Abstract

An in-depth investigation on how workplace problems impact solo parents; personal and professional well-being is limited. Hence, this basic descriptive qualitative study aims to explore the lived experience of solo parents in balancing caregiving responsibilities and professional obligation, including how workplace conditions affect their well-being, the challenges they face, and the factors contributing to these challenges. Using both cool and warm analyses in the extended text form 14 solo parents, the study identified four key findings. First, it described the lived experiences of solo parents, focusing on how they manage parenting responsibilities, and relying on support systems with professional obligation. Second, it found that the workplace significantly affects solo parents, particularly in how they struggle to balance job demands with family responsibilities. Third, it revealed that solo parents face ongoing challenges, including financial strain, limited time, and difficulty maintaining a work-life balance. Last, it showed that child-related concerns, like when a child is sick, further contribute to the difficulties they experience. The study shows that solo parents in Santiago, Ilocos Sur balance caregiving and livelihood despite challenges like time constraints, financial strain, and stigma, while demonstrating resilience through family support and adaptive strategies. It highlights the need for inclusive policies that provide flexible support systems such as childcare, healthcare, and economic assistance. Family and community support should also be strengthened, alongside workplace policies that reduce work-family conflict. Importantly, solo parents should be actively involved in shaping programs, ensuring policies are responsive, participatory, and empowering.

Full Article

DOI: 10.56901/VFML3029

References

Durosini, I., Triberti, S., Savioni, L., & Pravettoni, G. (2022). Narrative identity processes and meaning making in challenging life transitions. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, Article 845321. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.845321

Ekmen, E., Koçak, O., Solmaz, U., Kopuz, K., Younis, M. Z., & Orman, D. (2021). How does the social support affect refugees’ life satisfaction in Turkey? Stress as a mediator, social aids and coronavirus anxiety as moderators. Sustainability, 13(22), Article 12727. https://doi.org/10.3390/su132212727

Gabel, S. G., Mapp, S. C., & Daley, J. G. (2024). Understanding identity reconstruction through narrative inquiry. Qualitative Social Work, 23(1), 89–104. https://doi.org/10.1177/14733250221134567 

Garmezy, N. (1985). Stress-resistant children: The search for protective factors. In J. E. Stevenson (Ed.), Recent research in developmental psychopathology (pp. 213–233). Pergamon Press.

Harrington, C. B., McBride, E., & Sheppard, J. (2022). Long-term well-being and social participation among vulnerable family groups. Journal of Family Studies, 28(4), 1290–1306. https://doi.org/10.1080/13229400.2020.1806097

Helm, J., et al. (2024). Long-term effects of childhood single-parent family structure on brain connectivity and psychological well-being. Brain Imaging and Behavior. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11682-024-00789-2

Lim, A., et al. (2025). Work–life balance and parental stress: Challenges faced by working parents in balancing career and family. International Journal of Research in Management, 7(2), 447–452. https://doi.org/10.33545/26648792.2025.v7.i2b.447

Lim, S., Kim, J., & Lee, H. (2025). Parents’ work–family conflict and children’s emotional well-being: The mediating role of parenting behavior. [Incomplete reference—journal, volume, issue, pages, and DOI needed]

Lohner, J., & Aprea, C. (2021). Resilience in education: Conceptual foundations and practical applications. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, Article 678395. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.678395

Marmot, M., Allen, J., Goldblatt, P., Herd, E., & Morrison, J. (2020). Health equity in England: The Marmot review 10 years on. Institute of Health Equity.

Masten, A. S., & Cicchetti, D. (2021). Resilience in developmental psychopathology: Progress and promise. Development and Psychopathology, 33(2), 547–564. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954579421000150

McLanahan, S., & Percheski, C. (2020). Family structure and the reproduction of inequalities. Annual Review of Sociology, 46, 37–56. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-soc-121919-054741

McLean, L., Gaul, D., & Penco, R. (2023). Perceived social support and stress: A study of first-year students in Ireland. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 21, 2101–2121. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-022-00857-7

Mendoza, S. L., & David, C. C. (2021). Beyond financial aid: Psychosocial needs of Filipino solo parents. Philippine Sociological Review, 69(2), 201–225.

Nomaguchi, K., & Milkie, M. A. (2020). Parenthood and well-being: A decade in review. Journal of Marriage and Family, 82(1), 61–84. https://doi.org/10.1111/jomf.12646

Nomaguchi, K., & Milkie, M. A. (2021). Parenthood and well-being: A decade in review. Journal of Marriage and Family, 83(1), 198–223. https://doi.org/10.1111/jomf.12733

Popoola, S. O., & Fagbola, O. O. (2023). Work motivation, job satisfaction, work–family balance, and job commitment of library personnel in universities in North-Central Nigeria. The Journal of Academic Librarianship, 49(4), Article 102741. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acalib.2023.102741

Reyes, J. P. (2021). Research trends on solo parenthood in the Philippines: Gaps and opportunities. Philippine Journal of Public Administration, 65(2), 173–191.

Reyes, R. A., Santos, M. E., & Villanueva, L. P. (2022). Social protection and family vulnerability in rural Northern Luzon. Journal of Southeast Asian Studies, 53(3), 456–472. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022463422000456 [Verify publication details]

Sandel, M., Sheward, R., de Cuba, S. E., Coleman, S. M., Frank, D. A., Chilton, M., Black, M., & Heeren, T. (2020). Unstable housing and child health: Implications for family well-being. Academic Pediatrics, 20(1), 25–32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acap.2019.07.006

Santos, [First name needed]. (2024). Navigating parenthood alone: The lived experiences of Filipino single mothers in child-rearing. Psychology and Education: A Multidisciplinary Journal. https://doi.org/10.5281/ZENODO.13983292 [Incomplete author information]

Scharlach, A. E. (2021). Role theory and family caregiving: Negotiating multiple responsibilities. In K. Ferraro & D. Carr (Eds.), Handbook of aging and the social sciences (9th ed.). Academic Press.

Shudy, M., de Almeida, M. L., Ly, S., Landon, C., Groft, S., Jenkins, T. L., & Nicholson, C. E. (2006). Impact of pediatric critical illness and injury on families: A systematic literature review. Pediatrics, 118(Suppl. 3), S203–S218. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2006-0900B

Southwick, S. M., Bonanno, G. A., Masten, A. S., Panter-Brick, C., & Yehuda, R. (2020). Resilience definitions, theory, and challenges: Interdisciplinary perspectives. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 11(1), Article 239246. https://doi.org/10.1080/20008198.2020.239246

United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. (2023). World social report 2023: Leaving no one behind in family policy. United Nations.

Uy, M. E. A., & Maligaya, J. A. (2022). Economic coping strategies of Filipino solo parents. Asian Journal of Women's Studies, 28(4), 412–430. https://doi.org/10.1080/12259276.2022.2121234

Vuong, Q. H., Nguyen, M. H., & Le, T. T. (2021). Emotional adaptation and life satisfaction under chronic stress. Current Psychology, 40, 635–646. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-020-00892-1

Williams, K., Sassler, S., & Nicholson, L. (2022). Stigma, family structure, and social belonging. Journal of Family Issues, 43(9), 2213–2235. https://doi.org/10.1177/0192513X211042101