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Abstract
Due to the occurrence of Global pandemic, the Education of the youth is put into halt.
Howsoever, through the technological advancement that evolves along the changing world,
Education was made possible through distance learning. Students learn through video
conferencing applications; however, the emergence of the said resort brought an underlying
adversity among teachers and students. Previous studies regarding students’ adversities
we’re adversities that they come across in face-to-face setup. Meanwhile, this study aims to
assess and compare the coping mechanisms employed by Senior High School Science
Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics of Saint Paul University (SPUP) and develop a
learning strategy based from the perceived coping mechanisms. This study uses 268
respondents out of 808 STEM students of SPUP. Using the perceptions of the STEM students
of SPUP that was collected through Questionnaire via Google Docs, the data shows that most
of the students coping mechanisms were Static and Observations– activities that don’t require
much energy to do. Using Pearson Correlation Coefficient, the researchers had determined
that there is a significant relationship between the effectivity of the coping mechanisms and
the number of students who uses it. In determining the relationship between the coping
mechanisms, whether or not they show significant differences with each other, the
researchers use Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The researchers came up with a technique to
which the static coping mechanisms were embedded to their daily routine that would ensure
that no such academic responsibilities will be left undone. The developed strategy can be
used to lessen if not to eradicate the physical adversities the STEM students of SPUP come
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Chapter 1: The Problem and Its Background
Introduction
Over the years, individuals’ thinking abilities have been tested by countless
developing medicines for the sick, and so on. These phenomena paved the way for the people
to further develop their ability to think. It served as an awakening for them to strive more for
greater good, on behalf of those who do not have an access to education. These phenomena
led them to conclude that the vitality of education is not just for one’s sake to adapt to more
Education starts from the moment an individual learns something, and it does not end.
It is a lifelong process of input of knowledge and application to their daily lives. Over the
course of time, education systems have been developed and it became the center to which one
will gain knowledge and apply it for the years to come. Schools are built and instructors are
formed.
where instructors of different fields will share their knowledge to learners who seek for it.
Since there is a presence of sense of improvement and development among humans, over the
years, they developed systematic methods where learners are required to have outputs,
the concurring of the lessons taught among the students. The usual setup, where students
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would go to school on a daily basis, return home after a certain time, do not change unless
natural calamities strike such as typhoons, floods, earthquake, pandemic, and etc..
On the 31st of December 2019, the first case of Corona Virus Disease was detected,
however, the disease was not yet considered a Corona Virus Disease but Pneumonia, an
infection that inflames the alveoli. It was only after 7 days, January 7, 2020, that it was
declared as 2019-nCoV, before it was called Corona Virus Disease or CoViD-19 (World
The arrival of the CoVid-19 Virus has brought massive incongruence on how people
approach tasks and concerns. When the virus spreads in the Philippines on the 7 of March,
th
2020, most of the activities proposed by schools were postponed and students were advised to
not attend the school anymore to address uncertainty brought about by the spreading virus. It
includes the final examination of students from elementary to Senior High School.
adaptation to distance learning became a need and must be utilized to uphold the rights of
every child to be educated. Distance education pertains to the continuous extent of students’
access to education despite being unable to be physically present at school and technologies
outbreak, distance learning was utilized to perform classes that does not require much
physical interaction. It is also adapted to deliver education so students can learn based on
There is an increasing concern that some students in distance learning are being
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Due to the presence of the Corona Virus Disease and distance learning was
implemented, physical health concerns arise such as eye strain and frequent headaches due to
excessive exposure to radiation, dehydration, fatigue, weight loss due to uneven time of food
Education regarding the policy guidelines for the provision of learning resources in the
implementation of the basic education learning continuity plan (DepEd Order No. 018, s.
2020), has given options to students: giving them options to what modality they will be using
for the rest of the school year. The first modality the students are optioned is the (a) Pure
Online, where all students and the instructor are gathered together in a physical space or
online space, asking questions of each other working together in real-time, with no delay, and
were attending online classes through Microsoft Teams is mandatory along with the
asynchronous classes where they will answer activities in their LMS (Learning Management
System) such as Frontlearners, a website that allows them to do all the activities on their own
choice of time, for senior high school, (b) Asynchronous plus e-copy, along with their access
on the LMS, they are given a soft copy or an e-copy of the module that is provided to
Facebook Messenger, Gmail, Yahoo Mail, etc. This option is for the students who do not
have access to some online activities due to limited connection, (c) Asynchronous plus
printed, students who prefer to have printed and tangible copy of the materials opt to this
option and for the students who have narrower access to the internet and all copies are to be
taken from the BEU Saint Paul room, (d) E-copy is for the learners who have internet
connection but cannot join the synchronous classes held in Microsoft Teams. In addition to
this, students who live in far places and cannot go to school to secure a copy of the printed
module may opt for this modality, and lastly (e) the students who choose to access all the
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activities and assessments through a printed module may opt to this option, where they will
have access on the lessons through printed copies without attending to synchronous classes.
Along with the issuance of memorandums and orders are the emergence of learning
methods, such as synchronous classes through mobile applications and asynchronous classes
by way of developing online platforms for the activities. However, along with the continuity
of the improvement of the students’ learning, various physical health concerns regarding the
Students often come across eye strain and frequent headaches due to excessive
exposure to radiation. Poor posture among the students arises caused by long hours of sitting
without their postures in a clinically desired manner. They also come across dehydration due
to lack of intake of water in their body, fatigue due to lack of rests and weight loss due to
skipping meals.
Along with the personal struggles they face daily and the thought of learning in their
own comfort zones is the gaining upon academic loads such as the pile-up of school works
that lead them to procrastinate, have their sleeping and eating schedule cluttered, the downfall
of their physical wellbeing due to stress, lack of capacity to carry out synchronous and
asynchronous classes.
Distance learning has been the last resort of every school including Saint Paul
University Philippines for the education of all the students in the Philippines in response to
the presence of the CoViD-19 Pandemic. Due to this, students of all levels undergo the said
approach, regardless of their personal struggles and this did not go well with everyone,
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especially the students. The circumstances and hurdles the students undergo were obvious in
Specific Questions
Roberts (2004) stated research questions guide the study and usually provide the
structure for presenting the results of the research. The research questions guiding this study
are:
1. What are the identified physical health concerns experienced by Senior High School
2. What are the coping mechanisms being employed be Senior High School STEM
3. Do the Senior High School STEM Students of SPUP perceive these coping
4. What learning strategies can be developed to address the physical health concerns
This study’s significance is to provide techniques and strategies to cope with the
physical health concerns STEM students of Saint Paul University Philippines come across
with. The goal of this study is to serve as a counterstep to alleviate health concerns brought
about by distance learning. One possible phenomenon where this research would be
beneficial is the reduction of pile-up of school works that may be related to their physical
health concerns. Through this study, STEM students of Saint Paul University Philippines will
learn how to manage their time through the techniques this study aims to develop.
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Scope and Delimitation
1. The main beneficiaries of this study is the STEM students of Saint Paul University
Philippines.
3. Results of this study shall only be recommended for Senior High School STEM
students of SPUP.
4. This study is limited on the physical health concerns experienced by Senior High
This chapter presents the background for research into the development of STEM
Students’ learning strategy guide to cope with physical health concerns. Strategies already
developed and implemented are not suitable for all health conditions of every student of Saint
Paul University due to a lack of resources and accessibility. A study done my Chandra (2020)
which focuses primarily on the perception of academic stress and emotional intelligence
coping strategies among college students regarding online education during CoViD-19 that
addresses a students’ physical health adversities lack accessibility from the beneficiaries.
Developed strategies have somehow assisted the students in the alleviation of their health
drawbacks, however, sustaining the strategies demands costly subscription payments and is
mediocre in terms of quality and its state of being memorable. Strategies that were developed
were limited.
The following review represents the literature related to this research study. Through
examination of previous research, the direction of the present study was formulated.
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Specifically, the chapter is organized into sections namely: (a) Distance Learning System, (b)
(KWAAH & ESSILFIE, 2017). Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, Google classroom, and
Zoom are only some of instructional platforms that make a range of components available
authoring tools, multimedia servers, learning catalogues, e-mail, and various software
platforms give instructors and students freedom to continue learning in face-to-face or online
courses (Bates & Khasawneh, 2007). Through these mobile applications, overcoming place
actual classroom setup such as the presentation through projectors or visual aids. These
applications can also be used to monitor and facilitate students’ progress, and more active
With the changes to technology and the resources available to instructors and
students, it is important to remember that the healthier a student is the better grades the
one aspect it may be detrimental in another due to the sedentary nature of computer use
(Mangis, 2016). In at least one study the frequent use of the computer has resulted in later
bedtimes, longer sleep onset latency, and later waking times which takes away from a
person’s energy level. Lower energy levels result in inadequate work performance and leads
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These studies concluded that despite the advantages of Distance learning among
sedentary lifestyle. Caused by lack of physical activities is the increase of the risk of having
physical activity (Garber et al., 2011). It alters metabolic function and enhances chronic
involved in the uptake of free fatty acids and triglycerides into skeletal muscle and the
these variables increases the risk of coronary heart disease (Schmid et al., 2016). Increasing
physical activity improves insulin sensitivity, lowers chronic inflammation, affects immune
Due to long hours of being in a workplace with ergonomically correct positions can
contribute to the alleviation of posture failure risk, however, the radiation coming from
computer screens can cause retinal damage in the eye. Digital devices release blue light,
which can reach the inner lining of the back of your eye (retina). Studies show that blue light
can damage light-sensitive cells in the retina. This can lead to early age-related macular
According to Remedy Health Media (2019), being in a seated position can leave a
spine sore, stiff, and in pain. That’s because too much sitting, while it may be relaxing, puts
stress on the muscles and discs of your back and neck. This position results in tightness of
your hip flexors such as the iliopsoas muscle and pressure and some ischemia (restricted
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blood flow) of your buttock muscles—the gluteus maximus. This muscle is an important
Coping Mechanism
Online distance learning setup can cause physical concerns. To adjust to these
concerns, people utilize coping mechanisms. Saint Paul University Philippines offer seminars
wherein the students are tasked to join. However, the seminar only tackles about mental
health and coping with its adversities. This study aims to develop a strategy to cope with
physical concerns. Coping strategies to reduce stress is a necessary condition for preventing
the harmful effects of prolonged stress (William et al., 2010). Coping strategies refer to the
specific efforts that students use to master, reduce or minimize stressful event. The search for
literature indicate there have been very limited discussion in the literature on the sources of
distance students’ stressors and what coping strategies they adopt to minimize the effect of
stress in light of growing number of distance education students in most parts of the world.
These can help people adjust to stressful events while helping them maintain their emotional
well-being. According to Scully (2021), while it is often an expected behaviour to know how
to handle emotions, it is not a skill we are born with. Therefore, coping strategies have to be
learned and practiced on a regular basis. The more coping skills we obtain to deal with
environmental changes, the more likely we are to maintain a healthier lifestyle and overall
better physical well-being (Mathis, 2019). Through practicing a healthy coping mechanism,
students will be able to deal with health concerns and bounce back from the adversity and
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Chapter 3: Methodology
The purpose of this study is to determine other health adversities and develop
strategies to cope with them. This chapter is organized in the following sections: research
design, population, sample, sampling technique, data collection, and data analysis.
The study was descriptive in nature employing quantitative methods in collecting the
data. A cross-sectional survey was carried out using a voluntary, anonymous, self-
Students.
The descriptive survey was adopted for the study. Descriptive survey, according to
Fraenkel and Wallen (1993) produced a good number of responses from numerous people at
a time, provided a meaningful picture of events and sought to explain people’s perception and
behaviors on the basis of information obtained at a point in time. To them, descriptive survey
designs could be used with greater confidence with regards to particular questions which are
of special interest and value to researchers. These reasons informed the choice of the
Research Design
of Saint Paul University where survey research will be used to gather information from the
respondents who are STEM Students of Saint Paul University Philippines and Survey Method
will be used to study and evaluate strategic plans in coping with the stress related to physical
health concerns.
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Population, Sample, and Sampling Technique
For the 808 STEM student enrolees of SPUP, in identifying the sample size, using
Slovin Formula, n = N / 1+Ne 2, where n is the sample size, N is the population size, and e is
the margin of error, in this case, 5% will be taken into consideration, sample size should be
268.
The sampling technique the researchers will be using is clustered sampling. Since
STEM students are already clustered into sections, simple random sampling will be employed
268 samples out of the 808 population will be taken from the 20 sections of STEM
Students from Set A and Set B. In each section, there will be 14 respondents.
Data Collection
The collection of data is through the Survey method by using Google Forms wherein
researchers will create a form and the respondents will fill in their answers to the research
questions, there will also be interviews where researchers would allot a 10-minute interview
with random respondents through an online platform such as Facebook Messenger Call,
Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and Google Meet depending upon the availability of the respondent.
Researchers formulated questions to know the number of students who come across
distance learning??
a. Yes
b. No
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2. What modality are you enrolled in?
d. E-copy
e. Printed
3. What physical health concerns do you experience among the following? If others,
please specify.
a. Fatigue
b. Headache
c. Eye strain
d. Back pain
e. Dehydration
g. Others _________
5. What are the things you do in order to cope with these concerns?
6. How do you classify the coping mechanisms you employ? Please choose from the
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g. Observation (such as Sightseeing, Sitting, Watching)
i. Static (Sleeping)
8. What strategy can you advice to your co-students to reduce the effects of the
Data Analysis
In analysing data, in research questions No. 1 (What are the identified physical health
learning?) and No. 2 (What are the coping mechanisms being employed be Senior High
School STEM students of SPUP to address the identified physical health concerns?),
counting of the respondents’ answers and getting the percentage will be employed. While for
research questions No. 3, this research will use the mean and Anova test as a statistical tool to
determine if there is a difference in the effectivity of the coping mechanism among the
groups. Thematic analysis will be used for research question No. 4 as it will be based on the
results of the previous three questions in coming up with a learning strategy guide that will be
Using the questionnaires as basis for knowing their perception regarding the coping
mechanisms they employ, out of the 268 sample size, 62 (23.6%) of them do not experience
physical health concern while the remaining 206 (76.4%) do as shown on tables 1 and 2. 164
samples are enrolled in Pure Online (Asynchronous and Synchronous), 21 samples are
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Table 1: Numbers and percentages of samples who
268 100%
E-copy 5 2.9%
Printed 5 2.9%
206 100%
Table 3 shows the coping mechanism of 206 students who experience physical health
concerns. Using 5-item Likert scale, the samples were able to rate their preferred coping
mechanism making researchers identify how effective their coping mechanisms are based on
their categories.
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1. Enrichment or 61 29.4% 2
Educational
2. Sports 43 20.6% 2
4. Creative 73 35.3% 4
8. Observation 84 41.2% 5
Based on the gathered data, Static coping mechanism predominated gaining 67.6% of
users with 5 out of 5 as rating for its effectivity; the students cope through sleeping and other
non-locomotor activities. A study by Sideridis (2008) reveals that sleeping is one of the five
most frequently used coping strategies by students, along with browsing the internet,
watching TV shows or movies, and instant messaging. Succeeding Static coping mechanism
is the observation coping mechanism with 41.2% of the samples are using with 5 out of 5 as
rating for its effectivity; it involves sightseeing and requires less energy to do the work.
Following Observation’s rank as the second to the top-most user is the creative coping
mechanism gaining 35.3% of 206 samples who experience physical health concerns with 5
out of 5 as its effectivity as coping mechanism. Next to creative as coping mechanism is a tie
between passive recreation gaining 29.4% with 4 out of 5 effective and Educational;
with 58 users and a rating of 3 out of 5. Succeeding the tie is another tie between sports and
creative coping mechanisms with 20.6% users and 4 out of 5 as its effectivity. Income
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generating mechanisms gained 1.5% of the sample who’s experiencing physical health
concerns.
Coping Mechanisms
Physical or Active
Recreation
Recreation involves
Income generating going outdoors or
mechanisms focusing on body
muscle
development
One opts to engage
with income Social Activities
generating
mechanisms Joining or initiating
through selling social gathering and
either online or talk around with
through a physical social beings and
store Observation seeking advice,
assistance, or
information from
other people
Observation
involves sightseeing Sports
and requires less Thinking about how
energy to do the to cope with
work stressor by playing
sports on fields–
Domestic or Indoors e.g. Basketball,
Volleyball
Creative
Involves sleeping
and other non-
locomotor activities
Getting creative
through making
output in their own
creative ways
Statistical Methods
Using the Pearson Correlation coefficient, the researchers were able to identify
the relationship between the number of users and its effectivity. The result is 0.5, which
suggest a positive moderate correlation between the effectivity of the coping mechanism and
the number of students who use it. According the interpretation guideline of a Pearson
Correlation coefficient, any results ranging from >0.50 to <0.70 suggests a positive moderate
correlation, meaning that the there is a relationship between the two variables, which in this
case, is the effectivity of the coping mechanism and the students who use it.
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The coping mechanisms are again categorized by the results it would provide for the
students. For the first category, Educational, Sports and Recreation activities were included.
This category caters on the exercises done by the brain for critical thinking development,
decision making, sharper memory and thinking that would help them concentrate and feel
mentally sharp for tasks and activities. For the second category, Creative, Domestic or indoor
and Income Generating Mechanisms occupied the spots. These activities allow the students to
engage social activities and tangible results. Students may find these activities beneficial in
building their social life and result-based outputs. Meanwhile, the last category includes
social activities, observation and static. These coping mechanisms aim for lesser energy-
required activities and rests among students. These coping mechanisms benefit the students
through chronic pain relief, stronger cardiovascular system, and releases tension.
Domestic or 58 27.9% 3
indoors
Income Generating 4 1.5% 3
Mechanism
Category 3 Social Activities 43 20.6% 4
Observation 84 41.2% 5
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According to Singh (2018), ANOVA or Analysis of Variance checks the impact of
ANOVA test, the researchers we’re able to identity the effectivity of the coping mechanisms
ANOVA was used to examine the group differences among the nine groups of interest
by splitting up the total variability in our data into its two constituent parts: variation between
groups of interest (resulting from random variation and possibly a group effect) and variation
within groups of interest (resulting solely from random variation). By examining the ratio of
group effect was present (whether any of the nine groups differ) based on one overall p-value.
The presence of a statistically significant group effect was based on observing a standard p-
value of less than 0.05, which indicates our methods will incorrectly find a statistically
H0: There is a statistical difference between the categories of the coping mechanisms
at the 0.05 level of significance. Using an ANOVA test, the researchers came up with F-
statistic result of -2.61 and critical value of 5.14. The ANOVA interpretation postulates the
acceptance of Null Hypothesis, meaning that there is a statistical difference between the
Chapter 4: Results
The study has two main purposes, to compare the relevance between the effectivity
and the number of students who employ the same mechanism and develop a learning strategy
From this person-centered focus, it is assumed that coping strategies are not mutually
exclusive categories but instead operate together (Eisenbarth, 2012; Kobyli´nska and Kusev,
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2019), such that their functionality depends on the individuals having a repertoire of
strategies available that would allow them to respond specifically to the challenge they have
relationship between the number of users and the effectivity of the coping mechanisms.
Due to the presence of their physical health concern health concern, 76.4% or ¾ of the
population were not able to fulfill their academic responsibilities. The collected and analyzed
data indicate that 67% of them employ static which includes in the third category of coping
mechanisms as their primary source to cope with the physical stress. The data also showed
the high efficacy rate of static coping mechanisms in response to their concerns.
Statistics show that 89% of the STEM students of SPUP undergo loads of workload.
Since it is not possible to affiliate static activities, such as sleeping with any activities that can
be paired to be multitasked, a study by Sideridis (2008) reveals five most frequently used
coping strategies by students; browsing the internet, sleeping and resting, watching TV shows
Blocking Technique. Power Nap is a short-time sleep that should not exceed 30 minutes,
while time blocking is also giving value to the need of student to rest, to which sleeping and
Time blocking is a time management method that implies a division and proper
These results could indicate, in line with other studies from the healthcare context
(e.g., Haythornthwaite et al., 1998), that flexibility in coping enhances university students’
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perception of control over their day-to-day challenges, making them feel better able to handle
them.
Based on an article by Jenna Ryu (2021), the best time to adapt power nap is between
1 and 3 P.M., because in times later than that can interfere with your sleep last night.
Research has shown power naps work. A recent study from the Better Sleep Council
(BSC) found that one in five working Americans nap during the workday, with 87% of them
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