Chapter i

Chapter I Introduction Background of the Study An important institutional element of the family is marriage. It is the cultural mechanism that ensures its continuity. Marriage is an institution consisting of clusters of mores and folkways, of attitudes, ideas and ideals, of social definitions and legal restrictions. Marriage is a special contract of permanent union between a man and a woman entered into accordance with law for the establishment of conjugal and family life (http//: www. learningpartnership. org/resources/legislation/nationallaw/phils (2007). It is the foundation of the family, an inviolable social institution, the purpose of which may not necessarily be for procreation or to have children but for companionship as in the case of couples past the age of procreation. Almost half of all new marriages in the United States end in divorce. In the Philippine setting, divorce is non-existent partly because the Filipinos are naturally religious individuals and the fact that the Church, especially the Catholic Church, does not acknowledge the idea of separation and annulment. Still, the option of legal separation or annulment of troubled marriages is prevalent in our country especially among the upper and middle classes, while desertion or informal separation is common among the lower social classes (Reyes, 2004). Apparently, some parents place their own happiness before the good of their children. Others are more conscientious and terminate their marriage precisely to save their children form dysfunctional family situation. In either case, the children are always the victims, although not the only ones to suffer. The society would like to minimize this suffering. The researchers were eager to know what makes a relationship of separated couples very brief, thus weakening the bond between husbands and wives, parents and child. Or in some cases, relationships stand long enough in trying to save the marriage. Later, when the situation becomes intolerable, repressed feelings and pent-up emotions explode which could lead to the ending of the relationship. Indeed, separation becomes inevitable in any way. There are many conditions that affect the stability of marital life and which may often lead to marital dissolution. Some of these conditions are number of children, social class, similarity of background, time of marriage, time at which the couple become parents, reason for marriage, economic status, parental model and ordinal position in childhood family. However, it is important to realize that not one of these conditions alone is likely to lead to separation, annulment or divorce. Instead a constellation of causes is far more responsible. Certain conditions only contribute to poor marital adjustments but may not necessarily be the actual causes of breakup (Hurlock, 1982). Could the factors or conditions that exist before or after the marriage be associated with the length of the marital relationship of separated couples? Can these conditions alone determine which individuals were most likely to experience marital breakup? These are some of the questions that the researchers will try to answer in this study. Statement of the Problem This study aims to determine the contributing factors to the length of marital relationship of separated couples in Barangay San Miguel Puerto Princesa City. 1. What is the distribution of the respondents in terms of the following variables: A. Pre-existing Factors a. Educational attainment b. Parent’s marital status c. Length of engagement d. Practice of premarital sex e. Similarity of religion B. Existing Factors a. Domestic setting b. Time of parenthood 2. What is the distribution of the respondents in terms of the length of marital relationship? 3. Is there a significant relationship between the pre-existing factors and the length of marital relationship? 4. Is there a significant relationship between the existing factors and the length of marital relationship? Significance of the Study This study provides important information regarding the factors that typically caused the marital breakup of selected respondents from one of the biggest barangays in Puerto Princesa City. The findings in this study may be useful to the different sectors in the community, to further understand the dynamics of unsuccessful marriages and the aspects that are inducted within the marital relationship. It will also facilitate their awareness of the reasons and the probable causes of marital breakup, because there is a need to know what went wrong in the relationship of separated couples. For every family unit, this study will try to enlighten some issues on the causal factors that may lead to separation of the couple, as well the contributing factors for the length of marriage. Knowledge about these things plays a role in helping to maintain marriage and how to strengthen the family. For the children of separated couples, it may help them realize that there are factors that may affect their parent’s break-up. For the students, it will provide valuable insights to guide them in making decisions with regards to selecting a future partner, by knowing that married couples will have to plan preventive measures for any serious marital problems they will encounter in order to improve and cope with their relationships and learn how to deal with problems effectively, thereby facilitating prevention by providing alternative ways in solving problems. To Psychology major students, the result of this study can be used as a baseline data in studying marital relationship and will help them formulate hypothesis that can be beneficial in deciding their own study. Finally, this study aims to emphasize to every individual that a stable family is built upon the combined parental love and unified parental force in order to make children grow into mature, responsible, and upright citizens of society. Scope and Delimitation of the Study This study concentrated on the pre-existing factors such are educational attainment, parent’s marital status, length of engagement, practice of premarital sex and similarity of religion; existing factors at marriage such are domestic setting and time of parenthood which may be related to the length of marital relationship. The locale of this study, using cluster sampling was reduced from all barangays of the city to only one barangay. Population and size was considered to reduce time and financial expenses, thus Barangay San Miguel. The respondents of this study were those residents of Barangay San Miguel Puerto Princesa City, specifically those who were married to their former spouse and undergone legal separation or deserted by said spouse for at least 3 years at the time of this study. They had biological child/children with the former spouse. And who are presently living with or without another family. This study was conducted during the school year 2007-2008. The researchers have tried to consider the entire population of separated couples of Puerto Princesa City, but due to the lack of information about the total population, financial and time constraints, the researchers decided to concentrate on one specific area only. The researchers also tried to consider several other variables such are birth order position; roles and responsibilities of the husband/wife; intellectual and social skills; religious factors, and several other factors, but doing so will consume more time in accomplishing the research and that hinder the researchers. Chapter II Theoretical Framework This chapter presents review of related literatures, which are related to this study. Review of Related Literature People marry for a variety of reasons — emotional, social, economic and political among others. Although most people marry for love, it is not possible to predict which marriages will be successful because the landscape of marital satisfaction and conflict is immense and complex (Kaplan and Sadock, 1998). Many studies have been conducted to study the quality of marital relationships, using such concepts as “ marital adjustment”, “ happiness”, and “ conflict” (Christiansen et al., 1993 as cited by Simons et al., 1994). Although marriage tends to be regarded as permanent ties, unsuccessful unions may be terminated, as indeed they are in most societies. Recently, separation, annulment and divorce had been the last resort of many families who had unhappy marriages (Simons et al., 1994). Divorce is the culmination of poor marital adjustment and comes when husband and wife have been unable to find satisfactory solution to their problems, where conflicts are never well handled, and fight becomes a chronic source of despair (Kaplan and Sadock, 1998). Many unhappy marriages do not end in divorce because of religious, moral and other reasons, but some marriages end in annulment, legal or informal separation, and desertion (Hurlock, 1982). Annulment of marriage is more popular nowadays than legal separation because annulment voids the marriage and considers it as not to have taken place at all (Medina, 2001). Annulment is an official statement that a man and a woman who had gone through a marriage ceremony and had lived together as man and wife were never really married to each other because some condition in existence at the time of marriage prevented a true marriage from occurring (Helgesen, 1992). In the past decade, some groups in society have emphasized personal happiness in marriage as priority over responsibilities to spouse and children. Today, unhappy marriages are commonplace and marital dissolution is accepted as an easy solution to marital problems. What has become prevalent seems to be the unwillingness of people today to work through the stresses inevitable in every marriage. Separation of couples results to dysfunctional homes which could be the breeding ground for psychologically unstable and emotionally immature persons. Moreover, long-term physical and emotional burdens are often placed on children who endure long after the separation. These frequently take the form of post-adolescent fears of commitment or betrayal, lack of goals and feelings of not being in control of their life. Single mothers become lonely, afraid and exhausted, as well as becoming impoverished (Pro-Life Phil., 2005). In considering marital problems, clinicians are concerned not only with the people involved but also with the marital unit itself. How many marriages work out relates to the partners selected, the personality organization or disorganization of each, the interaction between them, and the original reasons for the union. Most studies concur that happiness in a marriage implies happiness in the general relationship. However, those who are unhappy tend to indicate external sources to stress. None of this research includes objective observation of actual behavior. In relations on whom need satisfaction is measured, researchers are inconclusive as to how emotional adjustment is achieved. It is likely that there is a general correlation between happiness and stability. It is also likely that in most relationships some form of success precedes general emotional fulfillment. Most research has come from the United States but a number of countries also provided information in connection with divorce and separation and their causes. Little information is available, however, on how to deal with this problem effectively. Among the causes indicated are: women’s independence; too early marriage; economic factors; poor intellectual, educational and social skills; liberal divorce laws; sexual factors leading to incompatibility; role conflicts; alcoholism and substance abuse; risk-taking behavior; differences between the partners leading to acrimony; religious factors; attitudes to divorce and various other factors. The consequences of divorce are the diminishing of fathers’ role in the family over recent years; the poor impact separation and divorce have on children, the emotional problems suffered by all concerned, and the reduced living standard of families that have separated (Lowenstein, 2005). Men and women of different education levels time their marriages and births later, and that delayed family formation that is more conducive to family stability. Educational differences in none marital fertility provides another explanation for educational differences in marital dissolution rates. Less educated women are the most likely to bear children outside of marriage. As a result, women with lower educational attainment are increasingly likely to enter marriage having already borne one or more children, and educational differences in marital dissolution rates could indirectly reflect any destabilizing effects of marital births of marriages (Martin, 2001). Adolescence described as academic underachievers–those whose academic is below what their intelligent would predict are more likely to come from broken than two-parent homes (Baron, 1995). Religious faith, affiliations and participation are not the only, or even the most significant factors influencing marital stability. Several others factors interact with the influence of faith. For example, some of the behavior that have been found to put people at the greater risk of marital dissolution are actions churches seeks to prevent, like initiation of sex before marriage, premarital parenthood and premarital cohabitation. Erickson contended that adolescent identity stage is followed in young adulthood by a developing capacity for intimacy, the ability to form emotionally close relationship. Once you have a clear and comfortable sense of who you are, said Erickson, you are ready for close relationship (Myers, 2002). When young adult become parents, they often adapt more stereotypical gender roles. The number of conflict and disagreements increase but this maybe similar to childless couples who also have more disagreements in the second and third years of their marriage. Having children is seen by both parents as a positive experience and despite the additional responsibilities and stress for the parents, having children can promote marital satisfaction (Roediger III et al., 1996). Marital success or failure tends to run in families. Children of happily married parents are far less likely to experience breakup. There are three reasons for this: 1) young people know that it will be relatively easy for them to remarry, 2) those who marry early are less likely to be plagued by financial problems which make marital adjustment difficult, and 3) young people often have early romantic concepts of marriage, which inevitably lead to disenchantment (Hurlock, 1982). Those who are forced to marry because of pregnancy have a higher than average dissolution rate. Furthermore, the shorter the interval between marriage and birth of the first child, the higher the dissolution rate because couples who become parents early have a harder time adjusting to the marriage, which complicates their adjustment to parenthood (Kaplan and Sadock, 1998). There are also certain people who seem to be “ divorce prone”. These individuals have made poor personal adjustments and enter into marriage thinking that it will be the solution to their emotional problems. Divorce is also much more common among couples who have different cultural, racial, religious or socioeconomic backgrounds than among those whose backgrounds are more similar (Hurlock, 1982). The trends toward later and shorter marriages have also contributed greatly to the changing family patterns of the last half of the 20th century. Not only are marriages lasting for fewer years, but the sources of marital dissolution have also shifted dramatically from less widowhood to more breakups (Ahituv and Lerman, 2004). Marital separation is not the solution. It will cheapen the marriages, and make it an easy-come-easy-go affair, thus putting marriage on the same level as animal mating and thereby degrading humanity (dela Torre, 1983 as cited by Alili et al., 1992). Conceptual Framework The Filipino family is threatened with extinction. Loose sexual mores, birth control mentality, open homosexuality, new age philosophies and economic distress are only a few pressures that come to bear on families. Certain social, political and economic forces, both local and global, are threatening the venerable institution of the “ domestic church” — the father, the mother and their children (Pro-Life Phil., 2005) Spouses in a really bad marriage tend to separate. Their marital dissolution may look like an attractive option. However, it has some disadvantages and stressors. The Family Code of the Philippines gives two alternatives to people who want to get out of failed marriages: A relative divorce in the form of legal separation and annulment. Under our present laws on marriage, legal separation does not dissolve the marriage bond between the legally separated couples. The law therefore, forestalls them from pursuing marital ties with others (Pro-Life Phil., 2005). The risk of marital dissolution appears to decrease as length of marriages increases. Many studies have focused on newlywed years, as the risk of divorce appears to be greatest during the first 3 years of marriages and over one-third of divorces occur within the first five years (National Center for Health Services, 1991). Becker (1991) suggested that divorces early in marriage are predicted by changes in how one views one’s partner, which often result of gaining negative information about the spouse after marriage. Divorces later in marriage, however, are the result of changes and life events that have affected the relationship. Indeed individuals who divorce after long-term marriages tend to blame infidelity, growing apart and problems with family cohesiveness (Amato & Previti, 2003; Kitson, 1992) whereas those in short-term marriages cite personality clashes and basic incompatibility (www. chs. fsu. edu). The researchers also tend to believe that longer marriages are associated with incompatible personality characteristics of the couples. The researchers considered the factors that exist before and after the marriage because the researchers believed that these factors could influence how long the relationship will stand. Those individuals who had attained lower levels of education are more likely to separate because they easily get married without considering their stability especially in terms of financial resources, but their relationship will tend to last longer because these individuals were easily attached to their partners emotionally. Martin (2001) also said that separation is most likely to those less educated. Second, those individuals who came from an intact family before deciding to have their own family is much less likely to resort to breakup in solving problems. The researchers supposed that this may be for the reason that the family served as the model in structuring their own families, and that their own parents have emphasized to them the importance of a happy family. Hurlock (1982) have also suggested that marital success or failure tends to run in families, that those children of happily married parents are far less likely to experience breakup. Third, the length of engagement or romantic relationship prior to marriage was presumed by the researchers to have an influence with the length of marriage that an individual will have if that person will marry. Researchers believed that those who get married quickly focuses on the pleasurable side of having a partner for life and may lead to long-term disappointment. This disappointment can be a source of hatred of the individual which could affect how a person deals with his/her spouse, which is also the same as what Weiten and Lloyd (1994) have said. Lastly, the practice of premarital sex can greatly affect the duration of marriage of the couples according to the researchers. Those who had borne a child upon sexual intercourse before marriage may have been those young individuals who are easily be influenced by the peers and are very experimenting. Heaton (2002) also said that initiation of sex before marriage, involuntary sex and premarital parenthood are associated with increasing rates of marital stability. Also according to Crow (2005) and Fagan (2006) dissimilarity of spouses’ beliefs may be the source of conflict of the couple. For the existing factors at marriage, domestic setting played an important role as assumed by the researchers, since those who did not have their own house upon living together are more likely to separate because of the influences of the relatives or in-laws of either of the couple. Pro-Life Phil. (2005) also said that conflicts within the family tend to be complicated when in-laws will be involved. According to Hurlock (1982) and as presumed by the researchers, having a child complicates the adjustment of the couple to parenthood, especially if the couple are young and did not have any resources of their own to support their own family. The researchers suggested that those couples who share the same religious commitment are less likely to experience breakup. Because the people have a greater sense of well-being and satisfaction with their marital relationship and they are less likely to commit acts of domestic violence. This factors inducted in the study were based and taken from the related studies and literatures collected. These variables such are the pre-existing factors that exist long before the respondents got married and the existing factors that exist when the respondents were already living together as husbands and wives were classified and taken as the variables in the study because of practical reasons and it can easily be understood and correlated with the length of relationship. Research Paradigm Figure 1. 0 Figure 1. 0 Research Paradigm of the Contributing Factors to the Length of Marital Relationship of Separated Couples in Barangay San Miguel Puerto Princesa City. Hypotheses The researchers formulated the following hypotheses: 1.) The pre-existing factors are related to the length of marital relationship. 2.) The existing factors are related to the length of marital relationship. Definition of terms The following terms were defined according to their uses in the study: Contributing factors. These are variables which can be associated to the length of marital relationship of separated couples, characterized by the respondent’s pre-existing factors and existing factors at marriage. Existing factors. It refers to the former couple’s living situation when they were together as husband and wife, characterized by their domestic setting and time of parenthood. Domestic setting. Refers to the respondent and former spouse’s living set-up, whether they were living on their own, a relative is living with them as helper, or they were living with their relatives. Living on their own. If the respondent and his/her former spouse had their own house and no other relative was living with them. A relative is living with them as helper. If the respondent and his or her former spouse had been living together on their own but a relative was living with them as helper. Living with their relative. If the respondent and his/her formers spouse had been living with their parents or relative. Time of parenthood. Refers to the period of time that the former couple had their first child, classified as: Early. If the couple’s first child was born prior to their marriage, up to within 2 years and 11 months of the marriage. Average. If the first child was born within 3 to 5 years and 11 months after marriage. Late. If the first child was born 6 years and above after marriage. Pre-existing factors. This refers to the status of the respondent before they got married, characterized by their educational attainment, parent’s marital status, length of engagement, practice of premarital sex and similarity of religion. Educational attainment. It refers to the academic accomplishment of the respondents, classified as: Elementary level. If the respondent acquired, but did not graduate from the primary level of education. Elementary graduate. If the respondent acquired and completed the primary level of education. High school level. If the respondent acquired but did not completed their secondary level of education. High school graduate. If the respondent acquired and completed their secondary level of education. College level. If the respondent acquired but did not completed their tertiary level of education. College graduate. If the respondent acquired and completed their tertiary level of education. Parents’ marital status. Refers to the status of the parents before the respondent got married, classified as: Living together. If the respondent’s parents were both present and living within the same house. Living together but geographically separated. If the respondent’s parents were not living in the same house due to the nature of the work. Deserted or separated. If the respondent’s parents were not living in the same house, has another family or was deserted by either of the respondent’s father or mother. One or both parents have another family. If one or both of the respondent’s parent’s were living with another family. Widowed or non-existent. If one or both of the respondent’s parents were dead. Length of engagement. Refers to the duration of respondent’s romantic relationship with the former spouse prior to their marriage, classified as: Short. 0-1 year and 11 months. Average. 3-5 years and 11 months. Long. 4-5 years and 11 months. Practice of premarital sex. This refers to the engagement in sexual intercourse by the respondent and his/her partner before their marriage. Similarity of religion. Refers to whether the religious affiliation of the respondent was the same or not the same with his her former spouse’s religion, classified as: Same religion. If the respondent’s religion is the same with that of the former spouse. Converted at marriage. If either the respondent of his or her former spouse transferred to the religious affiliation of the other at their marriage. Retained different religion. If the respondent and the former spouse have different religious affiliations and they retained these upon marriage. Marital relationship. This refers to the period of time that the respondent’s relationship as husband and wife lasted, classified as: Short. 1-5 years and 11 months. Average. 6-10 years and 11 months. Long. 11 years and above. Chapter III Research Methodology This chapter presents the research design, population and sample, instrumentation, data collection procedure and statistical treatment of data that were used in this study. Research Design The study has a quantitative-qualitative nature. This is characterized by objectivity and precise measurement and qualifies answers of the respondents according to the categories set by the researchers through the related literatures (Deauna, 1996). Also this study employed a descriptive-survey design which describes the conditions of the respondents based on the data gathered (Verlinden and Itliong, 1997) through survey which collected information on only a sample from the population (Deauna, 1996). This method was used to gather the contributing factors to the length of marital relationship of separated couples in Barangay San Miguel Puerto Princesa City. Population and Sample This study used non probability sampling, particularly purposive sampling, in selecting the respondents. It only admitted individuals who satisfied the criteria laid down by the researchers to be respondents of the study (www. wikipedia. com) particularly those separated couples who had biological child/children together. This study also used systematic sampling, especially the cluster sampling in selecting the locale of the respondents of the study. This technique selects respondents from certain areas only or certain time-periods only (www. wikipedia. com). It also means that it does not need a sampling frame for the entire population, but only for the selected clusters because this can reduce travel, time and financial expenses. Barangay San Miguel was then considered as the locale of the study because there are no available data that can be used as basis on determining the total population of separated couples in the city, and also because it is one of the barangays which has a big population size. Through these procedures, the researchers came up with 32 respondents whom were already separated from their former spouse for at least 3 years at the time of this study. The respondents of the study were all residents of Barangay San Miguel. They were all married to their former spouse and had undergone legal separation or desertion. All of these separated individuals had biological child/children with their former spouse. Instrumentation A researcher-constructed survey form which gathered the needed information was used. The questionnaire has three parts: Personal Data, Pre-existing Factors, and Existing Factors of marriage. The first part collected the personal data of the respondents and is composed of eight questions. The second part was concerned about the pre-existing factors such as educational attainment, parent’s marital status, length of engagement and practice of premarital sex; it is composed of eight questions including follow-up questions. The third part was concerned about the existing factors at marriage such as domestic setting, time of parenthood and similarity of religion, and it is composed of four questions. The survey form was structured using marking and filling-out lines or spaces. Data Collection Procedure For the preliminary preparation in collecting data, a survey form was constructed based on the related studies and literatures. After that, a letter was sent to the Barangay Captain of Barangay San Miguel to ask for permission in conducting the study in their barangay; to ask for assistance from the barangay officials in identifying the separated individuals in the place; and to ask for the list of the different purok that constitute Barangay San Miguel. Three puroks were assigned to each researcher, and each of them allotted two days in each purok to go from house to house and gather every qualified respondent. During the survey period, two weeks were spent in the identification of respondents and collection of data. Whenever the researchers established a qualified respondent through direct inquiry or information from the neighborhood, they went on to explain the nature of the study to the prospective respondent and asked if they were willing to participate in the study. If the respondent decided to take part, the survey form was then presented and follow-up questions were given to verify the answers. Direct presentation and survey was employed to immediately retrieve the survey form and to save time and financial resources in going back to the area, as well as to convince the hesitant respondents. Statistical Treatment The data was treated and interpreted with the use of frequency count, percentage and chi-square – test of independence was used in this study to answer the question presented. Frequency count and percentage were used to determine the profile and magnitude of the respondents respectively according to educational attainment, parent’s marital status, and similarity of religion, length of engagement, practice of premarital sex, domestic setting, and time of parenthood. In determining the relationship of pre-existing and existing factors at marriage to the length of marital relationship, chi-square test specifically the test for independence was used. Chi-square was chosen because the data were nominal, consisting of one group with two or more categories, and it is used to know if a distribution of frequencies observed in a sample has significance for the population (Verlinden and Itliong, 1997). Chapter IV Presentation, Analysis and Interpretation of Data This chapter is concerned with the presentation, analysis and interpretation of data collected and tabulated to provide the answers to the problem presented in this study. THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE RESPONDENTS ACCORDING TO THE FOLLOWING VARIABLES: 1. A Pre-existing factors Figure 2. 0 Percentage of the Respondents According to Their Educational Attainment Figure 2. 0 shows that only 3. 12 % of the respondents had attained elementary level of education, 6. 25 % were elementary graduate, 15. 62 % were high school level, 34. 38 % were high school graduate, 31. 25 % were college level and 9. 38% were college graduate. The result indicates that most of the respondents had completed secondary education and had attained college level. It contradicts the idea of the researchers that those who had acquired higher level of education would have the lesser probability of marital breakup because of their competency for marital rules and strong career foundation. It also did not support the idea from Martin (2004) that those who are less educated are most likely to experience breakup; knowing that these individuals enter a new, life-long commitment in their young age and their knowledge about relationships is limited, as presumed by the researchers. These could also be because of modernity, new age philosophies and economic and emotional distress that come to bear on families (Pro-Life Phil., 2005). But these findings are only limited to this particular barangay. Table1. 0 Percentage Distribution of the Respondents According to Their Parent’s Marital Status The table 1. 0 shows that out of 32 respondents, 21 had parents whose marriage were still intact, two of the respondents had parents who were living together but geographically separated, three of the respondents had parents who were deserted or separated, one of the respondents had parents who had another family and five of the respondents had parents who were widowed or non-existent. The researchers presumed that those who came from broken families have a higher possibility of ending their own relationship through separation. This assumption was not supported by the result of this study, which implies that most of the respondent’s parents were still living together before the respondents got married. At least, according to this study, it contradicts the concept of Hurlock (1982) that marital failure tends to run in families. Figure 3. 0 Frequency Distribution of the Respondents According to the Length of Engagement The figure 3. 0 shows the length of engagement of the respondents. It shows that 62. 5 % had a short (0-1 year and 11 months) length of engagement, 28. 12 % had an average (2-3 years and 11 months) length of engagement, and 9. 38 % had a long (4-5 years and 11 months) length of engagement. It was observed that most of the respondents married during their adolescent or young adulthood stage. Weiten & Lloyd (1994) explained this probability by stating that individuals during this stage were focused on the pleasurable activities of courtship. The respondents who married early have reported that emotional attachment was the reason why they married, including those who had practiced premarital sex and accidentally had borne a child as well. The researchers have observed that these people were fascinated only of the good things in a relationship, which they fail to consider the hardship that they may encounter upon entering into marital life. The result of this study, that majority of the respondents had a romantic relationship for at most one year, supported the researchers’’ hypothesis. However, the result is only applicable for Barangay San Miguel. Figure 4. 0 Percentage Distribution of the Respondents According to Their Practice of Premarital Sex The figure 4. 0 shows that 22 of the respondents practiced premarital sex and 10 of them did not engage in sexual intercourse before marriage. The researchers believed that initiation of sex before marriage can shorten the marital relationship because of the possibility of premarital or early parenthood which could aggravate the adjustment of young couples. The result which can only be true to Barangay San Miguel, implies that most of the respondents had engaged in premarital sex, which also supports the concept of the researchers and Heaton (2002) that practicing premarital sex increases the rate of possible marital dissolution early in marriage. Table 2. 0 Percentage Distribution of the Respondents According to Similarity of their Religion Table 2. 0 above show that 59. 38 % of the respondents had the same religion with their former spouse, 6. 25 % of them were previously Islam and converted to the Catholic faith upon marriage, and 34. 37 % had retained their differences in religion from their former spouse. Based on the results of this study and contrary to the concept of the researchers that having similar religion will contribute to the longer relationship of the couples, most of the respondents had the same religious affiliations as that of their spouses. Of the 19 respondents who had the same religion with their spouse, one was from Iglesia ni Cristo and the remaining 18 respondents were Roman Catholic. On the other hand, even if they had the same religion, their religious activities and conviction still influenced how strong their faith will be and how strict or rigid are the religious groups in the issue of marital separation. Thus, certain religious groups were employing preventive measures and some did not care at all. These individuals who were committed to their beliefs may have anticipated the embarrassment that the event would bring into their lives and to the religious group where they belong. But these findings may not be true to other barangay. THE PROFILE OF THE RESPONDENTS ACCORDING TO THE FOLLOWING VARIABLES 1. B Existing Factors Table 3. 0 Percentage Distribution of the Respondents According to Their Domestic Setting The table 3. 0 shows that 65. 63 % of the respondents were living on their own after getting married, 3. 12 % were living with their relative and 31. 25 % had a relative living with them as a helper. The belief was that when couples live without any relative in their house it will result to a peaceful and happy marriage; according to the result of this study most of the respondents were living on their own after they were married, which supported the researcher’s hypothesis. However, at least in this case, it contradicted the conclusion made by Pro-Life Phil. (2005) that the presence of in-laws will complicate the situation especially when the conflict between the husbands and wives arises. Figure 5. 0 Percentage Distribution of the Respondents According to The Time of Parenthood The figure 5. 0 shows that 81. 25 % of the respondents became parents early (within 0-2 years and 11 months), 15. 63 % had an average (3-5 years and 11 months) time of parenthood and 3. 12 % had a late (6 years and above) time of parenthood. According to the profile of the respondents in terms of practice of premarital sex, it was found out that most of them had sexual intercourse prior to marriage. In which, it was also found out that premarital sex is associated with a premarital or early parenthood (Heaton, 2002). The result of this study which is limited only to Barangay San Miguel, suggests that most of the respondents had child/children before getting married up to within two years of marriage. These findings favored the previous studies that early parenthood has an effect upon the length of marital relationship. Hurlock (1982) also stated that those young individuals who got married because of the presence of a child may complicate the situation especially because these couples were undergoing adjustments regarding their new status in life and working for their own family. THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE RESPONDENTS IN TERMS OF THE LENGTH OF MARITAL RELATIONSHIP Figure 6. 0 Percentage Distribution of the Respondents According to The Length of their Marital Relationship The figure 6. 0 shows that out of 32 respondents, 25 % had a short (1-5 years and 11 months) marital relationship, 34. 38 % of them had an average (6-10 years and 11 months) marital relationship, and 40. 62% had a long (6 years and above) marital relationship. According to Simon et al. (1994), the average duration of marriage decreased from 17 years to just over nine years. While Reiss (1980) as cited by Dworetzky (1995) said that most divorce occurs in early adulthood, usually the first seven years of marriage. It was based on this related study that the category for an average marital relationship was formulated. But contrary to this, the findings of the study revealed that most of the respondents were living together for more than 11 years. These findings did not support the findings of the previous studies conducted. While those who had separation appears to be at a great risk during the first three years of marriage, according to the National Center for Health Statistics (1991). Becker (1991) justified that separation in early marriage are predicted by change in how one views one’s partner, which are often the result of gaining negative information about the spouse after marriage. Separation later in marriage, however, is the result of changes and life events that blame infidelity, growing apart and problems with family cohesiveness (Amato & Previti, 2000; Kitson, 2002), whereas those in short-term marriage cite personality clashes and basic incompatibility. (www. chs. fsu. edu). Based on the profile of the respondents, acquiring education contributes to a longer relationship. And having shorter romantic relationship, having sexual intercourse with the spouse prior to marriage and the presence of a child can prolong the relationship of the couples as well. Therefore, much more marital unhappiness is necessary for a marriage of a longer duration to end in separation than a marriage of shorter duration. It could be attributed also to the reasons of the respondents on why they separate, such as infidelity of the partner, vices, inadequate financial support, and joblessness, violence against spouse, being irresponsible, jealousy and selfishness. It took longer time for the respondents to realize the faults of the partner by trying to endure the situation to save their relationship. THE RELATIONSHIP OF PRE-EXISTING FACTORS TO THE LENGTH OF MARITAL RELATIONSHIP Ho: There is no significant relationship between the pre-existing factors and the length of marital relationship of separated couples. Table 4. 0 Pre-Existing Factors of the Respondents as Related to The Length of Marital Relationship Pre-Existing Factors Value of χ² df Critical Value at 0. 05 Interpretation Educational Attainment 7. 014 10 3. 94 Has significant relationship Parent’s Marital Status 10. 7766 8 2. 733 Has significant relationship Length of Engagement 9. 0978 6 1. 635 Has significant relationship Practice of Premarital 3. 8507 2 1. 025 Has significant relationship Similarity of Religion 9. 183 2 0. 7107 Has significant relationship Using the level of significance at . 05 with the degree of freedom of 10, 8, 6, 2; the critical value for educational attainment, parent’s marital status, length of engagement, practice of premarital sex and similarity of religion of 3. 94, 2. 733, 1. 635, 1. 025, is less than the value of χ² which are 7. 014, 10. 7766, 9. 0978, 3. 8507, and 9. 183 respectively. It indicates that at least in this study, it is reasonable to reject the null hypothesis and consequently it will mean that the pre-existing factors such as educational attainment, parent’s marital status, length of engagement and practice of premarital sex are significantly related to the length of marital relationship. It implies that even though majority of the couples get separated they had a longer time of living together. That education they had acquired, their parent’s marital status, the length of romantic relationship and if they had premarital sex contributed to the length of their marriage. According to White & Rogers (2000) the couple of different education levels time their marriages and births later, and that delayed family formation which is conducive to family stability. Furthermore, much of the association between marriage and birth timing and marital stability is explained by maturity and competence for marital roles (Booth & Edwards, 1985). Education could also be attributed to premarital sex and premarital parenthood. As a result, those who have lower educational attainment are increasingly likely to enter marriage having already borne with one or more children (Martin, 2001). According to Weston & de Vaus (2003), it might be expected that a period of relationship before actually getting married would give couples unique insight into their incompatibility, thereby helping them to make informed decisions about whether or not to marry. Another explanation is that personal characteristics that influence choice of marriage pathway also influence the risks of marital separation. On the other hand, a great deal of research suggest that marital satisfaction declines in the early years of marriage yet, many of the accumulating experiences that lower relationship satisfaction arise after partners begin living together. In particular, studies conducted that initiation of sex before marriage, involuntary sex, premarital parenthood, higher rates of cohabitation as marital stability. However, the birth of a child during marriage is a protective buffer against divorce, thus delay separation; Demaris & Rao (1992) and White & Booth (1985) found that the odds of divorce more significantly reduced upon the birth of the first child, the higher the divorce rate. Couples who became parents early have not had time to adjust to marriage, which complicates their adjustment to parenthood (www. chs. fsu. edu). The likelihood of divorce is even further reduced when husbands and wives share the same religious commitments. Such couples report of having greater sense of well-being and more satisfaction with their relationship, they are less likely to commit acts of violence. A study of couples with divergent theological views showed that they were more likely to argue especially about financial matters (Fagan, 2006). Similarly, according to Crow (2005), when one party in a marriage is a believer and active in church while the other rejects faith this may become a source of conflict that leads to breakup. However, according to Vaaler & Ellison (2006), theological beliefs and belief dissimilarity of spouses have little effect on the likelihood of dissolution over time. While Bronson & Merryman (2006) argued that religious homogamy is another indication of marital stability but what may matter more than a person’s individual denomination, is the spouses’ participation in those religious activities, faith, observance, etc. (www. chs. fsu. edu). THE RELATIONSHIP OF EXISTING FACTORS TO THE LENGTH OF MARITAL RELATIONSHIP Ho: There is no significant relationship between the existing factors and similarity of religion and the length of marital relationship of separated couples. Table 5. 0 Existing Factors at Marriage as Related to the Length of Marital Relationship Existing Factors Value of χ² df Critical Value at 0. 05 Interpretation Domestic Setting 4. 4805 4 0. 7107 Has significant relationship Time of Parenthood 4. 3887 4 0. 7107 Has significant relationship With a level of significance set at . 05 and df = 4, the critical region 0. 7107 which is less than the computed value of χ² for domestic setting and time of parenthood of 4. 4805 and 4. 3887, respectively, it is rational to reject the null hypothesis which states that there is no significant relationship between the existing factors such as domestic setting, time of parenthood and similarity of religion and the length of marital relationship of separated couples, which means that a significant relationship between the existing factors and the length of marital relationship exists. At least in this study, it suggests that the presence/absence of a relative and being a parent before, early or later in marriage have an influence with the length of the relationship that the unhappy couple will have. De Maris & Rao (1992) found that coming from an intact family was a protective factor for males but not for females. Regardless, this effect or parental separation upon offspring appears to be addictive as Amato (1996, 1997) found that the risk of separation has been greater when both spouses came from divorced families than when only one spouse most potent for children who are young at the time of the crisis. Roediger III et al. (1996) reported that when young adult become parents, they often adapt more stereotypical gender roles. The number of conflict and disagreements increase but this maybe similar to childless couples who also have more disagreements in the second and third years of their marriage. Having children is seen by both parents as a positive experience and despite the additional responsibilities and stress for the parents, having children can promote marital satisfaction. The presence of children can be a source of concern for both of the partners, and can also be considered a factor that delays the breakup. Chapter V Summary of Findings, Conclusions, and Recommendations This chapter presents the summary of findings, conclusions, and recommendations based from the evaluation of data. Summary of Findings Based on the analysis of data gathered and interpreted, it was found out that before the respondents got married, 11 of them were high school graduate and 10 had attained college level, 21 of the respondents’ parents were living together, 20 of the respondents had a short (0-1 year and 11 months) romantic relationship, and 22 of the respondents said that they had engaged in premarital sex and 19 of them had the same religion with their former spouse. The data also reveals that when they were living together, out of the 32 respondents, 21 of them were living on their own and 26 of them had child/children before getting married up to two years after the marriage. The researchers also found out that among the 32 respondents, 13 of the respondents had been living together as husbands and wives for almost six years and above before the termination of their relationship; and the average length of marital relationship was nine years. The relationship of pre-existing factors and the length of marital relationship is present and there is a significant relationship between the existing factors and the length of marital relationship. However, this reasoning can only be applied to those separated individuals in Barangay San Miguel. Conclusions The researchers came up with the following conclusions, based on the findings which are true only to Barangay San Miguel. 1. The presence of child/children in the family can affect the length of a marriage. That those separated couples who became parents early tend to stay longer in the relationship. 2. Separated couples do not give up their relationship easily. For those couples whose conflicts were already existing even before or during the early years of marriage, they tried to consider other concerns or they endure their messed-up situation that contribute to a longer time of living together, though still end up in separation. 3. That knowing the background one’s future life partner, he or she may determine how long the relationship will last. 4. Those individuals who are not prepared to live a married life are more likely to separate, but it will take few more years before it will actually happen. Recommendations Based on the conclusions, which are applicable only in Barangay San Miguel, the researchers recommend the following: 1. The result of this study may be communicated to those couples who are not yet blessed with a child for almost three years and above, through the City Population Commission and other local health units that may conduct seminars that would help couples address the problem and would assist them in discussing the issue with appropriate expression of their feelings and friendly conversation between the couples. 2. Those couples who are still in the stage of adjustment and those who are currently experiencing conflicts and difficulties, through Non-Government Organizations and Local Government Units concerned on the topic, may conduct seminar that will emphasize the importance of a complete family, the issues/factors that may weaken the bonds between them and other concerns especially their children that they must also consider if conflicts may arise. Consequently, they can plan preventive measures and alternative ways of solving problems. 3. The result of this study may be communicated to Sangguniang Kabataan so that they may hold information dissemination for those unmarried individuals especially the students, which will discuss the factors that they may consider in selecting their future partner. That they may take into consideration the factors presented in this study. 4. The result of this study may be communicated to those who are planning o get married through Non-Government Organizations and Local Government Units concerned on the topic. They may talk about stress-management, parenting, etc. that will help them adjust and prepare them for the additional duties and responsibilities that go along with their new status. 5. The result of this study may be used by Psychology major students as a baseline data in conducting a follow-up study regarding the topic. This may include finding the relationship between pre-existing and existing factors at marriage or they may also concentrate on the psychological make-up of separated couples. They may also consider using a larger number of respondents. This may, in turn, provide more meaningful conclusions.