Influence of Parental Absence and Parental Involvement to Child’s Decision Making: A

Comparative Study

By: Junyca McNab

Bachelor of Science in Psychology

Research 102: Research in Psychology 2

Mr. Kurt Essa Alforte Rastrullo, MAEd, RGC

December 2023
 ABSTRACT:

There were no current studies about the influence of parental absence and parental
involvement to children’s decision making. However, there are articles regarding this topic.
Research implies that parental absence affects children’s judgment, emotional stability,
independence, behavior, academic performance, and social relationships which impact their
preferences in making decisions in their daily living. Parental involvement on the other hand,
goes the opposite as it helps in improving emotional stability, social relationships, judgment,
self-esteem, academic performance and development of moral values. Parental involvement in
decision making is crucial as it provides guidance, support, and positive role models. While
parental absence brings negative impact to children because of lack of guidance and moral or
emotional support. In addition, parental involvement plays a crucial role in shaping a child's
decision-making abilities because research has consistently shown that children with actively
involved parents tend to make better decisions. This is because parents serve as important role
models and provide a strong support system for their children, helping them develop critical
thinking skills and make sound choices. Moreover, parental involvement also teaches children
about the consequences of their decisions and how to take responsibility for their actions. By
being involved in their child's decision-making process, parents can also instill important values
such as empathy, respect, and self-discipline, which are essential for making ethical and moral
decisions. In contrast, children with absent or disengaged parents may struggle with decision-
making as they lack guidance and support, leading to impulsive and potentially harmful choices.
The absence of a parent can have a significant impact on a child's decision-making abilities, as
they may lack important role models and guidance in their lives. This can lead to feelings of
insecurity, self-doubt, and uncertainty when it comes to making important decisions.
Additionally, the emotional effects of parental absence, such as feelings of abandonment or
resentment, can also affect a child's decision-making abilities. Without a parent to turn to for
advice and support, children might struggle to navigate difficult choices on their own. As a
result, they may make choices that are not in their best interest or those with long-term
consequences. Therefore, it is evident that the influence of parental involvement on a child's
decision-making cannot be underestimated, as it has a lasting impact on their overall
development and future success. It is essential that parents are actively involved in their child's
life to offer direction, assistance, and a solid base for healthy decision making.
Keywords: decision making, guidance, parental absence, parental involvement, support

Parents play an important role. They serve as guide and support for their children’s
journey and life choices. Absence of parents might bring a significant impact on children's
emotional well-being, behavior, academic performance, social relationships, as well as their
decision-making skills. This can lead to difficulties in making decisions as well. On the other
hand, parental involvement has the opposite effect by positively influencing emotional stability,
social relationships, self-esteem, academic performance, and the development of moral values
which may positively impact their decision-making skills. Comparing the influence of parental
absence and parental involvement to child’s decision making is an interesting topic to explore. In
which, parental absence is defined as the lack of emotional support for the children that might
negatively impact their wellbeing (psychological health, and educational outcomes). Lobos,
Juliata & Peñalba (2019). Parental involvement, in contrast, is defined as the presence of
guidance to children in making social and future oriented decisions which contribute to the
development of the skills in decision making. (Rodriguez, 2021). According to Russo (2014),
decision making is the process in which a group or an individual reaches conclusion about what
actions to take in the future in order to pursue a given set of limitations and objectives in
available resources. It is important for parents to be involved in their children's decision making
as it provides guidance, support, and role models. When parents are absent due to migration or
other reasons, it can result in a lack of guidance and emotional support for the child. According
to a study entitled “Consequences of Parental Absence due to Migration: A Qualitative Inquiry
into Adolescent Students' Well-being”, long-term separation from parents significantly impacts a
child's psychosocial well-being. This can make them vulnerable to emotional distress such as
loneliness and sadness. Additionally, research by Zhao et al. (2018) found that extended periods
of separation from parents can cause challenges for children in their psychosocial well-being.
This highlights the importance of support from extended family members to fill the care deficit
experienced by adolescents. On the other hand, when parents are actively involved in their child's
decision making through parent-child interactions, it can contribute to the development of
decision-making skills for the child's future success.
Both parental absence and parental involvement in child’s decision making can positively
and/or negatively shape the child’s character and personality. Children with parents being
involved in their decision making might end up being overdependent and unable to make
decisions on their own. But they tend to make decisions with a positive outcome and usually
ends up into success. While children with absent parents might end up to be independent and
fierce enough to face life challenges and consequences of every decision they make. However,
they also tend to be impulsive and rebellious.

Theoretical framework

This study is grounded in Transactional Model of Stress and Coping by Richard Lazarus
and Susan Folkman, and Attachment Theory by John Bowlby which is expanded upon by Mary
Ainsworth.

Transactional Model of Stress and Coping by Richard Lazarus and Susan Folkman
explores how stressors such as parental absence impact a child's cognitive appraisal and coping
strategies. Parental absence might be perceived as a stressor affecting decision-making, while
parental involvement could provide coping mechanisms and support, potentially enhancing a
child's decision-making abilities.

Attachment Theory by John Bowlby and expanded upon by Mary Ainsworth. suggests that
a child's early experiences with caregivers shape their ability to form relationships and influence
their decision-making processes later in life. In the context of parental absence, prolonged
separation or inconsistent caregiving might disrupt the formation of secure attachments,
potentially impacting a child's decision-making abilities. Conversely, active parental
involvement fosters secure attachments, providing children with a sense of safety and support.
This theory suggests that children with secure attachments are more likely to develop better
decision-making skills due to their confidence in seeking guidance and support from involved
caregivers.

Understanding how attachment styles and early experiences influence a child's decision-
making could shed light on the differing impacts of parental absence and involvement on this
crucial aspect of child development.

Review of related literature

This study aims to explore the influence of parental absence and parental involvement to
child’s decision-making skills and how they differ from each other. Investigating cases like this
is a fascinating subject.

Parental absence refers to a lack of emotional support for children, which can have
negative effects on their psychological and educational outcomes (Lobos, Juliata & Peñalba,
2019). In contrast, parental involvement is defined as providing guidance and support to children
in making decisions that contribute to their decision-making skills for the future (Rodriguez,
2021).

Decision making, according to Russo (2014), is the process of reaching conclusions about
future actions in order to achieve goals with available resources. Thus, it is crucial for parents to
play an active role in their child's decision making, as it provides guidance, support, and role
models. When parents are absent due to migration or other reasons, it can create a lack of
emotional support and guidance for the child.

A study titled "Consequences of Parental Absence due to Migration: A Qualitative

Inquiry into Adolescent Students' Well-being" found that long-term separation from parents
significantly impacts a child's psychosocial well-being. This can make them vulnerable to
emotional distress such as loneliness and sadness.

Furthermore, research by Zhao et al. (2018) highlights the importance of extended family
members providing support to fill the void left by absent parents for adolescents affecting their
psychosocial well-being and education. On the other hand, when parents are actively involved in
their child's decision-making through interactions with their child, it can enhance their decision-
making skills and contribute to their future success.
 Looking at the other sides of this phenomenon, research conducted by Courtney Weaver,
Riley Laffoon, Shannon Suldo, Robert Dedrick, Maria Rogers, and Kayla LaRosa, stated that
Parental involvement (PI) in children's education is linked to better student outcomes as of 2023,
but little is known about the process by which parents choose to be involved in their children's
education to help then in handling their decision making. The degree of resources and parents'
sense of efficacy had less of an impact than expected.

According to the journal of Popa (2022), the arrival of children brings with its obligations
and challenges that are unique to each family's understanding and management. In order for
parents to participate in their child's decision-making, they must first assume the role of parent,
translate it into desirable behaviors, support their family dynamics, and disclose their general
views about education. Studies have indicated that children's cognitive development, academic
achievement, and self-confidence all improve with increasing parental involvement. Conversely,
kids from households where there is a lack of positive parent-child dynamics will do worse
academically and have less self-assurance in their ability to handle making decisions.

It was discovered to the study of Gergiou (2020), that parents' involvement in their kids'
education and life is a complex behavior that can take many different forms, not all of which are
connected to the kids' academic growth and success in life. Through factor analysis, the
following six forms of parental involvement were found: four distinct parenting tendencies
(emphasizing achievement, pressure, control, and personality development), learning at home,
volunteering, and decision-making at school. A positive and statistically significant correlation
was found between parenting that prioritizes achievement and personality development and
actual school achievement. Conversely, parenting that places pressure on children resulted in a
negative correlation which proves that it affects the decision making of the children.

Based on the study of Environ (2020), Children who are left behind in school suffer grave
consequences both in the short and long term when their parents are absent. Children who are
left behind perform worse on cognitive and academic tests and are less likely to enrol in college.
These children who often experience their parents' absence usually leads to poor performance
and improper life decisions.

Furthermore, a study conducted by Anthony and Amato (2019), found that individuals
who experienced parental absence during childhood were more likely to engage in risky
behaviors, such as substance abuse and early sexual activity. This indicates that parental absence
can have broader implications for individuals' decision-making abilities and overall well-being.
This study contributes to the existing literature by providing empirical evidence of the long-term
effects of parental absence on adult depression. The findings highlight the importance of
considering parental presence and involvement in early childhood as a protective factor against
mental health problems in adulthood.

Moreover, in the study of Amato (2019), it is evident that children who had prolonged
or continuous parental absences as children reported higher rates of depression as adults, which
makes them less capable of making decisions in life. This shows that the stability of mental
health may suffer long-term consequences from parental absence. It was discovered that a
number of factors, including relationship quality, family structure, and socioeconomic status,
were highly significant in moderating the effect of parental absence on mental health outcomes.

In the study conducted by Kerr and Stattin (2019), The main goal is to comprehend how
parental involvement and knowledge affect teenage decision-making and adjustment. This
highlights the importance of parental knowledge in comprehending teenage decision-making.
According to the study, parental knowledge is positively correlated with a reduction in problems
in behavior, delinquency, and adolescent drug and alcohol use. This emphasizes how crucial
parental education is in helping kids make the right decisions and adjust in a positive way.

Based on the study of Flouri and Buchanan (2021), they discovered that father
involvement levels were positively correlated with their children's adolescent mental health
outcomes, including the ability to make wise decisions throughout life. In particular, children
who had more favorable father-child interactions when they were young showed less
internalizing and externalizing behavioral issues when they grew older. According to these
results, fathers' active involvement and presence may have a positive impact on their children's
mental stability and decision making.

Upon reading several studies linked to the present study, the researcher realized that the
presence or absence of parents significantly affects children's well-being and decision-making.
Parental involvement positively impacts children's development, improving decision-making and
mental health. While, parental absence, whether due to migration or other reasons, leads to
negative outcomes like emotional distress and risky behaviors. Different forms of involvement,
correlate with better mental health. Conversely, poor parent-child dynamics result in academic
struggles and reduced confidence in decision-making. Other research emphasizes parental
knowledge in reducing teen behavioral issues, highlighting the crucial role of parental presence,
involvement, and positive interactions in shaping children's well-being and decision-making
skills.

Conceptual Framework

Parental Involvement VS. Parental Absence

Child’s Decision Making

Conceptual definition:
Parental Absence: According to Lobos, Juliata & Peñalba (2019), Parental absence is referred
to as lack of emotional support for the children. While Manczak et al. (2019) posits that parental
absence tend to result impulsivity and risk-taking behaviors in children’s decision-making.
Parental Involvement: Parental involvement is the presence that includes guidance to child’s in
making social and future oriented decisions which contribute to the development of the skills in
decision making. (Rodriguez, 2021)
Decision Making: According to Russo (2014), decision making is the process where a group or
an individual reaches conclusion about what actions to take in the future in order to pursue a
given set of limitations and objectives in available resources.

Statement of the Problem

This study aims to investigate the influence of parental absence and parental involvement
to children, and compare how they differ in decision making. The present study seeks to answer
the following research questions:
1. What are the implications of parental absence on a child's decision making?
2. What are the implications of parental involvement on a child's decision making?
3. How do children with involved parents differ to children with absent parents in making
decisions?
4. What other factors could influence a child’s decision making?

Significance of the Study

This study seeks to investigate how parental involvement and parental absence influence
a child’s decision making and how it contributed in shaping this skill. The expected participants
are individuals at ages 18-30.
Readers: The results of the study will serve as an eye-opener that parental involvement and
parental absence could bring a huge impact to children experiencing this. It could be positive,
negative, or both.

Students: The findings of the study can be used as a guide to help students from various
departments or schools to have a deeper understanding of how children with involved parents
and those with absent parents differ in making decisions. This study will serve as a reminder and
guide for every student, to open their minds in such cases and to help them avoid misjudging
individuals’ way of making decisions affected by parental absence and parental involvement.

Institution: The result of the study will be incorporated into existing schools or off campus
programs, such as seminars for awareness, or extension services which could be a bridge to
developing deeper understanding to those whose decision-making skills were affected by their
parents’ involvement or absence.

Future Researchers: The findings of these study will serve as reference material and a guide for
future researchers who wants to conduct the same research topic or any other study linked to the
influence of parental absence and parental involvement to child’s decision making.

Scope and Limitations

This study focuses on comparing the influence of parental absence and parental
involvement to a child’s decision-making skills. The respondents will be chosen randomly as
long as they are at ages 18-26 (young adults). The responses of each respondent would then be
analyzed in order to answer the research questions.

Method

This chapter delves into the research approach adopted for this study. The following
topics will be addressed within this chapter are Research Design, Participant Recruitment,
Participant Selection, Data Collection, Research Instrument and Data Analysis.

Research Design

This study employs a qualitative research design to investigate the influence of parental
absence and parental involvement to child’s decision making. The researcher will then explore
the difference between children who are experiencing these in terms of their ways on making
decisions.

Participant Recruitment

The participants will be purposely selected. Individuals with absent parents, ages 18-26,
resident of Albay, and those with long-term experience of living without their parents could be
chosen as participants. The other group of participants should be at ages 18-26, residents of
Albay, live with their parent/s, and those whose parents are often involved in their decision
making could also be chosen as participants. The present study will exclude minor individuals,
and those who lives with their parents but are not guided in their decision making, as well as
individuals who live with no parents but are totally supervised in their decision making. Data
collection involves utilization the semi-structured interview questions. The questionnaire will be
used to gather information about participants' experiences of parental absence and parental
involvement and how it contributed in shaping their decision-making skills. Comparison to such
phenomenon will then be done in a form of a narrative analysis.
 The researcher will choose 10 participants qualified to participate in research data
gathering. Specifying 5 individuals with involved parents in their decision making, and 5
individuals with absent parents as well.

Participant Selection

The researcher will employ narrative analysis, a common technique in qualitative

research basing on interview questionnaire as a research instrument. Narrative analysis is a form
of qualitative research in which the stories themselves become the raw data. With the use of
narrative analysis, the data gathered during the interview, comprising participants’ personal
experiences will serve as supporting data to answer the research questions.
Individuals at ages young adults are qualified participants in the present study.

Data Collection

Data collection was implemented through face-to-face interactions, presenting a consent

form signed by the participants before the interview starts. The questionnaire consists 6-item
interview questions to gather data, having separate questionnaire for parental absence and
parental involvement, and is composed of open-ended questions, allowing participants to openly
narrate their experiences of such phenomenon and describe how it influenced them in shaping
decision-making skills.

Research Instrument

The research instrument underwent a validation process. Participants was engaged with a
semi-structured interview questionnaire comprising six open-ended separate questions for
parental absence and parental involvement which let them openly narrate their experiences
needed to answer the research questions. Researcher also used a recorder for analyzing
participants’ responses.

Data Analysis

The present study is a comparative study in which, narrative analysis is the best method
to use in analyzing the data gathered. It involves categorizing and organizing the collected data.
Narrative analysis was employed to provide a comprehensive overview of the research sample.
Researcher classified data from participants’ responses into codes based on research interview
questions.
Findings in Parental Absence

Apparent shaping of decision-making skills

Participants with the absence of parental supervision learned to find their own ways on
developing critical thinking and decision-making skills. In instance, all participants under
parental absence are at least guided by both or one of their parents. However, majority of them
has one parent to lay on. Although they are at least given some support and advice, those advice
they get are not enough to say that their parents really contributed in shaping their skills in
making decisions.

First, Participant 1 (Female, 22), separated parents, financially supported by her father
and is close to her mother, lives in a boarding house with her older brother, stated that, growing
up, they live with their relatives. She was separated from her brother for a long time. They were
reunited when she left her guardian’s house and she turned to college. They were separated from
their parents at a very young age which resulted them to develop their critical thinking skills on
their own. Although they lived with their relatives, they did not depend on them when it comes
on decision making because they’re longing for the guidance and emotional support from their
parents. According to her, she learned how to thing of the possible consequences of every
decision that she will make. And when things go differently as she expected, she knows how to
handle it without the need of consulting it to her parents before settling it up. She has a health
issue but because of their unstable financial status, she came up with an alternative way to treat
this illness without asking much money for her medications. For her, that’s her version resulted
from living on their own and facing challenges without their parents’ supervision. Participant 2
(Female, 20), an eldest child, also lives in a boarding house, grew up with her relatives, separated
parents, and is currently living in a boarding house near her school, said that parental absence
resulted her to develop better decision-making skills. She sees her journey as a better one
because of the freedom she had to choose what she wants to do in her life. According to her, she
expected challenges to come her way but she was able to manage them all on her own. Although
there are times that she gets emotionally distressed, but she’s able to cope up easier with the help
of her friends. Both her parents support her financially. However, they are both physically and
emotionally distant from her which resulted her to figure things out on her own and develop
skills in decision making. She also stated that her guardians and grandmother contributed a lot in
her skills in decision making which seems to help her prevent deciding impulsively. Participant 3
(Female, 23), also has separated parents, an only child, and lives in a boarding house near her
school. She was eager and open before and during participation in an interview. According to
her, the absence of her parents made her decision-making skills more negative than positive. She
said that her parents did not bring much of an involvement in some aspects of her life because of
being emotionally and physically distant and that absence highly affected her ways on making
decisions in life. Because of the absence, she tried to teach herself to make sound choices but it
often results an unpleasant outcome which she accepts and takes as a lesson. Participant 4 (Male,
24) is the older brother of Participant 1. And according to him, the absence of their parents
affected him positively, and negatively in terms of decision making. As an eldest, it is a huge
challenge for him to live separately from their parents and guardians. He has to take
responsibility of their safety, welfare, fees, etc. He has to develop ways on how to manage being
the one to look on his sister, on how to remind her to take responsibility of every decision she
makes, and how to consider things before committing an action. He said that he learned to fix
things when messed up. Lastly, Participant 5(Female, 23) also stated that the absence of her
parents significantly contributed in shaping her decision-making skills both positively and
negatively. It positively impacted her by learning to be cautious in every decision she makes. In
terms of decision making, she learned to become independent at a very young age. And as an
eldest child, she always considers how her decisions might affect or influence her siblings.
However, when upset or frustrated, she tends to be impulsive which leads her to making risky
decisions.

Precisely, Participant 1 grew up with separated parents, living in a boarding house with
her older brother. Despite being raised by relatives, they developed independent critical thinking
skills due to parental absence. Reunited in college, she learned to consider consequences and
handle challenges without relying on her parents, navigating health issues creatively amidst
financial instability. Participant 2, the eldest child, embraced parental absence for the freedom it
provided in shaping her life. Managing challenges independently, she coped with occasional
emotional distress with support from friends. Financially supported but emotionally distant
parents compelled her to develop decision-making skills, aided by guardians and her
grandmother. Participant 3, an only child, experienced a negative impact on decision-making due
to emotionally and physically distant parents. Despite attempts to teach herself sound choices,
the absence resulted in unpleasant outcomes, viewed as valuable lessons. Participant 4, the older
brother of Participant 1, faced positive and negative impacts of parental absence. As the eldest,
he navigated challenges, taking responsibility for his sister's well-being and learning to fix issues
when they arose. Participant 5 acknowledged both positive and negative influences of parental
absence on decision-making. Learning caution and independence early on, she considered her
siblings in decisions but occasionally succumbed to impulsivity during moments of frustration.

Other factors influencing decision making

Direct supervision of parents is important in giving better direction to children. However,

its absence allows individuals to develop ways on how to help themselves in shaping and
enhancing their decision-making skills. They developed different ways of coping, influencing
their ways of handling life changes of independently making decisions.

For Participant 1 (Female, 22), one of the factors that significantly contribute in shaping
her decision-making skills is her peers (friends). They provide different perspectives and
insights, presenting her different options to consider in making sound choices. The advices she
gets from her peers, are beneficial for her in making decisions. next is family and family
members. For her, their wisdom and experiences help her more thoughtful and careful of making
decisions. In instance, their expectations also matter to her. It brings impact to her preferences in
deciding on her own. She said that their diverse insights bring learnings, strengthening her
decision-making skills even more. Lastly, she considers her environment as one of the significant
contributors in shaping her decision-making skills. In school, the attitude and behavior of her
schoolmates or classmates serve as an example for her to perform better. She learned to observe,
reflect and adapt. She learned how to weigh situations and think of the best solution before
committing an action. The diverse wisdom, insights, lessons and advices from those factors helps
her enhance her decision-making skills. Participant 2 (Female, 20) also considers her peers,
family, family members, and environment significant contributors in shaping her decision-
making skills. According to her, even though she grew up without the presence of her parents,
she has her grandmother and other guardians who provided her guidance and supervision. she
said that their words of wisdom serve as a lecture to her. Her peers present her different insights
where they can relate with each other, reflect and learn from it. Lastly, the environment she
belongs. She learned to observe people around and see the positive and negative characteristics
that she thinks might impact her in enhancing her decision-making skills. It helped her to
improve self-awareness and self-judgment. Those factors serve as an eye-opener to her in
different perspectives. Although she faced different challenges, she allows herself to learn and be
a better version of herself. Participant 3 (Female, 23) mostly considers peers and environment as
a factor in shaping her skills in decision making. She gets different insights and perspectives
from her peers which helps her figure out the better or best decision to make. Her environment
presented her different views to consider in making decisions and she stated that she learned to
adapt to it. According to her, she spends more time with her friends rather than her family and
she finds it really helpful to decide on things. The advices and validations she got affect or
impact her the most. For Participant 4 (Male, 24), the other factors that influenced him in
shaping his decision-making skills are peers, and the environment he belongs. He doesn’t usually
tell people about his problems however he prefers laying on his peers’ worldviews in relation to
their common situations. He said that his environment presents him diversities in which he come
to be more thoughtful of the differences and take them as a guide on making his own preferences
to consider before making decisions. the different perspectives, insights and worldviews he
witnesses from his peers and environment brings a huge contribution in shaping, reshaping or
enhancing his decision-making skills. Lastly, Participant 5 (Female, 23) considers her peers
(close friends), environment, and family (mother and siblings) in making decisions. She is very
certain about the characteristics of whom she would trust, share her life story to, and consider
getting advices from. Her close friends are the ones who know more about herself because there
are things that she keeps from her family, preventing them to worry about her or adapt the
negative attitude and behavior she developed. She considers her environment as an eye-opener,
allowing her to see different side of the situations around her. She discovered a clearer view of
its positive and negative sides, resulting her to figure out the best options to consider in making
decisions. Finally, she always considers her mother and sibling in every decision to make. She
always thinks how it will affect them. As an eldest child, it’s her responsibility and obligation to
take accountability of her every action. She always bares in mind that she has to be the best
example for her siblings because she believes she is the substitute of their absent parents.
 To sum it up, Participant 1 acknowledges the significant impact of peers on her decision-
making skills, citing diverse perspectives and insights from friends as valuable. Family, with its
wisdom and expectations, further influences her choices, making her more thoughtful. Her
environment, notably the school setting, acts as a source of examples, fostering observation and
adaptation, thus enhancing her decision-making abilities. Similarly, Participant 2 credits peers,
family, family members, and her environment as crucial contributors to her decision-making.
Despite growing up without parents, guidance from her grandmother and guardians provides
valuable wisdom. Peers offer relatable insights, while the environment enhances self-awareness
and judgment, allowing her to be a better version of herself despite facing challenges. Participant
3 primarily considers peers and environment in shaping her decision-making skills. Insights from
friends aid her in figuring out better decisions, and her adaptability to diverse views in her
environment contributes significantly to her choices. Spending more time with friends than
family, she finds their advice and validations impactful. For Participant 4 peers and environment
play pivotal roles in decision-making. Preferring not to share his problems, he relies on peers'
worldviews and embraces the diversities in his environment to guide his preferences before
making decisions. The varied perspectives and insights from peers and surroundings contribute
significantly to shaping and enhancing his decision-making skills. Lastly, Participant 5 considers
close friends, environment, and family crucial in decision-making. Trusting her close friends
with personal matters, she values their insights over family due to concerns about causing worry.
Her environment serves as an eye-opener, offering a clearer view of situations and helping her
figure out the best options. As the eldest child, she feels a responsibility to be the best example
for her siblings, considering their absent parents.

Developing self-composed personality due to parental absence in decision making

One of the most common answers from the respondents about the advantage of parental
absence for them is developing independence. Unlike people who grew up with direct
supervision of parents, they can handle challenges without the need of reaching out to their
parents. It helps them more flexible in facing different tricky situations.

Participant 1(Female, 22) she learned responsibility and accountability in every decision
that she makes. Participant 2 (Female, 20) believes that her choice or belief of what is right and
wrong is under her control. Therefore, when she makes mistakes in making decisions, it’s her
responsibility to face. And she faces that responsibility by reflecting on it, and learning from it.
She said that the absence of her parents left her no choice but to fight on her own and fight for
herself which helped her to be more thoughtful and independent. Despite the absence, she still
performs well in school because she found a strong support system from her friends who
motivates her and influenced her to work hard to achieve their goals as a student. Participant 3
(Female, 23) stated that she finds support system and reflection on things to turn out right. She
develops an attitude of being passive. Whatever happens, she just let it be. She said that she’s
does not dwell a lot of her mistakes. She always allows herself to see the positive in those
mistakes. Participant 4 (Male,24) stated that their parents’ absence created a strong personality
who can stand alone in the middle of the fight. According to participant 5 (Female, 23), their
parents’ absence shaped her into a mature and responsible individual who is open enough to
accept the down part of the reality around her and face the consequences of her decisions
whenever it ended up negatively. “I can say that I become more thoughtful and independent.

Academic, emotional, and psychological effects of parental absence on child’s decision

making

Parental absence brings fewer advantages and more disadvantages in terms of bahavior,
attitude, and academic performance. Participants developed insecurities and trust issues, socially
affecting them.

According to Participant 1 (Female, 22), she learned responsibility and accountability in

making decisions in life. she became cautious before deciding and it also negatively affected her
academic performance. There are times that she gets mentally exhausted, causing her not to be
able to focus in doing her school works. As a result, instead of working on it, she feels the urge
to take a rest which resulted her to cram and submit her outputs later that the due date. It
increases her absence and instances of being late in her classes. She said that there were several
times when she needed her parents so desperately but because they live on their own, and their
parents are busy on work, she forced herself to overcome those challenges. She often does self-
comfort and self-motivation, resulting her to feel self-pity. It also affected her behavior
negatively by acting impulsively. She developed insecurities and trust issues. She feels unsafe
when introduced to new people and she always observe them whether she can trust them or not.
These behavior and attitude were developed due to experiencing criticisms, betrayals, and abuse.
She became an alcohol-dependent because it allows her to temporarily forget her problems.
Additionally, she finds it fun to be with her friends as it helps her to cheer herself. However, in
order to survive, she tried to be mentally and emotionally strong just to be able to face the next
challenges of life. Participant 2 (Female, 20) stated that she grew up getting what she wants with
her decisions which resulted her to easily lose her temper and act unreasonably whenever things
ended up differently from the way she wanted. Since her parents both afford to support her
enough financially, she tends to spend too much money for unimportant or unnecessary things,
resulting to poor budgeting. She thinks it’s something that she needs to work out. In instance,
Participant 3 (Female, 23) tends to overthink a lot. She stated that it’s one of the negative
behavior she developed due to absence of parents’ supervision. She constantly needs validation
from her friends even on little things that she needs to decide. She said that she became timid and
she often feels unsure of what to do. She finds it challenging to prevent wasting time and money
for unnecessary things just to be able to find peace and comfort, as a consequence, she faces the
negative outcome of poor budgeting. Those challenges made her come up with wrong decisions
sometimes. According to Participant 4 (Male, 24), the absence of their parents brought negative
impact on his behavior and attitude. He became less confident and socially distant. He became
less motivated in meeting his responsibilities as a student. In fact, he’s still a 2nd year college
student while his younger sister is already a 3rd year in college. He is not in good terms with his
parents for a reason of dropping out in school for two years. He did it to prioritize his sister’s
studied because he knows that they are facing financial problems. As a result, he feels a sense of
shame of being left behind in his studies. He said that there are times that he feels like a failure
and it’s been a reason why he is less motivated to succeed. It affected his behavior and attitude
by being a short-tempered older brother. He often nags his sister, causing them to argue more
often. Participant 5 (Female, 23) stated that the absence resulted her to be as cautious as she can,
having the sense of responsibility for her siblings. She grew up as a shy person, resulting her not
to participate more in class. When she gets too overwhelmed and exhausted of her
responsibilities as an eldest child, things turn to be toxic for her. Especially their family setting
(family members). She said that they faced huge challenges and traumatic events in life which
significantly affected her social life and academic performance. She easily loses motivation,
resulting her to be unable to focus on her classes. She tends to skip classes and attend classes and
hour or minutes before its dismissal. She tends to cram, miss quizzes and exams, and pass
outputs behind the due date. Those life challenges they’ve faced, affected their emotional and
mental stability. As a result, they became more protective of their well-being, creating firm
protection to avoid any harm they can get from their environment. They developed trust issues,
resulting them to be very cautious in choosing whom to trust, affecting their social lives.

In conclusion, Participant 1 learned responsibility and accountability in decision-making

but faced negative consequences. The pressure led to mental exhaustion, impacting academic
performance. Desperate for parental support, she overcame challenges alone, developing self-
pity, impulsivity, insecurities, and trust issues. Alcohol dependency became an escape, and
although she finds joy with friends, she strives to be emotionally strong to face life's challenges.
Participant 2 grew up getting what she wanted, leading to temper issues when outcomes differed.
Financial support from both parents resulted in poor budgeting, a habit she recognizes and aims
to improve. Participant 3, developed overthinking due to the absence of parental supervision.
Seeking validation from friends, she became timid, unsure, and struggled with time and budget
management. Occasionally making wrong decisions, she faces the consequences of poor
budgeting. Participant 4 experienced negative impacts due to absent parents. Lacking confidence
and motivation, he prioritized his sister's education, leading to strained relations with his parents.
Feeling like a failure, he becomes a short-tempered older brother, resulting in frequent
arguments. Participant 5 became cautious and responsible due to parental absence. Challenges
and traumatic events in the family affected her social and academic life. Overwhelmed, she faces
toxicity, skipping classes, and developing trust issues for protection, impacting her social life and
mental stability.

Findings in Parental Involvement:

Apparent shaping decision-making skills

Participants for parental involvement stated that they were guided while growing up
specially in their career and studies. According to them, they were emotionally supported which
made them feel secured and confident of the possible outcomes of their decisions in life.
However, they have different perspectives about how their decision-making skills were shaped.

Participant 1 (Male, 23) stated that his decisions became more aligned to what is the right
thing to do which makes him a better person. Participant 2 (Female 23) described parental
involvement in her decision making as a role play in shaping her worldview and choices.
Additionally, according to her, it boosts her confidence in making the best decisions in life.
Participant 3 (Female, 24) stated that the advises she get from her parents reprimand her
whenever she does something irrationally. Participant 4 (Female, 23) stated that all of her
decisions were carefully thought before she commits an action which helped her develop critical
thinking skills and proper decision making. Participant 5 (Female, 25) shared a wider perspective
of dependence and independence. According to her, her parents’ values and principles in life
guided her in making decisions. she was introduced with different ways on how she could be
independent in making decisions in life. It helped her to be more confident and responsible about
her own decisions. Lastly, she said that parental involvement helped in developing her critical
thinking skills. She was raised that way because she is the eldest child. However, there are times
that she’s still longing for their guidance.

Other factors influencing decision making

Growing up, participants were exposed to different factors that contributed in shaping
their decision-making skills. Some of the common factors that they share based on their
responses are peers, family/family members and environment.
Participant 1 (Male,23) has the different answer. For him, aside from parents, he thinks
it's the school; the teachers. He prefers school as a second home, and teachers as a second parents
who help him learn and improve his wisdom. According to him, the school and the teachers
contributed in shaping g his decision-making skills by giving weekly, monthly tests or exams
that runs his mind and help develop his critical thinking which also help to improve his skills in
making decisions. according to participant 2 (Female, 23), besides parental guidance, the other
factors like input from peers, interactions with extended family, and relationships with
significant others (close friends and family members) play a crucial role in shaping decision-
making skills. She said that the environment also influences her approach to choices, as different
settings may present unique challenges or opportunities that impact decisions. she describes it as
a mix of various influences that come together to shape how I navigate through decision-making.
For her, her peers offer diverse perspectives and experiences which helps in broadening her
understanding of different viewpoints. She also stated that interactions with extended family
provide a broader family context, introducing additional values and insights. Moreover, her
significant others bring a more intimate perspective, influencing her decisions on a personal
level. For her, all of these factors contribute to a well-rounded approach which helps her develop
adaptable and informed decision-making skills. Moving on, participant 3 (Female, 24) stated that
each influence may offer unique perspectives and experiences that could impact her to make
sound judgments. For her, peers can provide diverse viewpoints and experiences, while extended
family and family members may offer cultural and generational insights. Significant others can
contribute emotional support, and the environment plays a role in shaping adaptability and
resilience, all influencing decision-making skills. Now, based on the experiences of Participant 5
(Female, 23), the other factors that brought a huge contribution in shaping her decision- making
skills are peers, family members (siblings), as well as the environment she belongs. With their
life experiences, she ended up learning from them. For instance, they made bad decisions in life
that eventually fell to negative outcomes so what she does in order to overcome this is preventing
herself to repeat what they have done and see the lesson she might get from it which will
probably help her to improve decision-making skills. Lastly, Participant 5 (Female, 25) also
consider her family members and their welfare in her decisions. furthermore, she considers the
opinion of her peers (friends). Recently, she came to also consider her environment. According
to her, as an eldest child, she gives importance to the well-being of her family. She thinks of
ways on how she could help and that in how her family contributed in shaping her skills in
decision making by making her see what’s the most important for her. her friends also help her
explore different options and opinions. “They also help me decide things that I couldn’t tell my
family”, she added. Finally, the environment she belongs is also influential. Through interacting
and observing different people, it helped her see, rethink, and strengthen her decisions in life.

Precisely, Participant 1 stands out with a unique perspective, viewing school and teachers
as integral influences in shaping his decision-making skills. He considers school a second home,
with teachers acting as second parents, guiding him through tests and exams that enhance critical
thinking and decision-making skills. Participant 2 emphasizes a multifaceted approach to
decision-making, citing parental guidance, peer input, interactions with extended family, and
relationships with significant others. She describes how these factors contribute to a well-
rounded decision-making approach, providing diverse perspectives and experiences. Participant
3 acknowledges the impact of various influences on decision-making, with peers offering diverse
viewpoints, extended family providing cultural insights, and significant others contributing
emotional support. The environment, she notes, plays a role in shaping adaptability and
resilience. Participant 4 draws on experiences with peers, family members (siblings), and her
environment as significant contributors to her decision-making skills. Learning from others'
mistakes, she strives to avoid repeating them and sees lessons that improve her decision-making
abilities. Lastly, Participant 5 considers family members' welfare, peers' opinions, and her
environment in decision-making. As the eldest child, she prioritizes her family's well-being and
values her friends' diverse perspectives. The environment, through interactions and observations,
strengthens and refines her decisions in life.

Advantages of parental involvement to decision making on child’s behavior, attitude,

reasoning, academics, and preferences in making decisions

Getting direct support and guidance is beneficial as it brings positive contribution in

shaping skills in decision making. Unreasonable attitude and behavior are likely to be corrected,
and rational thinking is likely to be developed. Parental involvement serves as a direction to a
course of action with a positive outcome. Participants shared different insights of how their
parents’ involvement positively impacted their decision-making skills. They are taught to be
nice, humble, understanding, and mindful of how to treat others. They also develop critical
thinking skills while enhancing their skills in making decisions.

For Participant 1 (Male, 23), he was told not to look down on others. His mother died
when he was in elementary. But they have their father to provide for him and his siblings. His
father always reminds him to think for an outcome before committing an action. Because of
those advices, he grew up being careful of harming others whenever he makes decisions. He is
very well-motivated as a student. He said that he always made it to the top 10 (in class and in the
whole batch when he was in senior high school). In fact, he was a consistent honor student and
he graduated as a cumlaude in college. According to him, parental involvement shaped his
personality positively as it made him a positive thinker who never gives up easily in every
challenge he might face. Participant 2 (Female, 23) described her parents as her life coaches who
taught her how to properly treat others, why honesty matters and how to handle tough situations.
It taught her how to behave and act accordingly towards others, how she sees the world with
different viewpoints, and how she grows as a person. She stated that she is very satisfied with her
personality because she grew up being able to accept things and think critically in every situation
she might face. She was an honor student who receives different award as result of her parents’
way to motivate and cheer her up in achieving her goals as a student. Participant 3 (Female, 24)
stated that she was positively impacted of parental involvement in such ways that she always
come to think of the pros and cons of every decision she makes. Besides of having the idea of the
possible outcomes, she is also taught to consider people that might be affected by her decision.
For her, making decisions with direct parental guidance and support always leads her to a best
outcome. It also helped her to avoid regretting afterwards. As a result, she grew up being
cautious and reasonable as much as possible. She also learned how to disregard advices that she
think would not bring any help. However, things are not as good as it is when it comes to her
academic performance. Participant 4 (Female, 23) grew up with her parents, but is separated
when she turned to college. From Batangas, she travelled to Albay for her studies. She is
currently living in a boarding house near her school. According to her, her parents told her that
not all the time, they can be with her. Therefore, she needs to learn how to decide on her own.
She also said that there are times that she makes the wrong decision but always thinks positively
and learn from it. Her parents are not educated enough to help her in school works. However,
they did not let it be a reason for them not to be able to guide and support her in her journey as a
student. She stated that their absence in her college life did not compromise much in her
academic performance because she was raised to be dependent of herself when it comes to her
studies. As a result, she still performs well academically. Her parents’ teachings made her grow
as a respectful person who is always open to accept different perspectives. Also, she is nice in
making friends, and she knows how to treat people well. She knows how to handle tough
situations and act accordingly. Lastly, Participant 5 (Female, 25) stated that parental involvement
helped her to be more mindful, careful, and seek for options before deciding. According to her,
big or small, decisions and actions has its consequence which is the reason why she feels the
need to be careful in every decision to make. In a sense, it made her open to others. Instead of
rushing into a sudden decision, she choose to consider different options in order to come up with
the best solution. She gives a huge importance in listening. The advices she got from her parents
resulted her to question herself first like “if I would do this, how will it end up for me?” or “if I
do this, will it be worth it?”. Moreover, she said that it creates inner courage for her to discover
more about herself and explore her potentials. Parental involvement also positively impacted her
academic performance. She was a consistent honor student since elementary. She was the top 1
on GAS strand when she was in senior high school. And she graduated as cumlaude in Bicol
University. She is a humble person and she is helpful to anyone who needs help. She is matured
and understanding. And she always considers others when making decisions.

To sum it up, Participant 1 attributes his success to parental guidance after losing his
mother in elementary school. His father's advice to think before acting shaped him into a positive
thinker and diligent student. Regularly making it to the top 10, he became a consistent honor
student and graduated cumlaude in college, showcasing the positive impact of parental
involvement on his personality and academic achievements. Participant 2 views her parents as
life coaches, teaching her values like honesty and guiding her through challenging situations.
Satisfied with her personality and critical thinking abilities, she credits her parents for motivating
her to achieve academic goals, resulting in numerous awards. Participant 3 highlights the
positive impact of parental involvement on decision-making. Considering pros and cons and the
potential impact on others, she values direct parental guidance, leading to favorable outcomes
and minimizing regrets. Despite challenges in academic performance, she grew up as a cautious
and reasonable individual. Participant 4 learned independence when her parents couldn't be with
her in college. Despite the physical separation, their teachings made her academically successful
and developed her into a respectful, open-minded person capable of handling tough situations
and making friends easily. Participant 5 emphasizes the importance of parental involvement in
making mindful and careful decisions. Seeking options before deciding, she values listening and
questioning herself, leading to inner courage, self-discovery, and exploring her potentials. This
involvement positively impacted her academic performance, graduating cumlaude while
maintaining humility and consideration for others in decision-making.

Negative implications of parental involvement to decision making

The most common disadvantage of parental involvement in decision making is being

dependent. This is the first reason why participants struggle when facing a serious situation
where they have to make decision. They tend to feel lost without their parents’ supervision.
However, they still learn to adjust themselves.

Participant 1 (Male, 23) said that people tend to have a deteriorate or low decision-
making skills due to parental involvement. He said that there are times when he needs his
father’s constant guidance in order to come up with a decision. If that constant guidance is not
met, he become abundant to regretful decisions because of committing an action with unsure
results. Participant 2 (Female, 23) imagined herself without her parents and she said that she
might miss out their wisdom and support which makes her decision making a bit tricky. She said
she might struggle to learn certain values which could negatively affect her behavior, attitude
and personality. She describes herself as a superhero without a mentor who still figures things
out on her own. “I feel lost without their guidance”, she added. She also acts impulsively when
frustrated. she finds it challenging to make decisions on her own. She describes the absence of
her parents as a feeling of navigating through unfamiliar territory and she admits that she feels so
lucky to be guided by her parents. However, Participant 3 (Female, 24) stated that sometimes,
being too much dependent on what her parents says creates damage to her own way of thinking.
As she discusses further, she said that it negatively affected her mental health. As a result, she
gave way for herself to consider herself when being dictated by her parents. She stated that not
all the time, parents know best. Because sometimes, they make firm decisions to be obliged, not
considering how it would affect their children’s emotions and mental state. However, even if she
taught herself to make decisions on her own, she still considers her parent’s advice because of a
feeling of something is wrong when she decides without their wisdom. For Participant 4
(Female, 23), her decisions without her parents’ guidance are not as good as it is when she is
being guided. She tends to make unsure decisions which ended up negatively in which, she
reflects, learns, and adjust on her own. Participant 5 (Female, 25) was taught to decide
independently however, she still sees herself being dependent to her parents in such ways that
she still considers what they might feel or think about her in committing some decisions. She
tends to overthink and underestimate her own ways of making decisions and this is what she sees
as a negative part of parental involvement.

Discussions and Conclusion

The study was an exploration and comparison of the influence of parental absence and
parental involvement to children’s decision-making skills. It is clear from the above findings that
the absence and presence of parental supervision bring a huge impact and influence to children’s
decision-making skills.

Participants under parental involvement stated that they were guided while growing up
especially in their career and studies. According to them, they were emotionally supported which
made them feel secured and confident of the possible outcomes of their decisions in life. they
developed different perspectives about how their decision-making skills were shaped. Getting
direct support and guidance is beneficial as it brings positive contribution in shaping skills in
decision making. Unreasonable attitude and behavior are likely to be corrected, and rational
thinking is likely to be developed. Parental involvement serves as a direction to a course of
action with a positive outcome. Participants shared different insights of how their parents’
involvement positively impacted their decision-making skills. They are taught to be nice,
humble, understanding, and mindful of how to treat others. Although, only two participants were
taught to decide independently (Participant 4 and Participant 5), each of them developed critical
thinking skills while enhancing their skills in making decisions. The most common disadvantage
of parental involvement in decision making is dependency toward their parents. This is the first
reason why participants struggle when facing a serious situation where they have to make
decisions on their own. They tend to feel lost and impulsive without their parents’ supervision.
despite the challenges they face, they still learn to adjust themselves little by little. Growing up,
they were exposed to different factors that contributed in shaping their decision-making skills.
Some of the common factors that they share based on their responses are peers, family/family
members and environment. However, Participant 1 referred school and teachers as a factor that
brought a significant impact in shaping his decision-making skills. He provided ways in which
the school and teachers help to enhance his skills in decision making. These ways are monthly or
weekly tests or exams. He stated that it helps to develop his critical thinking skills, extending to
his decision-making skills. Aside from Participant 1, only Participant 2 included her significant
others (close friends and family members) as a huge contributor in shaping her skills in decision
making, stating that they influenced her approach to others.

In contrast, participants under parental absence learned to find their own ways on
developing critical thinking and decision-making skills. In instance, all participants under
parental absence are at least guided by both or one of their parents. However, majority of them
has one parent to lay on. Although they are at least given some support and advices, those
advices they get are not enough to say that their parents really contributed in shaping their skills
in making decisions. One of the most common answers from the respondents about the
advantage of parental absence for them is developing independence. Among them, only
participant 5 lives with her siblings, the rest are boarders. They are all able to handle life
challenges without the need of supervision from their parents. It helps them more flexible in
facing different tricky situations. Parental absence brings fewer advantages and more
disadvantages in terms of bahavior, attitude, and academic performance. In fact, Participant 1
from parental absence even developed drinking habits because according to her, it is where she
temporarily forgets her problems and her friends help her cope up easier. They even developed
insecurities and trust issues, socially, and academically affecting them. Direct supervision of
parents is important in giving better direction to children. However, its absence allows
individuals to develop ways on how to help themselves in shaping and enhancing their decision-
making skills. Only Participant 4 and Participant 5 shares about their preference of considering
their siblings in every decision they make for a reason of being the eldest child. All of them
developed different ways of coping, influencing their ways of handling life changes of
independently making decisions.

In conclusion, parental involvement plays a crucial role in providing guidance, emotional

support, and correction of behaviors, which positively contribute to the development of decision-
making skills in individuals. However, excessive parental involvement can lead to dependency,
hindering the ability to make independent decisions. Conversely, participants under parental
absence often develop independence but may face challenges such as insecurities, trust issues,
and mental health issues. While direct parental supervision is important, its absence allows
individuals to find their own ways of shaping and enhancing their decision-making skills. Both
scenarios present unique advantages and disadvantages, ultimately influencing individuals'
approaches to decision-making and their ability to navigate life's challenges independently. It's
important for parents to strike a balance between providing support and allowing space for their
children to develop autonomy in decision-making.
REFERENCES
 Amato, P. R., & Anthony, C. J. (2019). Parental Absence during Childhood and Adult

Depression in a Community Sample. https://doi.org/10.1111/jomf.12137

 Eleonora Mihaela Popa. 2022. Reflections and Perspectives on Parental Involvement.

https://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?handle=hein.journals/techssj30&div=9&id=&p

age=

 Flouri, E., & Buchanan, A. (2021). The Role of Father Involvement in Children's Later

Mental Health. https://doi.org/10.1006/jado.2002.0507

 Int J. Environ Les Public Health. 2020. National Library of Medicine.

 Jeffrey DC. Lobos, Bianca M. Juliata, & Ericson H. Peñalba. Volume 8. (2019).

Consequences of Parental Absence due to Migration: A Qualitative Inquiry into

Adolescent Students’ Well-being. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

 Jordan, L. P., & Graham, E. (2012). Resilience and well-being among children of

migrant parents in South-East Asia. Child development, 83(5), 1672–1688.

https://doi.org/10.1111/j.14678624.2012.01810.x

 Karinna Anne Rodriguez. Parental Influences on Children’s Decisions Making. (2021).

https://digitalcommons.unf.edu/etd

 Kayla LaRosa, Julia A. Ogg, Robert Dedrick, Shannon Suldo, Maria Rogers, Riley

Laffoon & Courtney Weaver. (2023) Parent Involvement in Education as Predictors of

Social–Emotional Strengths in Kindergartners. School Psychology.

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/citedby/10.3200/JOER.100.5.311-323?

scroll=top&needAccess=true
 Kerr, M., & Stattin, H. (2019). What Parents Know, How They Know It, and Several

Forms of Adolescent Adjustment: Further Support for a Reinterpretation of Monitoring.

https://doi.org/10.1037/0012-1649.36.3.366

 Retrieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7559575/

 S Victor Anthonyraj. 2019. Development and validation of perceived parental

involvement. https://openurl.ebsco.com/openurl?

sid=ebsco:plink:scholar&id=ebsco:gcd:134952106&crl=c

 Stelios N. Gergiou. 2020. Parental Involvement: Definition and Outcomes. Social

Psychology. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF02339890

 Zhao, C., Wang, F., Zhou, X., Jiang, M., & Hesketh, T. (2018). Impact of parental

migration on psychosocial well-being of children left behind: A qualitative study in

rural China. International Journal for Equity in Health, 17(1), 80.

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-018-0795-z