Self-rated Health Condition of Adolescents Left Behind by Migrant Parents from the Philippines

Research Paper (undergraduate) from the year 2018 in the subject Sociology - Children and Youth, , language: English, abstract: This study examined the association of the health conditions of adolescents left behind by their Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW)-parent/s working abroad with their personal characteristics, lifestyle patterns, and use of protective mechanisms. Using a multi-stage sampling design, 400 school-going adolescents aged 13-17 were surveyed, with the use of a group administered questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multivariate ordinal logistic regression. Overall, the adolescents were found to be in good health. Of the five domains of health examined, their social and spiritual health domains were found to be moderately healthy, compared to their emotional health condition with a good rating, and their physical and psychological health conditions with very good health ratings. Their overall health condition was tested for association with their personal characteristics, statistically significant predictors found were adolescents' sex and family size. Females have better overall health condition compared to male adolescents, and those who belong to a family with > 6 members have better overall health condition compared to those <6. On their lifestyle pattern, those with good nutrition, good hygiene practices, and less engagement with vices have a better overall health condition. On the use of protective mechanisms, those with a strong attachment to their OFW parent/s were found to have a better overall health condition and able to manage challenges of parent absenteeism. Their spiritual health condition was negatively affected the most by the absence of the OFW mother while their social health condition was found to be negatively affected by their erratic communication pattern with the parent/s away. Keywords: international labor migration, children left-behind, adolescent, health, parents working abroad, Overseas Filipino workers, Philippines