THE LEVEL OF PARENTAL ATTACHMENT AND OF ACADEMIC

CONDITIONS OF GRADE 12 STUDENTS

CHAPTER I
THE PROBLEM
Introduction
Family is the most important foundation of a child as it contributes a

lot of different aspect and features to a child such as their character and

personality. They are also the ones who will care and support their children

once they have been born whose role is to provide a safe and healthy

environment where a child can grow in a stable manner. As a researcher

Lisa (2011) shown to its studies it states that supportive attachments to an

adolescence are correlated with the self-esteem, well-being, and school

achievement. This shows that the support from parents through

attachment are needed to nurture the students as they reach adulthood.

In addition, it is perceived that the parents are considered as the

child's first educator. In parenting, the parental behaviour and attitude can

play a crucial role to the child's achievement as it have a strong impact and

influence on the psychological and social development of the child. One

could say that what the individual experienced through observation and
hearing from their parents have essential impact on a child as it becomes

their response mechanism in future events that comes as well as on their

emotional and physical well-being. Moreover, parents are not only involved

in the Childs emotional and psychological growth but also in their

intellectual progress. In numerous study, it stated that parental involvement

in the childs early education has positive significance in the children's

educational performance which includes reading and comprehension.

Following Jeynes (2005), he found that every types of involvement with the

child that required a great amount of time which includes reading,

communicating, and parenting style had a greater impact on educational

achievement than any other general form of involvement. It is also state in

that the earlier parents involved themselves in the educational activities of

their child the more profound the result will become.

Furthermore, according to a researcher (Nickelson et al., 2004;

Paterson et al., 1994; Pinquart et al., 2005) a close relationship and

supportive environment could help the child for their well-being to further

cultivate their talents and strengths. In contrast to this, having low

attachment to parents and peers may likely result to have predictive and

inferior level of competence due to low availability of support that one

could get. Which could prove that having parental attachment could
positively and significantly influence a student through experience,

guidance, and support that comes from a parent.

In this study, the researchers will determine the significance of

parental attachment of the child to their parents. Which aim is to further

understand the advantage and disadvantages of the parents influence and

the environment they provide on the welfare and education of their

children. As there is a lot of factors that could help and worsen the well-

being of a person. It is also the same parents whom will partake in

advising, guiding, and encouraging the children to make their own

decisions and would lead the child into the path they desire.

Statement of the problem

1. Determine the profile of the Students.

1.1 Age

1.2 Sex

1.3 Strand

1.4 Financial Status

2. Determine the level of Parental Attachment among the Students by

the use of the following types of attachment.

 2.1 Secure Attachment

2.2 Anxious-Ambivalent Attachment

2.3 Avoidant Attachment

2.4 Disorganized Attachment

3. Assess the Academic Conditions of the Students through the use of

surveys.

4. Determine whether or not the level of Parental Attachment has an

effect on the Academic Conditions of the Students.

Hypothesis
Ho1: The Null Hypothesis of this research is that there is absolutely no
relation between the Level of Parental Attachment to the Academic
Condition of Grade 12 Students
Ho2: The Alternative Hypothesis of this research is that there is an evident
relation between the Level of Parental Attachment to the Academic
Conditions of Grade 12 Students.

Scope, Delimitation and Limitation of the Study

The study's scope will be the level of parental attachment and

academic conditions of 35 Grade 12 Students from Integrated School of

Lawa. Moreover, this study intends to discover whether or not the different

styles of parental attachment can cause a significant advantage or

disadvantage for the students to lessen their burden and be more

motivated when performing scholastic errands.

In this study, the researchers will also analyze whether the students

were learning or simply passing, whether they endured severe stress to

receive recognition from their parents, and other factors relating to parents'

involvement in the learning condition of their children. Due to insufficient

resources, this study will only interview grade 12 students from the

different strands of Integrated School of Lawa. The researchers will not be

finished in the given time frame if they will include additional components.

The survey will not ask specific personal problems or conditions of the

interviewees to provide them with privacy.

The researchers will solely utilize online platforms such as zoom,

messenger, and google forms to collect data from responders to avoid

potential virus infection while adhering to our authorized government

authorities' health and safety standards. Faking and biased responses is

possible since the researchers cannot compel them to provide a particular

answer.
Significance of the Study

As this research about Parental Attachment and it’s correlation with

Academic Conditions progressed, it continuously provide an insight and

understanding of the matter. This study would be beneficial to the

following:

Parents. The results of this research may give an insight to parents

on the level of parental attachment of their children and how this is may or

may not have been affecting their academic conditions. The results may be

beneficial to them as this may serve as a stepping stone to further

understanding their children. They may use the results of this study in

further teaching and preparing their children to become independent and

responsible especially that they are now stepping into a new life.

Teachers. This study may give awareness on the level of parental

attachment of their students while also being a great topic for discussion

on ESP (Edukasyon sa Pagpapakatao) as this fits right in their field. The

outcomes of this study may help them to provide further information that
their students need for their future. Furthermore, they can also teach and

prepare their students to face the challenges that the future might possess.

Future Researchers. The results and information from this study

may help them to further enhance their skills in making their own studies

and thesis. Moreover, this may also serve as a secondary source for

researchers that also tackles the same subject matter which is the Level of

Parental Attachment and its relationship with Academic Conditions of

Grade 12 Students.

Humanities and Social Sciences. They may benefit from this study

due to the reason that the topic of the study is in the area of their expertise

and it may also serve as another subject that they can tackle. Furthermore,

this study may also be beneficiary to the subject Personal Development as

it the results may help teachers specializing in this subject to teach their

students to become independent and prepared for their future.

Researchers. This study may help them to hone and better their

skills in making a Research Paper. This study may also help them on their

future Researches and Studies as this may become another source for

information for their researches and studies.

Definition of Terms

Academic Conditions. In the study, this refers to the academic

situation of the student, whether he/she is allowed to have an education,

whether he/she is supported, financially and mentally, by their parents in

his/her pursuit in education, and whether or not he/she is studying or will

be studying in a different School, Academy, or University.

Anxious-Ambivalent Attachment. People whom are under this

type of attachment tends to distrust caregivers, and this insecurity often

means that their environment is explored with trepidation rather than

excitement. (Bowbly, 1969). In this study, this refers to one of the four

levels of attachment that will be used to determine the level of Parental

Attachment of the Respondents.

Avoidant Attachment. Children who have developed under this

style have learned to accept that their emotional needs are likely to remain

unmet and continue to grow-up feeling unloved and insignificant. (Bowbly,

1969). In this study, this refers to one of the four levels of attachment that

will be used to determine the level of Parental Attachment of the

Respondents.

Disorganized Attachment. It is a combination of avoidant and

anxious attachment, and children that fit into this group often display

intense anger and rage. They also have difficult relationship with their

caregivers. (Bowbly, 1969). In this study, this refers to one of the four

levels of attachment that will be used to determine the level of Parental

Attachment of the Respondents.

Parental Attachment. Refers to a deep and lasting emotional

connection by an individual in the interaction with significant others,

expressing the individual’s tendency to seek closeness or contact with

specific objects. (Bowbly, 1963, 1973). In this study, this refers to the main

factor that may or may not affect the Academic Condition of a student.

Secure Attachment. This style of attachment signifies a warm and

loving bond between parent and child. (Bowbly, 1969). In this study, this

refers to one of the four levels of attachment that will be used to determine

the level of Parental Attachment of the Respondents.

 CHAPTER II

REVIEW OF LITERATURE

Literature Review

The following literature review shows concepts related to or

partnered Parental Attachment, Academic Condition, and Involvement of

Parents and its Effect to the Students' Performance.

1. Attachment Parenting. According to the observations and

studies of Laurie Courture, (2011), Attachment Parenting is defined as

understanding and coping with the hormonal and physical changes that

his/her child and celebrating it all throughout. It is also defined as always

being on the side of one’s children in support no matter what; moreover, it

is also defined as being open to deep discussions about one’s sexuality,

spirituality, philosophy and others. Furthermore, she also described

Attachment Parenting is the process of protecting one’s children from any

harm that he/she can experience in and out of the internet which is one of

the things that Laurie Courture, (2011) had been doing to her son since he
was a mere child which resulted to his son being as close to her while

being successful on his own life. However, if she hadn’t have done that, it

may have resulted to her child being distant and more likely to be

aggressive towards his/her parent.

2. Parental Attachment in Adolescence. From the observations

and studies of Marlene Moretti and Maya Pelled, (2004), it is concluded

that as adolescents walk into a new life filled with new people and places

partnered with the rapid changes in cognitive, neurological, and social,

adolescents tend to have a dilemma on parental attachment as they tend

to be further away from them; however, little do they know that they are

continuously being supported by their own family whether with or without

them. In relation to the previous literature, it also evident in this study that

adolescents that have a poor parental attachment tend to be more

alcoholic, risky sexual behaviors, and troublesome Cooper ML, Shaver PR,

Collins NL.,(1998); furthermore, this also causes teenage pregnancies and

distance to parents.

3. Parental Involvement and Students’ Academic Performance.

Parental involvement is defined as having an awareness of and

involvement in school work, understanding of the interaction between

parenting skills and the student success in schooling, and a commitment to

students (Nadenge, 2015). Parental involvement could be in two forms,

home based and school based. Home-based parental involvement

includes helping students with homework, talking with them about school,

expressing high expectations, encouraging school success, and providing

structures that are conducive for learning (Altschul, 2012). School-based

parental involvement on the other hand includes volunteering at school,

participating in school events and school organizations as well as

communicating with teachers and school staff.

Nadenge (2015) established a significant positive correlation

between good parent-teacher relationship and parents’ involvement in their

children’s and academic achievement. Students felt that when their

parents are involved in their education, they guide them in making the right

choices in career as well as in discipline (Nadenge, 2015). This also

yielded positive results. It was found that parental involvement has

significance effect in better academic performance of their children. Juma

(2016) reported a very strong positive correlation between parental

involvement in education and students’ academic performance. Epstein,

Sanders, Simon and Salinas (2002) discussed parental involvement as an

educational tool needed to achieve academic success. Oslen and Fuller

(2010) stated that children consistently completing their homework is a

benefit children gain from parental involvement in their education.

4. Parental Occupation on Children’s Academic Performance.

Parental occupation has a significant effect on children’s academic

achievement as well l as their welfare. Good parental occupation has a

positive effect on the academical achievement of students. On the other

hand, possessing a job also reduces the time available for parents to

spend with their children and to involve themselves in their life at school.

Research conducted by Hassan (2009) indicated that there is a

relationship between parental occupational status and academic

performance of their wards. According to Kalil (2005), high occupational

status people have more resources to meet the needs of their homes,

while the low occupational status people have limited resources for the

same.

Parents with higher occupational status and educational attainment

may also have higher aspirations and expectations for their children’s

occupation and education, which in turn can influence their commitment to

learning (Afful, 2014). Juma (2016) concluded that there is a significant

positive correlation between parents’ occupation and students’ academic

performance. According to a study conducted by Okwan (2014), children of

parents who belong to the “skilled” type of occupation such as teaching,

nursing, banking and the likes proved to perform better academically than

their peers whose parents’ occupations were “unskilled” such as petty

trading, subsistent farming and day-labourers at building sites, wood and

cocoa loading sites. Thus, students whose parents are in good formal

employment exhibit higher academic attainments than those whose

parents practice nomadic, peasantry or are unemployed.

Mudassir and Abubakar (2015) conducted a study on the impact of

parents’ occupation on academic performance of secondary school

students in Malaysia. The result showed that students from parents with

formal occupation perform better than those from parents with informal

education. Graetz (2006) opined that parents in unskilled occupations earn

lower incomes and often have to work longer hours to earn more for their

families. Muhammed (2012) conducted a study on the impact of parents’

profession on their children’s learning English in Pakistan. The results

revealed that for learning English, the parents’ profession has a positive

correlation on it that varies with respect to their professions. Parents said

that their occupation determined whether they had enough time with their

children and get involved in their learning or be able to pay their fees and
provide for other needs (Nadenge, 2015). Reeves (2009) asserts that the

economic activities of parents may create problems for day students

arising from a lot of work at home.

Synthesis

Being close to one’s parent/s are often deemed by others as

inappropriate and childish; however, from the observations of Laurie

Courture, it is the path to which his son became successful in his own life

whilst still being able to be close to his parents. In relation to this study, the

observations of Laurie Courture may prove that being attached to one’s

parent/s may even result to a better life just as long as there is constant

open communication and enough love and care. Be that as it may, there

were no such connection to one’s academic conditions yet it had been

proven to be of great aid to her son’s successful life.

With relation to the first given literature, it was founded by Marlene

Moretti and Maya Pelled from their observations that adolescents that as

adolescents walk into the new world and develops their skills, they tend to

seek parental care or even lose Parental Attachment. From this, it is

concluded that adolescents that has poor Parental Attachment tends to be

more troublemakers than those that has better Parental Attachment.

Correlating this to the study, the observations and study of Marlene Moretti

and Maya Pelled aids the importance of Parental Attachment to

Adolescents.

Parents getting involved in their children’s education is a normal site

to see whether it be Home-Based or School-Based Schooling. In recent

studies and observations by Nadenge and Juma, it was evident that

Parental Involvement had a tremendous help in the Student’s Academic

Performance. Furthermore, Parental Involvement in One’s Education is

discussed a tool needed for Academic Success according to Epstein,

Sanders, Simon, and Salinas. In relation to the this study, this literature

had defined that Parental Involvement has a positive effect for the

Student’s Academic Performance and it also enhances the Parents

Attachment to their Children as they feel that they would help the them

make better choices, Nadenge.

One of the leading causes of poor Parental Attachment is Parental

Occupation which can also affect the education of their children. In addition

to this, it has also been evident that one of the most focal point from the

different studies about parental occupation conducted by Afful, and Juma

that parents whom has “skilled” type of occupations such as teaching

nursing, banking and others prove to have a positive effect on their

children’s education whilst those that has parents that has “unskilled” or

unemployed tend to perform poorly. With this, in the literatures would also

aid to understand whether or not the level of parental attachment has a

relationship with one’s academic conditions.

Theoretical Framework

This study will be supported by the following theories:

A. Attachment Theory.

The Attachment Theory was developed by John Bowlby, (1958)

which was further continued by Mary Ainsworth during the 1970s. Bowlby

defined attachment as a lasting psychological connectedness between

human beings. Furthermore, attachment is distinguished by specific

behaviors from children, such as seeking closeness to an attachment

figure when feeling upset or threatened (Bowlby, 1969). Moreover, Bowlby,

(1969) and Ainsworth, (1973) both described Attachment as “Attachment is

a deep and enduring emotional bond that connects one person to another

person across time and space.” In his studies, which was further

elaborated by Mary Ainsworth during the 1970s, they discovered the four
types of Attachment which is the: Secure Attachment, Anxious-

Ambivalent Attachment, Avoidant Attachment, and Disorganised

Attachment.

B. Theory of Academic Achievement

As one of the few theories of academic accomplishment scientifically

evaluated, Walberg's (1981) theory of educational productivity. Walberg's

literary achievement theory postulates that individual students'

psychological qualities and immediate psychological circumstances affect

academic results such as cognitive, behavioral, and attitude-related

(Reynolds & Walberg, 1992). Furthermore, Walberg's research uncovered

nine critical variables that influence educational outcomes: student

ability/prior achievement, motivation, age/developmental stage,

instructional quantity, instructional quality, classroom atmosphere, home

life, and social circle (Walberg, Fraser, & Welch, 1986).

Studies of learning settings have focused on conceptualization and

theory formation in recent decades. In higher education, student

evaluations have typically been incorporated in professor and course

evaluations. According to research on learning environments, psychosocial

features of classroom learning settings have incremental relevance in

 predicting student success. These psychosocial aspects, such as self-

concept, attitudes, behaviors, intrinsic motivation, and overall student

involvement in learning, are valuable in curriculum assessment studies and

may offer instructors information on designing classrooms more ideally

(Astin, 1993; Fraser, Walberg, Welch, & Hattie, 1987; Fullarton, 2002).

Conceptual Framework

Input Process Output

1. Profile of the Students

a. Age
b. Sex
c. Strand  Data Gathering
d. Financial Status through the use of
Survey The relation between
2. The level of Parental Questionnaires Parental Attachment of
Attachment among the  Organizing the Grade 12 Students to
Students determined by Data their Academic
the use of the 4 Types of  Analysis, and Conditions.
Attachment. Presentation of
3. Assess the Academic Statistical Data
Conditions of the
Students through the
use of surveys.

Figure 1: Conceptual Framework through the use of the IPO Model.

This study focuses on determining and assessing the Level of

Parental Attachment as well as the Level of Academic Conditions of Grade

12 Students in order to seek whether or not the variables has any

connection to each other.

Figure 1 shows the Conceptual Framework of this study, it uses the

IPO or the Input-Process-Output Model which indicates what we are trying

to achieve from this study.

Depicted from the figure, it can be seen in the first box are the

certain details and information that the researchers are trying to discover;

meanwhile, the second box contains the process that the researchers will

be conducting in order to gather data to conclude a viable output. The final

box contains the output that the researchers will try to determine using the

earlier processes.
 CHAPTER III

RESEARCH METHOD AND PURPOSE

Research Design

This study will utilize the Descriptive Type of Research which

pertains to the type of research that aims to accurately and systematically

describe a population, situation or phenomenon. This type of research is

an appropriate choice when the research aim is to identify characteristics,

frequencies, trends, and categories. Furthermore, this type of research

design is useful when not much is known yet about the topic or the

problem. Shona McCombes, (2019).

Based from the topic of this study, the researchers had concluded

that the most useful Research Design Type to be utilized is the Descriptive

Type. The topic of this research pertains to the Level of Parental

Attachment and its relation to the Academic Conditions of the students

which fortunately occupies the key things that a Descriptive Design is

primarily utilized for.

Respondents of the Study

This study will mainly focus on Grade 12 Students of Integrated

School of Lawa as their target participants due to the reason that the

researchers deemed them to be the most compatible while being

conventional subjects for this study. Furthermore, the subjects of the study

will be comprised of Thirty-Five (35) students from the different Senior

High Strands ranging from the Academic Strands like STEM (Science,

Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) and HUMSS (Humanities and

Social Sciences) and from the Technical Vocation Strands like ICT

(Information and Communications Technology).

Data Gathering Instrument

The researchers will utilize questionnaires to be able to gather data

from their subjects in order to test their hypothesis and answer their

questions. Since this study is being conducted during the pandemic, the

researchers opted to construct a Survey Questionnaire in Microsoft Office

Word or Google Forms which would be sent through online platforms like
Facebook Messenger and Email to further promote social distancing while

being able to gather data.

Construction. For the researchers, the First thing that they would do

is to look back to the Research Objectives due to the reason that the

Objectives contain the necessary information that would help the

researchers to construct the questions needed for the questionnaires.

Secondly, the researchers would brainstorm certain questions that can aid

them to gather enough data from their participants. The questions created

would be intended for the use of a Likert Scale Type of questionnaire

whilst the other necessary information like the Profile of the Respondents

would be given its own space on top of the questionnaire.

Validation. For validation, the researchers would be coordinating

with the Research Administrator to ensure that their questionnaire is well-

constructed and well-suited for their Objectives and Target Participants.

Furthermore, if the Research Administrator had accepted the

Questionnaire, the researchers would then ask permission to conduct the

Survey.

Administration. The researchers would consequently monitor the

flow of data through their Gadgets, perhaps a Laptop, to continuously

organize the data to further ease their upcoming dilemma of arranging and

analyzing the gathered data.

Scoring of Responses. The Researchers used the Likert Scale as a

format for their questionnaire meaning that the Responses can be scored

from 1-5. The researchers would then place the answers on a Spread

Sheet through the use of Microsoft Excel.

Data Gathering Procedure

Before any further survey, the researchers formulated a Letter of

Approval to their Research Administrator and their Schools Head to allow

them to conduct the study among the Campus Students; if granted, the

researchers would then start distributing the Questionnaire. The study

would be conducted in under the span of one to two weeks in order to fully

get the needed amount of respondents as well as to give respect to the

Respondent’s time. After one to two weeks of conducting the studies, the

researchers would then organize the data based from the Respondent’s

Profile and Answers.

Statistical Treatment of Data

After the researchers retrieved and organized the data, they will then

analyze it using Descriptive Statistic Treatment like the:

Percentage. This can be used in any situation and equation there is;

in addition to this, it is another way of expressing numbers as a fraction of

100. In this study, this will be for the profile of the Respondents while for

the rest is the Inferential Statistic Treatment like the

T-Test. It is also referred as STudent’s Test, this test can be used to

compare two different set of values. Furthermore, this is used for small set

of values small samples by using Means and Sandard Deviation to make a

Comparison.

Chi Square Test. This test is used to identify the significant

relationship of demographic profiles; moreover, it is also used to compare

observed results. The researchers will use the given Tests as they deemed

to be the most compatible to Test for their Study; in addition, these tests
are more precise which may lead to better results that can prove the

Hypothesis.