looks at levels of depression, anxiety, and self esteem reported by

high school dropouts and graduates during the adolescent to young adult transition. It

examines the extent to which family structure and family processes (parental support

and transition specific help), as well as adolescent openness to parental support

improved the prediction of mental health outcomes at the high school transition and

two years later. The study found that young people who drop out of high schools are
more likely to be depressed than high school graduates in their early adult years. Failure

to find differences between dropouts and graduates in self esteem is consistent with

earlier findings by others. Family support had a direct effect on depression for dropouts

and graduates. (Liem, Joan & Dillon, 2001). As a student at the John B Lacson Bacolod.

We must abide the rules given to the students handbook given the number of absent and

late to avoid the drop-out. All absences should represent medical certificate, Death

certificate and sometimes letters that are signed by parents. Drop-out is the main reason

why enrollee and enrollment decreases because of laziness, lack of financial,

unsupported career and tardiness. Being late more than 15minutes in the first period

and 5 minutes in the next period is considered absent by the instructor. Each student

have maximum of 11 absences for 3 units subject (MWF), 7 absences for (TTH) units

subject and 3 successive absences will be drop-out. Drop out is given to any students

equal to all who did not meet the specified academic requirements and disciplinary

standards which require student to go to his classes. Though this is entirely within the

set of rules and disciplinary actions given by the school, precautionary measures and

chances may still be given for the students. The purpose of this study is to give

information to the student of John B. Lacson Colleges Foundation-Bacolod to anyone

what are the mental effect and reason getting drop - out and on how to cope up with

this situation. The researchers aim to determine what is the reason why student are being

dropped in order to know the reason behind this study. Also , the researchers would like

to know how to cope up with this situation if it is effective .

Statement of the Problem

 This study aims to find out the mental effects of being drop-out on students of

JBLCF-B and how to cope up with it.

Specifically this study answers the following questions.

1. What are the prevailing reasons why students dropped out?

2. What are the prevailing mental effect to a students when he/she drops in the class?

3. What measures you do to cope up with the effects of getting drop out?

Framework of the Study

The Drop out problem is far from being solved since there are forces which

influence school leaving. Such as the environment that leads to the student to engage in

vices, the lack of finances, being tardiness, the people around and other factors that

causes students to stop or leave school. If taken into account, drop out can be a big

issue in all schools since the purpose of all institutions is to educate and teach students

or learners under the Department of education. That is the reason why Public Law 107-

110 of 2001 or the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 stating that all students must

graduate or pass each level or grade every school year is implement. But when it comes

to college under the CHED, no policies or acts or laws are being observe, if you failed

or get dropped out in any subject you are literally dropped from the subject no chances

given no considerations. Taking that in mind, this could greatly affect the performance

of a student academically and their emotional or mental state. How it affects can be

different in every individual emotionally and mentally and some may not be affected

by it but for those who strive to graduate to help their families but instead got dropped

out, this situation can be very disturbing and can greatly affect their performance and
much more their mental state or condition. This situation could lead to depression which

makes an individual choice unreasonable or unsure, or anxiety which makes an

individual unease and affects performance in school or other aspects in life and worst

is suicide, ending their own life due to drop out ( Laurier and Diane et al., 2006). So

this study was taken into account to stop such situations and provide adequate and just

information to help widen people’s understanding about the effect of drop out. And to

provide possible reasons about why do they get dropped out such as tardiness, financial

problems or vices(Sagenmüller I. 2017). Thus, the result of this study would give

insights on how to deal with the influences or effects of drop outs and or how to cope

up with it.

Drop-out Coping
Influences Strategies

Figure 1. Schematic Diagram

Scope and Limitations

This study was limited only to second year students who was able to experience

dropping out in any of the subjects in the different department of John B. Lacson

Colleges Foundation- Bacolod enrolled first semester school year 2019-2020.

Significance of the Study

 This study will be beneficial to help understand deeper about what are the

effects of getting dropped-out to the mental state of the students and what are the

reasons to the following:

Students. The results of this study will provide information to the students on

what are the mental effects and reasons of getting drop-out and how to cope up with it

same as give insights to avoid the same situation.

Parents. The results would benefit the parents through providing information

on what to do and help their children on how to cope up in getting dropped to their

subjects.

Teachers. The results will give insights to teachers on what effects does getting

dropped out to the mental state of their students thus situations will considerably lessen

and coping up strategies to avoid drop-outs will be made.

Institutions. The results will provide information to institutions about the

effects of getting dropped-out to the mental state of the students and will provide them

ideas how to deal with each students correctly to avoid dropping them out to different

subject.

Definition of Terms

For easy understanding of terms used in the study, the following definition are

conceptually and operationally given.

Drop - out. It refers to the students who leave or quit schooling in the institution.

(TIP PLANKA, 2017). The same definition is used in this study.

Anxiety. As used in the study, it refers to a feeling of unease to something.

 Depression. As used in the study, it refers to being unable to follow your daily

routine or to have goals.

Suicide. As used in the study, it refers to the act of intentionally causing one’s

own death.

Cope - Up. As used in the study, it refers to invest one’s own conscious efforts,

to solve personal and interpersonal problems.

Mental State. As used in the study, it refers to ability to function within the

environment.

Research Instrument
1. Have you experienced getting dropped out in any subject?

. Yes . No

2. What are the mental effect of getting dropped-out?

. Anxiety
. Depression
. Loss interest in school
. Alone

3. What are the reasons why you got dropped-out?

. Tardiness
. Vices
. Financial Problem
. Instructor
. Willingness
. Addiction

4. If there are, how do you cope up with the effects?

. Online Gaming
. Change of study habit
. Vices

METHODOLOGY

Research Design
 The study employed descriptive approaches which emphasizes more on the

“what” of the research subject rather than the “why” of the research subject. Descriptive

research is “aimed at casting on current issues or problems through a process of data

collection that enables them to describe the situation more completely than was possible

without employing this method.

Respondents of the Study

The participants of the study are the 35 students of John B. Lacson Colleges

Foundation-Bacolod who fits the criteria of the study using the snowball method. The

participants are from the different departments of the foundation who were able to

experience dropping out from their subject. The distribution of the respondents is show

in table 1.

Table 1

Distribution of Respondent

College Department n

BSMT 24

BSMar-E 10

BSHM 1

BSCA 0

Instrument

A researcher - made utilized questionnaire was used for collecting the data for

this study. The questionnaires were composed of questions that answered each
statement of the problem. The questionnaire composed of questions that are based on

experience of different people and is in a survey form. Each question answers a a

specific problem of the study and is designed wherein respondents needs only to check

the box corresponding their answer. It is composed if four questions made by the

researcher to answer the study. This type of questionnaire tends to answer the reasons

why students gets dropped out in their class and what are its mental effects. It also

provides with information on how to cope up and what are the best suited coping

mechanism on the effects of getting dropped out. In general term researchers use for

measurement device (survey,test,questionnaire,etc.)

Validity and Reliability

Validity of the research tool Validity of the research instrument tool is measures

what is the bound to measure (Clark, 1999). Researcher - made and subject - completed

instrument will be used. The formulation of the tool was base on the effect of being

drop-out on students. Hence, the tool was subjected to content validity under a panel of

the research experts. The tool was validated by five faculty members of John B. Lacson

Colleges Foundation - Bacolod using Good and Scates Validity. Any comments and

suggestions were considered to further enhance tool validity.

Data Gathering Procedure

The questionnaire will be personally distributed and administered by the

researchers to the selected respondents of the study. The respondents will be given
adequate time to answer the questionnaire. Instructions were clearly stated in the

questionnaire for the respondents to completely answer each question. After

respondents finished answering the questionnaire, researchers will personally retrieve

the questionnaire.

Statistical Tool

Following statistical tools were used.

To answer problem 1 on the prevailing reasons why students dropped out,

frequency count was used. Frequency count is used when data are nominal in nature

Frequency statistics simply count the number of times that each variable occurs.

To answer problem 2 on the prevailing mental effect to students when they drop

in their class, again frequency count was used.

To answer problem 3 on what measures students do to cope up with the effects

of getting drop out, again frequency count was used.

RESULT AND DISCUSSION

The following are the result of the findings

On the Reasons on being dropped-out
Table 1 shows the summary

Table 1
Reason for Being Dropped-out

Reasons n Rank

Tardiness 22 1
Intentional 14 2
Alcohol Addiction 7 3
Conflict with teacher 6 4
Vices/Gambling 2 5

Table 1 show the prevailing reason for students getting dropped-out in their

subject. The table shows that tardiness and intentional dropping out is the two main

reason why student are getting dropped out in their subjects. According to Cowan

Crier, Tardiness is a chronic problem for some students that cause problems for

students and teachers. It also added that “An occasional tardy is not really a big

problem, and sometimes cannot be avoided.” As quoted by Ligon & Jackson,

“Excessive absence or tardiness was the third most common reason for failure in

grades 9 through College, with failure to make up work and lack of effort a second

tier of reported causes for failure”. In addition to, tardiness can also be cultured from

other members of the family. Lack of consequences or policy also boosts students to

come late at school.

On the mental influence of getting dropped-out

Table 2 shows the summary

 Table 2
Mental Influence in getting Dropped-out

Reasons n Rank

Loss interest in study 21 1

Decrease self esteem 10 2
Depression 10 3
Anxiety 6 4
Social deviation 5 5

table 2 the highest recorded data for most mental influence in getting dropped-

out is the loss interest in study and the second data recorded are both depression and

decrease self-esteem (low self-esteem). According to Suchitra Seethapathy, students

often drop out of college due to apathy or boredom. Students often report that academic

content isn't interesting and they don't have a personal connection with their teachers,

according to an article in "Psychology Today." dropouts college students may have

other alternatives that seem more appealing, such as getting a job or starting a career.

Students who aren't interested in going to college may not see the value of education.

Loss interest cause by bullying and teasing, which can lead to low self-esteem in which

the individual to loses focus in their academics and are more worried about avoiding

these bullies. Students now a days are afraid of failure which leads to many students

start experiencing an overall disinterest in studies. Increased of distraction which cause

by excessive screen time of gadget that leads to addiction which students gives more

attention than studying.

One how to cope up with the effects of getting dropped-out

Table 3 shows the summary

 Table 3
Copping up with the effects of getting Dropped-out
Reason n Ranks

Praying and Worship God 17 1

Online Gaming 13 2
Seek company of friends 11 3
Vices 4 4

Table 3 show the highest recorded data for ways to cope up with the effects of

getting dropped-out are praying and worshiping God and online gaming. According to

Billy Graham, Jesus Christ come into your life and be your teacher and guide. Students

pray and ask forgiveness and guidance for the things they did and about to do and after

praying to God felt relief and enlighten.

Conclusions

Understanding the effects and reasons of getting dropped - out of students in

their subjects is very important in order to have a clearer is very important in order to

have a clearer understanding on the situation and to provide adequate coping

mechanism. The researcher of the study concluded that students from any department

has the possibility of getting dropped - out but students of BSMT are more likely than

other programs. It can also be concluded that the two main reasons why students gets

dropped - out in their subject is because of tardiness and intentional dropping - out from

their subject. Researcher also concluded that the prevailing mental effects of getting

dropped - out are the loss of interest in study and decrease of self - esteem. And that the
must effective coping mechanism are the praying and worship goal and also online

gaming.

Recommendation

Based on the summary of the findings and conclusions of the study, the

researchers recommended the following.

Students. The researchers recommended the study to the students to give insights that

they should avoid dropping out in their classes despite of whatever reasons they have

and encourage them to finish their study to have a better and bright future ahead. And

that students must help anyone who experience different mental effects to cope up with

it and to get over it.

Parents. The researchers recommend to all parents of dropped out students that they

may use this study to help their sons/daughters to cope up with the effects of getting

dropped out and to encourage them to continue schooling despite getting dropped. And

that this may give insights to parents to check the progress of their children in school if

they are experiencing problem and can be given a solution right away.
Teachers. The researchers recommend the study to the teachers to expand their

understanding about the reasons of their students getting dropped out and its effects.

The study may also help the teachers to provide insights and make appropriate

mitigating mechanism to avoid drop outs and also provide appropriate coping

mechanism to students experiencing the mental effects of getting drop out.

Institutions. The researcher recommend the study to the institution to have facilities

and better mitigation system and coping mechanism for students experiencing the

mental effects of dropping out and to avoid more victim of drop out. This may also help

the institutions to have insights about drop outs, its mental effects, their reasons and

how to cope up with it.

To the Future Researchers. As for the future researchers, the researcher would like to

recommend that they should study deeper on the different effects of drop outs and not

just mental but other factors. And that they may provide much deeper knowledge and

understanding about the effects of drop outs to the students and to provide much better

coping mechanism to help students experiencing such situations and provide better

knowledge to the community.

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