EMOTIONAL MATURITY AND LEVEL OF

SELF- RELIANCE OF THE CHILDREN

OF OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS

PSYCHOLOGY AND EDUCATION: A MULTIDISCIPLINARY JOURNAL

Volume: 15
Pages: 634-644
Document ID: 2023PEMJ1396
DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.10303570
Manuscript Accepted: 2023-4-10
Psych Educ, 2023, 15(7): 634-644, Document ID:2023 PEMJ1396, doi:10.5281/zenodo.10303570, ISSN 2822-4353
Research Article

Emotional Maturity and Level of Self-Reliance of the

Children of Overseas Filipino Workers
Christine Joy C. Malijao*, Josephine Joy Y. Sarvida,
Glen Korrine Torres, Sheena May A. Lacuesta
For affiliations and correspondence, see the last page.
Abstract
Working abroad is common, especially in the Philippines, and being away from the primary
caregivers impacts the child. Thus, this study focuses on knowing the relationship between emotional
maturity and the level of self-reliance of the children of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW). The
researchers used descriptive-correlational quantitative and utilized a stratified random sampling
method. The study consisted of 100 participants, with 50 females and 50 males who are children of
OFW ages 18 to 30 years old and were below 18 years old when their parents started working abroad
and must be residing in the Davao Region. This study used the Emotional Maturity Scale by Yashvir
Singh and Mahesh Bhargava (1990) to measure the children's emotional maturity and the Self-
reliance Questionnaire by Catherine Harrison (2011) to measure whether the respondents are self-
reliant. The data gathered showed that the emotional maturity of the children of OFW is average,
while self-reliance measures a fair result. The results also showed no significant relationship between
the emotional maturity and level of self- reliance of the children of OFW. These findings suggest
establishing a good relationship with their children before and while working abroad and
encouraging authorities to use more inclusive methods that are beneficial for children of OFW.
Moreover, the researchers recommend that future researchers widen the scope of the respondents’
age bracket, expand the population to include the national respondents and perform other ways to test
the variables further.

Keywords: emotional maturity, self-reliance, descriptive correlational, OFW children

Introduction to displaying emotional instability, emotional

Over the years, several Filipinos have worked outside
the country due to economic necessities, forcing them
to live away from their family despite leaving their
children, who are still younger. When a parent decides
to leave the country while hoping to give the family a
better future, it becomes a familiar scenario to leave
their children under the care of a spouse, grandparents,
or caregivers when both parents have the same
decision of working abroad. The relationship patterns
around their children change instantly, and the
parenting arrangements are redeveloped in an attempt
still to meet their children's needs and expectations
despite borders. These OFW parents risk the years of
witnessing their children develop while they hurdle
over emotional obstacles. Despite having virtual
communication, the lack of physical proximity makes
it crucial to extend care and support to the migrants'
children (Hesketh, Jiang, Wang, Zhao, & Zhou, 2018).
Furthermore, several studies have shown that the long-
term experience of sudden separation from parents will
negatively impact their children's emotional
development, especially in relying on themselves
during emotional occurrences.
Emotional maturity can be a vital element to an
individual because otherwise, its corresponding
components may develop negatively, which can lead
regression, social maladjustment, personality
disintegration, and lack of independence. Jobson
(2020) supported this notion, citing that emotional
maturity is crucial for an individual's growth since
lacking it leads to difficulties in accomplishing life
goals. Additionally, a person needs emotional maturity
to run a healthy and appropriate social life while
guiding himself between what is right or not as an
individual. A study by Rani (2019) stated that
emotional maturity often begins from the relationship
history of the family through the child's attachment to
the parents and the knowledge honed inside their
homes. The study found that male children of working
parents, particularly mothers, were less emotionally
mature and emotionally deprived than homemaking
mothers. In contrast, the study of Rawat and Singh
(2017) discovered that male adolescents were more
emotionally mature than females, as found in their
better results on the emotional maturity components.
They were also found to be “virtuous, confident in
social interactions, and self-reliant” (Rawat & Singh,
2017).
In China, Hesketh and colleagues (2018) interviewed
children whose one or both parents migrated to work
when they were below 18 years old, and they reported
loneliness, sadness, and frustration over the years of
separation. The children who were separated from

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Research Article
their parents in later childhood were discovered
to have stronger attachment bonds. Meanwhile, those
who were left during infancy displayed frustration
and were restrictive in their emotions toward their
migrant parents. On the other hand, due to the
distance, migrant parents are hindered from leading,
instructing, and responding immediately to their
children's concern and their need for awareness and
assistance. Another study by Bhakre and Patrani
(2019) investigated how emotional maturity can
influence personality traits, including the self-reliance
of adolescents as their respondents. The study
discovered that self-reliance in adolescents was
among the characteristics that significantly
increased with emotional maturity. This revealed how
most adolescents exercise this trait by preferring their
own decisions while becoming involved with their
peers. Nonetheless, they like making decisions rather
than letting others decide for them.
The studies mentioned earlier are international sources
with limited emphasis on the specific variables,
namely emotional maturity and self-reliance, which
this study seeks to investigate. There is also a need for
studies to be available in the Philippines investigating
the correlation between both. Also, most international
studies, including the study of Hesketh et al. (2018),
focused on the role of migrating parents in general
rather than the OFW migrants. Their study was more
tied to the broader experiences of the labor migrants
and not by specified nationality. On the other hand, the
children as respondents in a similar study by Hesketh
et al. (2018) were interviewed about their lived
experiences as children of migrants and their impact
on their psychological well-being as a whole.
Although the study of Bhakre and Patrani (2019)
investigated how emotional maturity influences the
development of self-reliance, it is one of the several
personality traits considered as their study's dependent
variable. Thus, these international resources have less
emphasis on the specific context of emotional maturity
and self-reliance and have yet to investigate the
correlation of both variables. Lastly, this study aims to
bridge the gap in the sources of Hesketh et al. (2018),
which was conducted through qualitative research by
providing statistical findings that further strengthen the
claim about the parental migration's impact on their
children's psychological aspect. With the prevalence of
labor migration by Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW)
and the prolonged stay of some due to the pandemic,
most children develop and behave without their
migrant parents' direct assistance. Thus, this study
aims to investigate the children of OFW in terms of the
extent of their emotional maturity and self-reliance,
respectively, given that the current setup brings
complexities in educational, industrial, and societal
Malijao et al.
settings under the new normal. Consequently, this
study aims to investigate the significant relationship
between the emotional maturity and self-reliance of
the children of Overseas Filipino Workers.
The objectives of this study aim to answer both
general and specific questions. Generally, this study
aims to discover if there is a significant relationship
between emotional maturity and the level of self-
reliance of the children of Overseas Filipino Workers.
Specifically, this study aims to answer the following
questions: 1) What is the level of emotional maturity
of the children of Overseas Filipino Workers?; 2)
What is the level of self-reliance of the children of
Overseas Filipino Workers?; and 3) Is there a
significant relationship between the level of emotional
maturity and level of self-reliance of the children of
Overseas Filipino Workers?
The findings of the study may be beneficial to the
OFW parents who, despite their absence from their
children's development, can still find ways to raise or
mold them in a possible way that the children will not
feel disconnected from them and to assist them
remotely. Moreover, this study can be beneficial for
parents planning to leave the country for work, and in
such ways, they can prepare to discuss things with
their children. The OFWs' children may benefit by
learning to enhance their emotional development and
understanding and use it to aid their reliance on
themselves while their parents are away. Thus, for the
academe, academic services such as the guidance
office can assist the students of OFW by recognizing
their situation, guiding them to reduce feelings of
being unattended, and consulting students’ academic
performance. Furthermore, the academe could
implement techniques as to how the teachers can have
strategies to enhance the student's performance
considering the fact that some were coping in their
parent's absence. Lastly, the results of the study are
also essential for future researchers that will utilize it
as a future reference when conducting a new study or
testing further the variables involved.
The main theory anchored to this study is the
Attachment Theory by John Bowlby (1969), which, in
context, asserts how the emotional bonds formed by
parents as the primary caregivers can have an
emotional impact that the children can carry
throughout their lives. He conceptualized how
attachment behavior is essential to the child's
personality development by mentioning that the
absence of the parents can create emotional distress to
the child's well-being regardless of age. In Bowlby's
framework, he defined that attachment alongside its
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occurrence, qualities, and consequences are considered
universal. He affirmed how attachment, such as the
secure relationship, is evident when a child seeks
proximity, while the insecure relationship can be
expressed during avoidance or conflict between their
primary caregivers. More so, Bowlby implies that
secure attachment between the caregivers and the
children is the precursor of their future development
(Keller, 2018). With this study, this theory may
explain the children's emotional well-being and how
their reliance would be developed despite their parents'
absence. It may also explain the impact of the quality
of attachment with parents to their children's emotional
understanding and its influence on their reliance on
themselves.
Another significant theory for this study is the Family
System Theory by Dr. Murray Brown (1974). This
theory asserted how the role of each family member
was portrayed in the family system and how their
emotional understanding can be attached to their
family dynamics. This theory discusses family
dynamics and tackles the family's communication,
roles, and other situations (Watson, 2012). Also, when
the family is separated for a very long time, it impacts
the children's emotions and interactions, creating
conflict with the family's system (Delvin, 2018). This
theory also includes the family arrangements with
additional roles of grandparents or caregivers, which
concerning the study, may contribute to a complex
interaction with the migrating parents and their
emotional inclination towards them. Also, this may
explain the emotional manifestations of OFW children
due to the years of separation from their parents. More
so, this theory may also explain when children may
display tendencies of having unresolved emotional
issues due to lack of proximity and direct assistance
from their migrant parents.
Methodology
Research Design
The researchers utilized the descriptive-correlational
quantitative research design, for it can aid in collecting
and analyzing numerical data and explore whether
there is an existing relationship between variables.
According to Mcleod (2019), correlational quantitative
research design does not manipulate and control the
variables. Instead, it aimed to show the significant
relationship between the independent variable, the
Malijao et al.
level of emotional maturity, and the dependent
variable, self-reliance. In this study, a quantitative
method was applied because it was used to measure
the variables employing survey questionnaires, while
statistical interpretations were performed to obtain
results from this study. Moreover, this study utilized
the descriptive-correlational research design,
describing the relationship between independent and
dependent variables (Davis, 2019). Further, this study
utilized this research design to describe the
relationship between emotional maturity and self-
reliance; hence, the said design assessed the
association of both variables.
Research Respondents
The research respondents of this study were young
adults from ages 18-30, in reference to Lipschitz’
(1995) study that included the age bracket 18-30
termed as young adults for the respondents.
Respondents were 18 to 30 years old with one or both
parents who were either ongoing or retired Overseas
Filipino Workers (OFW). In addition, the respondents
were below 18 years old when their parents started
working abroad. Moreover, the researchers only set a
hundred (100), randomized respondents, within the
Davao region. This study utilized stratified random
sampling methods to ensure that the number of
respondents involved was enough to represent the
large population (Thomas, 2021). In this study, the
respondents were divided into two groups/strata based
on the respondents’ gender. Thus, using stratified
random sampling would enhance the external validity
of this study.
Research Instrument
This study utilized the Emotional Maturity Scale by
Mahesh Bhargava and Yashvir Singh (1990) to
measure the independent variable, which is the level of
emotional maturity. The Emotional Maturity Scale
consisted of 48 items divided into five (5) categories:
Emotional Stability, Emotional Progression, Social
Adjustment, Personality Integration, and
Independence. It is a five-point Likert scale with Very
Much (5), Much (4), Undecided (3), Probably (2), and
Never (1) as alternative responses. Prior to the conduct
of the final data gathering, pilot testing was conducted
to 32 respondents. Based on the result of the pilot
testing, the Cronbach’s Alpha of each subscale is
above the acceptable level. Specifically, the Emotional
Stability α = .891, Emotional Progression α = .922,
Social Adjustment α = .891, Personality Integration α
= .957, and Independence α = .899.
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Data Collection
The data-gathering procedure is as follows in the given
order:
Ask permission to conduct the study. The researchers
sent a letter to the dean and asked for permission to
conduct the gathering of data regarding the level of
emotional maturity and level of self-reliance of
children with OFW parents. When approved, the
researchers conducted the succeeding steps.
Prepare the necessary documents. The researchers
prepared all the documents needed for data-gathering,
such as research instruments, a letter to the
participants, and informed consent, distributed to the
potential respondents.
Informed consent. The researchers distributed the
informed consent to their respondents to ask for their
participation in the study. Informed consent
guaranteed the respondents' ethics and confidentiality
and informed them about the study and the type of
questionnaire they opted to answer.
Data gathering. Since data gathering took place in the
midst of the pandemic, the researchers utilized online
resources that allowed them to conduct online surveys.
The researchers made use of Google forms in
administering the questionnaires.
Retrieval of Data. Once the researchers had collected
all the responses from the respondents, the data
obtained were calculated and analyzed.
Submission of data to the statistician. After the data
retrieval, the data was submitted to the statistician for
further validation.
Interpretation of findings. After the statistician
validated the data, the researchers interpreted the
findings.
Statistical Tools
The statistical tool used in this research is mean and
Pearson r. The mean, or the average of all data points
(Turner, 2013), was used to obtain data to interpret. In
this study, the mean answered the level of emotional
maturity and self-reliance, respectively. Meanwhile,
Pearson r measured both quantifiable independent and
dependent variables to determine their relationship
(Allen, 2017). The Pearson r aided in measuring the
relationship between the emotional maturity level and
self-reliance of the children of Overseas Filipino
Workers.
Malijao et al.
Ethical Consideration
The researchers utilized the three ethical
considerations: Informed Consent, Honesty and Trust,
Privacy, Confidentiality, and Anonymity.
Informed consent. The goal of this process is for
participants to enter research voluntarily after
receiving full information about what it means for
them to participate and after giving their consent
before doing so (University of Oxford, 2021). The
researchers distributed the informed consent before
conducting the study. The researchers ensured that the
respondent fully understood and knew that it was
possible for them to decide whether they wanted to
withdraw their data without affecting any relationship
with the researcher or institution.
Honesty and Trust. This ethical consideration tackles
the integrity principle. Researchers need to be honest
and gain the trust of their respondents, for this can be a
confounding factor in the study (Allen et al., 2018).
Thus, researchers should maintain the trust and
transparency of their respondents throughout by giving
the correct and precise information about the study,
and no deception was implied. Moreover, the
researchers should also give the respondents access to
the study if they want to. The researchers guaranteed
that they had followed all the ethical standards that
should be practiced.
Privacy, Confidentiality, and Anonymity. This
discussed the respondents' data which should be
confidential and protected (Fouka & Mantzorou, n.d).
In this study, the researchers safely kept all the
information collected from the respondents. Data
should not be shared with anyone; disclosing any
related information is against the ethical practice. The
researchers assured the respondents from the very
beginning of the study that their identity would also be
kept unknown, and all the details they gave were used
in the study alone.
Results and Discussion
This section presents the survey questionnaire and
statistical data analysis results. The tabular forms
presented, followed by interpretations, answered the
respondents' level of emotional maturity, the level of
self-reliance, and whether there is a relationship
between the level of emotional maturity and level of
self-reliance of the children of Overseas Filipino
Workers.
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Profile of the Respondents
This study garnered 100 valid responses from 18-30
years old whose parents went abroad when they were
still below 18 years of age and are currently residing in
the Davao Region, while their parents may be ongoing
or retired OFW. The responses consisted of 50% males
and 50% females. 63% are aged 21-23; meanwhile,
32% of respondents were left by their parents when
they were still four to seven years old. 50% had
parents who were Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW)
for seven to 18 years. Consequently, there are 58% of
respondents whose parents are still ongoing OFWs.
Level of Emotional Maturity of the Children of
Overseas Filipino Workers
Table 1 presents the level of emotional maturity of the
children of Overseas Filipino Workers with the five
indicators: emotional stability, emotional progression,
social adjustment, personality integration, and
independence.
Table 1. Level of Emotional Maturity of the Children
of Overseas Filipino Workers
Based on the table above, the emotional stability of the
children of the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) has
a mean of 3.2300, which implies average emotional
stability and suggests that there may be hesitations in
limiting themselves to overreact or have changed
towards emotive situations. Regardless, this suggests
that the respondents experience little to no mental
botherations, continue in the middle of their work
before reaching their goal, seldom take help from other
people in completing their work, and have yet to
perceive differences between their desires and
objectives. Consequently, they are hardly jealous of
other people, do not get wild due to anger, and
disagree, being lost in imagination and daydreaming.
Emotional progression has a mean score of 3.0800,
showing an average emotional progression of the
OFWs' children. This indicates that they are open
about the progress of their emotions that they can use
in their environment. Additionally, this shows that
they do not feel inferior when they fail to achieve their
Malijao et al.
goals, do not tease their peers, and do not put the
blame on others for their lapses. Further, when they
disagree on certain things, they would control or
prevent themselves from starting a quarrel, and their
behavior is not aggressive compared to their friends
and others. Lastly, it shows that they are infrequently
lost in their imagination and never feel self-centered.
Social adjustment obtained a mean score of 3.0300,
which pertains to an average social adjustment and
could further pertain to children who sometimes
cannot process the interaction between their needs and
the demands of the social environment. Despite that,
they do not have strained relationships with friends
and colleagues and do not show hate towards others.
Furthermore, they praise themselves sometimes, and
they seldom lie or bluff. They are humble, do not
avoid social gatherings, are modest in their way, and
perform work obediently.
Personality integration has a mean of 2.6600, showing
an average personality integration of the respondents.
This indicates that the children of OFW can be
described as diligent and organized individuals,
especially being firm in their emotions and impulses.
They are strong-willed people who acknowledge moral
codes of conduct and do not act carelessly. In addition,
they always accept when they are at fault, respect
others' views, and are optimistic. They have a sense of
responsibility and respect, especially when working
with others. Thus, they do not allow themselves to be a
burden.
Independence got a mean score of 2.6900, signifying
that the children are averagely independent, which
means they like to be a leader where other people can
depend on them and is responsible for dealing with
other people. Further, they do not hesitate to help and
always show interest in others' work. Thus, they may
be capable of arriving at decisions derived from their
own judgment, are objective, and have utilized their
intellectual and creative potential.
Overall, Emotional Maturity yielded a mean score of
2.9380, which revealed that the children of Overseas
Filipino Workers have an average measure of
emotional maturity. It can be further interpreted that
their emotional maturity is established. Meanwhile, the
overall standard deviation of .54952 means that the
data are homogenous with highly consistent and stable
values, which generally confirms that the children of
the Overseas Filipino Workers have their emotional
maturity established.
Emotional maturity is the ability of an individual to
achieve emotional development like an adult (Joy and
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Mathew, 2018). An established emotional maturity
allows an individual to manage emotions according to
social situations. Additionally, the person is more
likely to analyze situations before responding without
swinging between emotions. This study's result is
supported by the research of Hesketh and colleagues
(2018), that discussed that the lack of physical
proximity is critical to the emotional development of
children, especially with difficulties in extending care
and support from the migrant parents. Additionally,
the migrants’ children have reported loneliness,
sadness, and frustration due to the separation from
their parents. However, the children remain capable of
establishing emotional maturity through the stronger
attachment bond when separated from their parents
during later childhood.
Rani (2019) has also stated that emotional maturity is
often derived from the relationship history among
family members, most importantly, the attachment
between children and parents alongside the knowledge
they share. Jobson (2020) further discovered that
students having both parents present, either have a
single parent or without parents, are living in a joint or
nuclear family, have a single child or have siblings,
coming from high or lower status, living in rural or
urban areas have considered these factors as
mentioned earlier as influential on their level of
emotional maturity. Positive environmental factors
may result in a high level of emotional maturity,
whereas negative settings produce otherwise.
Therefore, the family can remain the primary ground
for becoming an emotionally mature adult.
On the other hand, this result contradicts the study of
Kunwar (2022), which mentioned that children left
behind by their migrating parents experience
symptoms of depression and feelings of abandonment
while undergoing different stages. Children whose
parents are overseas workers are more likely to
"display a wide array of emotional and psychological
problems, including low self-esteem, increased anger
and violence, lack of trust in relationships, and
depression" (Kunwar, 2022). The results also reject the
study of Anand, Anand, Bakshi, and Bali (2021) that
explored the home environment as a vital element in
children's emotional development. It assessed the
linkage between the home environment and emotional
maturity across genders and asserted that "a positive
family atmosphere is a pre-requisite for the overall
emotional development" (Anand et al., 2021). It is
believed that only parents who are always available,
supportive, and understanding towards their children
result in emotionally mature individuals. Furthermore,
this result proves that despite the drastic changes in
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family systems, especially with the technologies
overshadowing real-life relationships as depicted in the
migrants and their families, the children of the
Overseas Filipino Workers are still capable of
establishing emotional maturity.
The results of this study demonstrate the Attachment
Theory of John Bowlby (1969), which assumes that
attachment with primary caregivers is the source of the
emotional development of their children. This is
evident in the results of the five components of
emotional maturity, including emotional stability,
emotional progression, social adjustment, personality
integration, and independence. The responses
measured average and were described as undecided.
Hence, the quality of their attachment to their parents
may be a factor in their establishment of emotional
maturity. Despite the children having an established
emotional maturity, there might be instances where
their emotional distress from their parent's absence is
observed. This may further suggest that the children
may reflect their attachment to migrant parents on the
extent they exercise their emotional maturity towards
various circumstances of their lives.
Meanwhile, this result also supports the Family
Systems Theory by Dr. Murray Brown (1974), which
sees the importance of family roles and dynamics as
grounds for the child's development. Hence, the
absence of the children's parents due to labor
migration and the shift among relationship patterns in
the remaining parent, guardians, or caregivers may
influence the children's development into emotionally
mature individuals. As an aftermath of labor
migration, family arrangements may result in complex
interactions and emotional attachment between the
children, the remaining individuals, and their migrant
parents.
Level of Self-Reliance of the Children of Overseas
Filipino Workers
Revealed in table 2 the level of self-reliance of the
children of the Overseas Filipino Workers.
Table 2. Level of Self-Reliance of the Children of
Overseas Filipino Workers
In this study, the mean score of 3.3400 measures a fair
level, which means that the children of the Overseas
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Filipino Workers have moderately demonstrated their
self-reliance while the standard deviation is .57243,
which equates to a homogenous result wherein the data
is not widely dispersed around the mean.
According to Moore (2022), being moderately self-
reliant means adjusting to things that require
independence. Moore also mentioned that self-reliance
involves being independent regarding a person's
growth and knowing how society can contribute to
one's downfall. Thus, decisions are made carefully and
with other people's help. Bovens and colleagues also
defined self-reliance as "the total capacity of
individuals to achieve their goals and to get along in
life." Further, the self-reliance of individuals has
become more critical and, at the same time,
challenging to maintain. This is due to the differences
in mental capacities of individuals that play a
significant role in managing their lives. Everyone can
achieve self-reliance but only to a certain point; some
people can be self-reliant, but only sometimes. Due to
enormous personal responsibility, people may rely
more on others (Bovens et al., 2019). Hence, this
supports the result of the study that children’s self-
reliance is only moderately demonstrated.
This result can also be supported by the study of
Adalla (2019), which specifically stated that most of
the children of Overseas Filipino Workers are
performing well in their lives even without their
parent's presence. They have done well academically
and are financially stable, but despite the upsides of
their situation, the study indicated that the children of
Overseas Filipino Workers may have developed
behavioral concerns. Although they can cope with
their family situation, the eventual longing from their
parents leads the children to experience various
problems somehow. They may have tendencies of
having low self-esteem, lacking participation, and can
be heavily dependent on others. The study also
indicated that even with all the materials they have, the
children would prefer having their parents beside them
to meet their needs and rely on them instead of
someone else.
Another supporting study conducted by Lam and Yeoh
(2019) discussed that the children’s educational factor
is one of the assets why most parents want to migrate.
Despite being left at an early age, children somehow
adapted to the situation and were capable of
understanding the reason why their parents opted to
migrate. It was also stated that children still need to
seek dependence regarding their decision, especially in
their growing years (Lam & Yeoh, 2019). Another
study by Calantas and Lobaton (2018) mentioned that
Malijao et al.
children of Overseas Filipino Workers considered their
friends as "emotional baggage counter." Despite the
children's trust, they immediately run to their closest
friends, especially in times of loneliness, longing, and
various problems. The children of Overseas Filipino
Workers can be more explained when they tend to rely
more on their friends since there are limits in accessing
their parents' comfort while not wanting to burden
them working abroad.
The result of this study is supported by the theory of
Dr. Murray Brown, known as the Family Systems
Theory (1974), which focuses on the role of each
family member in a household, whereas if one family
member is absent, the role of other members changes.
Changes in family roles come with responsibilities and
expectations from the family. Concerning this study, a
child may have developed self-reliance after feeling
forced to accept their family situation and therefore
carry the responsibilities left in their respective homes.
This theory also focuses on the communication
between family members, such that if communication
inside the household is not good, the members seek to
communicate with their peers. This can be evident in
children becoming emotionally reliant on their peers
during emotional circumstances despite having
moderately established self-reliance.
Correlation between Emotional Maturity and Self-
Reliance of the Children of Overseas Filipino
Workers
Presented in Table 3 is the relationship between the
research respondents' emotional maturity and level of
self-reliance.
Table 3. Correlation between Emotional Maturity and
Self-Reliance of the Children of Overseas Filipino
Workers
The third problem sought to answer the question about
the relationship between the level of emotional
maturity and level of self-reliance of the children of
Overseas Filipino Workers. Meanwhile, since
statistically significant data requires a smaller p-value
than the significance level of .05, the p-value of .355
presented in Table 3 indicates that the correlation is
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not statistically significant. For this reason, the
researchers accept the null hypothesis: there is no
significant relationship between emotional maturity
and self-reliance of the children of Overseas Filipino
Workers.
The results of the study accept the existing literature
suggesting that various factors correlate to the
emergence of self-reliance without emotional maturity
being included. This accepts the research of Bovens,
Keizer, and, Tiemeijer (2019) that provided a realistic
perspective on self-reliance and thereby did not
include one's emotional maturity as among its factors.
The study stated that various circumstances have
appeared relevant to the emergence of self-reliance,
including mental capacities alongside "social skills, a
financial buffer, physical abilities, and cultural
baggage" (Bovens et al., 2019). Meanwhile, acute
stress, mental fatigue, and the psychological effects of
poverty are seen as other influential factors apparent in
reducing mental performance and decreasing
behavioral control. Bovens et al. (2019) also cited the
physiological background, like elevated cortisol levels,
which lead to an experience of stress, resulting in
adverse effects on one's executive functions. This
declines the person's decision-making skills,
significantly decreasing behavior regulation.
Meanwhile, the actual and subjective perception of
tiredness affects one's decisions to rely on themselves
accordingly. Bovens et al. (2019) further suggest that
situational factors, especially difficult situations or
poverty, can disrupt one's capacity to set goals for the
future and persist in working on such. Hence, when
one's capacity decreases, the person's self-reliance
becomes at risk.
In the context of Overseas Filipino workers, their
absence corresponds to negative consequences for
their children. The study by Kunwar (2022) believed
that parental migration is already a factor in children's
self-reliance. The study stated that many children
become attached to their parents working overseas
through materialistic benefits, such as receiving gifts
or money, without developing emotional bonds. It was
also mentioned how the children would more likely
have a low quality of life since their parents cannot
guide them, while they are usually left with their
respective caregivers. Further, the family situation
where parental migration happens is already a
sufficient factor that leads the children to develop
emotional problems and experience negative
behavioral consequences, especially when
transitioning into adulthood.
Correspondingly, this study's results agree with Gao,
Malijao et al.
Long, Pan, Teng, and Yue (2021), who signify that
parenting style could also be a factor in children's self-
reliance and not emotional maturity. Since the
psychological development of the children becomes a
growing concern to those raised without their parent's
company, the parenting styles of their caregivers
become a crucial factor since they would fill in the
responsibilities as a guardian and satisfy the needs of
the left-behind children. Moreover, Pan and colleagues
(2021) discovered that an upbeat parenting style yields
a suitable environment for left-behind children in
terms of positive coping, good parent-child
relationship, and communication, which helps them
avoid temptations, prevent the adverse effects of
migration, and enhance their self-control. Meanwhile,
the negative parenting style could also lead to adverse
effects, resulting in maladaptive behaviors like
discipline violations. Therefore, the study by Gao et al.
(2021) affirmed how a positive and warm parenting
style is essential for the children of migrant parents in
helping them develop a healthy form of self-reliance.
Meanwhile, the culture where the children were raised
can be considered a factor correlated to self-reliance
rather than emotional maturity. This study’s results
accept the research conducted by Azmitia,
Covarrubias, Laiduc, and Valle (2019), which stated
that most college students face cultural mismatches
between their interdependent background and the
university or school that promotes independent norms.
The study also stated how the student's parents
provided them with financial support with assigned
home responsibilities, which caused little freedom in
their actions at home. Additionally, it was revealed
that the demands of their parents interrupt the chance
to take care of themselves. At the same time, they wish
to become mature and have the means to be self-reliant
by breaking the traditions they used to behave to
(Covarrubias et al., 2019).
On the contrary, the result of this study rejects the
research conducted by Bhakre and Patrani (2019),
which stated that self-reliance is among the personality
traits that increase as emotional maturity increases.
The researchers added that most adolescents preferred
to make their own decisions than have someone else
decide for them. Contrary to this study's results,
Bhakre and Patrani (2019) believed that emotional
maturity could lead individuals to become self-reliant
since a mature person can become self-sufficient,
achieve their judgment, and perform or develop
abilities for one's responsibilities. Furthermore, this
study contradicts the study of Bhakre and Patrani after
discovering that emotional maturity barely becomes a
factor in the self-reliance of the children of Overseas
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Filipino Workers.
The result of the overall study is anchored on the
Attachment Theory by John Bowlby (1969), which
emphasizes that the primary caregivers, like parents,
have an emotional impact, further influencing the
children’s reliance on themselves as they grow without
their parent’s presence for years. Consequently, the
findings of the study agree that the absence of the
parents may result in a negative attachment style,
which could also affect the children’s self-reliance.
Since their parents are away for a long time, they
cannot supervise their children, leading to the
children’s initiative to become reliant on themselves
without necessarily being emotionally mature.
In connection to the study's findings on Family
Systems Theory ( 1974) by Dr. Murray Bowen, it
suggests how the roles in the family could contribute
to a complex dynamic in the family system, which also
includes the secondary caregivers of the children.
Meanwhile, since children of the OFW were left in the
care of others, the children were raised based on their
caregivers' culture, which has a different parenting
style compared to their primary caregivers. Hence, this
limits the children from becoming self-reliant in
making decisions on their own, hindering their
emotional maturity.
Conclusion
In light of the results and discussions presented, the
following conclusions are drawn:
The children of Overseas Filipino Workers have their
emotional maturity established even without their
parent's presence. Contrary to popular belief from
several sources, the children of migrant workers
remain capable of establishing their emotional
maturity since there are still several factors that could
aid them respectively. This may include external
factors like caregivers, peers, academe, and others, or
internal factors like motivation and interest. However,
even with an established emotional maturity, there are
instances when the children of Overseas Filipino
Workers tend to be frightened about the coming
situations, suffer from any fear, and experience a sense
of discomfort and lack of peace of mind. They also
sometimes feel short-tempered, stubborn, dissatisfied
with themselves, and often feel exhausted.
Consequently, they also spend much time for their
sake, like being alone, and give more importance to
their work than others.
Malijao et al.
The children of Overseas Filipino Workers have their
self-reliance moderately demonstrated. During
personal problems, children may have experience
being reliant on other people due to circumstances that
they cannot grasp enough. Despite lacking assistance
from their parents, the children have managed to excel
in their academics and deliberately do tasks on their
own. Furthermore, despite the limited access to
parental support, they strive to be responsible in their
lives.
There is no significant relationship between the levels
of emotional maturity and self-reliance of the children
of Overseas Filipino Workers. Correspondingly,
mental capacities, parenting style, the effect of
parental migration, and cultural mismatches may be
considered factors for the emergence of self-reliance
rather than emotional maturity. Since most of them
were left when they were still young and are currently
transitioning to adulthood with ongoing OFW parents,
this affirmed how the children find the need to become
self-reliant without the influence of emotional
maturity. Hence, the children of Overseas Filipino
Workers are not necessarily emotionally mature for
their self-reliance to emerge.
The overall result of this study inferred that there is no
significant relationship between the emotional
maturity and level of self-reliance of the children of
Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW). For this reason, the
researchers offer the following recommendations:
OFW parents. The researchers encourage the
migrating parents or the Overseas Filipino Workers to
maintain relationships with their children despite
borders. Most importantly, they should safeguard their
children from the possible negative consequences of
migration by settling them under responsible
caregivers or guardians, having consistent monitoring,
and maintaining the relationship while away. They
should help maintain and strengthen their children's
emotional well-being by adapting to family
interactions and the changes in their family
arrangements. Furthermore, the OFW parents are
encouraged to constantly communicate with their
children, consult their emotional state, provide lectures
beneficial for their children's progress, and still assist
their children remotely at their convenience.
OFWs’ children. The children of the Overseas
Filipino Workers are recommended to gradually adjust
to their parents’ absence by being more understanding
of their family situation. They are also recommended
to participate in a social environment that fosters
growth, acceptance, and positive communication. This
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may be achieved by choosing a responsible and
trustworthy circle or practicing healthy interactions
with their guardian or other family members.
Furthermore, becoming involved in a social
environment that positively influences the child's
emotional maturity and self-reliance may result in a
better adaptation despite the parents' unavailability.
Academe. The researchers recommend that
teachers/faculty members develop activities that are
aimed at improving how the students of OFWs cope.
This may include providing intervention to children
needing adult assistance, such as academic activities,
emotional support, or seeking motivation to trust
themselves. It is also recommended that the
educational sectors implement seminars/orientations
that assess and support the students' efficiency in their
academic responsibilities. Most significantly, school
officials and educational agencies may discuss
adjusting activities that emphasize consideration for
children whose parents are working abroad. This can
then shift focus into creating better plans for the
parents' remote involvement or minimizing the burden
from student tasks requiring the parents' direct
assistance. Guidance offices are also recommended to
consult and assess the children's state relevant to their
family situation. The researchers also recommend that
the educational sectors and guidance offices should
provide seminars for the teachers to enhance their
competencies that better cater to the affected students.
Consequently, this may also improve the children's
emotional and behavioral regulation while coping with
their parents' absences.
Future Researchers. The student researchers
recommend that future researchers test further the
variables by expanding the age range of the
respondents. Future researchers may widen the scope
of the study by considering national respondents other
than local respondents. Most notably, they may focus
on other research locales known for having
populations of children whose parents had migrated.
Lastly, they may also enhance the results by having
more than one hundred (100) respondents and
observing how the relationship between variables may
change.
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