Universitas: Journal of Global Research and Innovation
Published September 23, 2026 | Version 1.0
Journal article Open

Stronger Than Two: A Case Study on Social Development of Children in Single-Parent Households

Description

Children in single-parent households develop within family, school, and community environments that may be shaped by limited time, financial strain, reduced parental presence, and social pressure. Guided by Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems Theory, this qualitative case study explored how three single parents in Davao City supported their children's social development. Participants were purposively selected, and data were obtained through semi-structured in-depth interviews, field observations, and document review. Thematic analysis identified challenges involving family responsibilities, school demands, inconsistent caregiving arrangements, community pressure, time constraints, financial limitations, limited maternal presence, and communication difficulties. Parents responded through regular parent-child communication, emotional support, positive behavior guidance, social opportunities, extended-family assistance, parent-teacher communication, monitoring, community support, time management, and personal resilience. The study further revealed that patience, communication, quality time, school partnership, parental strength, appropriate boundaries, and responses to social pressure shaped parents' understanding of their children's social growth. This study concludes that children's social development in single-parent households is influenced by interacting conditions across home, school, and community settings. Consistent communication, emotional support, collaborative school relationships, safe social participation, and accessible support systems can strengthen children's confidence, adjustment, and social competence.

Files

Stronger Than Two A Case Study on Social Development of Children in Single Parent Households.pdf

Files (339.2 kB)

Additional details

References

  • Aloro, A. L., Berbano, A. S., Ellamil, M. B., Calubiran, G., & Suarez, G.-S. P. A. (2024). Challenges encountered by solo parents' in raising their children in Nagcarlan, Laguna: Basis for an action plan development. International Journal for Multidisciplinary Research, 6(3). https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2024.v06i03.23139
  • Ballerini, A., & Guetto, R. (2024). Single-parent families and adolescents' wellbeing in Europe: A multilevel analysis. Rivista Italiana di Economia Demografia e Statistica, 78(1), 219–230. https://doi.org/10.71014/sieds.v78i1.273
  • Bronfenbrenner, U. (1994). Ecological models of human development. In T. Husén & T. N. Postlethwaite (Eds.), International encyclopedia of education (2nd ed., Vol. 3, pp. 1643–1647). Pergamon Press.
  • Bugayon, M. T., Calong, G. D., Grafilo, J. J. C., Hernandez, M. G. D., Mansia, K. J. R., Marsabal, K. R., Nisnisan, S. V. A., Talattad, I. P. A., & Cruz, H. G. M. (2024). Navigating parenthood alone: The lived experiences of Filipino single mothers in child-rearing. Psychology and Education: A Multidisciplinary Journal, 26(10), 1204–1212. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13983292
  • Dai, B., He, Y., & Peng, M. (2025). Enhancing resilience in single-parent family adolescents in China: A randomized controlled trial based on home-school collaborative intervention. BMC Public Health, 25, Article 1573. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-22662-y
  • Dela Luna, K. L. G., Castro, M. J. G., & Ferido, M. P. (2023). Never enough! A qualitative study on single-parenting and child-rearing in a selected community in Nagcarlan, Laguna. UP Los Baños Journal, 21(2), 26–46. https://www.ukdr.uplb.edu.ph/journal-articles/5901
  • Erdogan, Y., Hammami, N., & Elgar, F. J. (2023). Bullying, family support, and life satisfaction in adolescents of single-parent households in 42 countries. Child Indicators Research, 16, 739–753. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12187-022-09996-4
  • Gallego, J. G. D. (2022). Skills, challenges, and academic performance of 21st-century learners of solo parents. Psychology and Education: A Multidisciplinary Journal, 6(3), 247–265. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7447207
  • Grüning Parache, L., Vogel, M., Meigen, C., Kiess, W., & Poulain, T. (2024). Family structure, socioeconomic status, and mental health in childhood. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 33(7), 2377–2386. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-023-02329-y
  • Joseph, N., Burn, A.-M., & Anderson, J. (2023). The impact of community engagement as a public health intervention to support the mental well-being of single mothers and children living under housing insecure conditions: A rapid literature review. BMC Public Health, 23, Article 1866. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-16668-7
  • Li, D., & Guo, X. (2023). The effect of the time parents spend with children on children's well-being. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, Article 1096128. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1096128
  • Naito, T., Tomata, Y., Otsuka, T., Tsuno, K., & Tabuchi, T. (2022). Did children in single-parent households have a higher probability of emotional instability during the COVID-19 pandemic? A nationwide cross-sectional study in Japan. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(7), Article 4239. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19074239
  • Pinatil, M. C., Gimarangan, R. T., & Limbaga, M. G. (2023). Lived experiences of RA 8972 Solo Parent Act of 2000. International Journal of Law and Politics Studies, 5(6), 43–55. https://doi.org/10.32996/ijlps.2023.5.6.5
  • Piotrowski, C. C. (2024). Exploring linkages between mother–child and sibling relationship quality and prosocial behavior between school-aged and adolescent siblings. Journal of Family Issues, 45(4), 833–851. https://doi.org/10.1177/0192513X231162965
  • Plesko, C. M., Yu, Z., Tobin, K., & Gross, D. (2021). Social connectedness among parents raising children in low-income communities: An integrative review. Research in Nursing & Health, 44(6), 957–969. https://doi.org/10.1002/nur.22189
  • Pratiwi, W. R., Sari, Y. K., & Fatmawati. (2025). The relationship between mothers who are both working and single parents and their children's independence. Journal of Mental Health Concerns, 4(3), 151–156. https://doi.org/10.56922/mhc.v4i3.1301
  • Ratliff, E. L., Morris, A. S., Cui, L., Jespersen, J. E., Silk, J. S., & Criss, M. M. (2023). Supportive parent-adolescent relationships as a foundation for adolescent emotion regulation and adjustment. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, Article 1193449. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1193449
  • Savell, S. M., Saini, R., Ramos, M., Wilson, M. N., Lemery-Chalfant, K., & Shaw, D. S. (2023). Family processes and structure: Longitudinal influences on adolescent disruptive and internalizing behaviors. Family Relations, 72(1), 361–382. https://doi.org/10.1111/fare.12728
  • Shamsaee, M., Hossienimajd, H. S., Parsa Brojeni, A., Ghanad Tousi, D., & Ghasemzadeh, A. (2024). The psychological effects of parentification in girls within single-parent families. Psychology of Woman Journal, 5(2), 19–24. https://doi.org/10.61838/kman.pwj.5.2.4
  • Sia, S. K., & Aneesh, A. (2024). Single-parent adolescents' resilience and psychological well-being: The role of social competence and emotion regulation. Journal of Indian Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 20(3), 205–211. https://doi.org/10.1177/09731342241239441
  • Štremfel, U., Šterman Ivančič, K., & Peras, I. (2024). Addressing the sense of school belonging among all students? A systematic literature review. European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education, 14(11), 2901–2917. https://doi.org/10.3390/ejihpe14110190
  • Stritzel, H., & Crosnoe, R. (2023). Unpacking the linkages between single parent households and early adolescent adjustment. Social Science Research, 110, Article 102841. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssresearch.2022.102841
  • Ursache, A., Barajas-Gonzalez, R. G., & Dawson-McClure, S. (2022). Neighborhood influences on the development of self-regulation among children of color living in historically disinvested neighborhoods: Moderators and mediating mechanisms. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, Article 953304. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.953304
  • Viterbo, L. D. C. (2025). A phenomenological study of the lived experiences among single parents in Kidapawan City. International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation, 12(5), 1476–1492. https://doi.org/10.51244/IJRSI.2025.120500141
  • Wang, M., Fan, Y., Zhang, Q., Sun, Q., Wan, G., & Hong, J. S. (2023). Multigenerational care or parental care? Familial care types, social–emotional development and mediation of parent–child relationship of single-parent children in mainland China. Child & Family Social Work, 28(3), 833–845. https://doi.org/10.1111/cfs.13008
  • Zapf, H., Boettcher, J., Haukeland, Y. B., Orm, S., Coslar, S., & Fjermestad, K. W. (2024). A systematic review of the association between parent-child communication and adolescent mental health. JCPP Advances, 4(2), Article e12205. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcv2.12205
  • Zhao, K., Chen, N., Liu, G., Lun, Z., & Wang, X. (2023). School climate and left-behind children's achievement motivation: The mediating role of learning adaptability and the moderating role of teacher support. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, Article 1040214. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1040214