Study on the Stress and Coping Mechanisms of Former Street Children Under the Care of Nayon ng Kabataan

Abstract

This study on the Stress and Coping Mechanisms of Former Street Children under the care of Nayon ng Kabataan, is a formative research on the stress and coping responses of institutionalized street children. One of the government's solutions on the problem on street children is to put them in care giving institutions such as Nayon ng Kabataan. However, a recent study was conducted and showed that an increasing number of institutionalized street children is escaping from these supposed havens. Thus, the study has the following general objectives: (1) to determine the sources of psychosocial stress perceived by the institutionalized street children which may cause them to escape from these institutions, (2) to obtain information regarding the coping responses adopted by the institutionalized street children, and (3) to determine the relationship between the perceived level of stress and academic performance in the school. The framework of this study is an integration of the existing frameworks used by Carandang (1996) in her study of street children and the theories on the process involved in the appraisal and coping, which were adapted to fit the objectives of this study. The possible sources of stress were viewed within the context of the interaction existing between the person and the environment. The following are the three ways to appraise the “stressors”: (1) threat, (2) harm-loss, and (3) challenging. Mechanisms of coping involves emotion-focused and problem-focused coping responses. The stress level was correlated with the subjects’ academic performance as an indication of the effects of stress and the effectiveness of the coping mechanisms used by the children. In carrying out the objectives of this study, three instruments were used, the Sarbey sa Pangkaisipan at Pangkapwang Kapaguran, Pamamaraan ng Paggampan at Pamantayan ng Antas sa Pagganap sa Gawain, observation guide sheet, and the informal interview schedule. The sample is composed of former street children under the care of Nayon ng Kabataan within the period of the study. Subjects indicated their sources of stress and coping responses from the list provided. The perceived level of stress and the effectiveness of coping mechanisms employed were also determined. Academic performance through the subject grades for the two (2) grading periods were gathered. Statistical techniques such as the mean and Pearson-Product Moment Correlation were used to analyze the data results. Perception is a subjective state, and since each child is different, thus personally views each of these possible sources of stress with disparity. There is a need, therefore, to classify them according to the stages of their present situational adaptation The subjects are mostly males from the twenty-five (25) respondents, forming eighty-five per cent (85%) of the total population. The subjects were categorized according to the adjustment stage to where they belong, namely, Disorganization Stage Group. Searching Stage Group, and the Adaptation and Integration Stage Group. This categorization was adapted from Levin's (1976) study on the Adjustment and Coping Process of Draft Dodgers.