ABSTRACTS

Happiness and the Filipino College Student: The role of self-esteem and social support in judgments of well-being
by Jose Alberto S. Reyes, PhD
Counseling and Educational Psychology Department
De La Salle University-Manila

The paper presents the results of a study that was conducted to assess the salience of self-esteem and social support in the prediction of the subjective well-being (SWB) of Filipino college students. Students from a state university in Metro Manila (n-243) were recruited for this study. Results of the study showed that self-esteem does not always serve as the most evident when affective measures of SWB were utilized. Implications of the findings on formulations of SWB in the Philippine context were presented

The study looked into the acculturation experience of international students from DLSU-Manila. More specifically, the study tried to  explore the nature of acculturative stress that international students of DLSU-Manila experienced. Eight international students participated in a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) while 22 students served as respondents for the in-depth interviews. Results of the study suggest that the respondents did not experience major difficulties as they went through the process of acculturation to their life as students of DLSU-manila. Students? ratings of the stress experienced during their adjustment process indicate only mild levels of stress. The major source of stress is in the academic domain and this is mainly due to problems with language competency and adjusting to a new system of education.

This study analyzed school events of situations deemeddifficult for students in the College of Dentistry in the University of the Philippines Manila, how they appraised the event, and how they coped with these events. Results reveal that there are three prominent episodes most stressful to dental students: the frequent and many examinations that occur within a week; failure in examinations; and difficult academic load. In assessing the primary appraisal of the events, result shows that threats to career goal, health, and self-esteem rank high. In secondary appraisal or the coping options available to  students, result reveals that despite the odds dental students feel that situations like these must be accepted. In coping with these events, students resort to planful  problem-solving, accepting responsibility, and positive reappraisal

The study identified the central dimensions of perfectionism, and analyzed the relationship of perfectionism with personality factors (emotional stability and conscientiousness) and distress in Filipino university students by employing qualitative and quantitative methods. The measure of perfectionism utilized was the Frost Multi-dimensional Perfectionism Scale. Emotional stability and conscientiousness were assessed by indigenous personality measures. Distress was measured with the Beck Depression Inventory. Quantitative results indicate that the overall student sample (n=108) emphasize order and orderliness, set high standards for performance and evaluation, and have a tendency to perceive that their parents have high performance expectations. Perfectionism is indicated by the propensity to be sensitive to criticism and be agitated in the event or tribulations, have temperamental disposition, manifest a tendency to be hesitant decision-maker, and display irresponsible behavior when accomplishing assigned tasks are also indicative of perfectionism. The findings reveal that distress results from maladaptive interpretation process adopted by the individual. Qualitative results indicate that the adaptive contribution of valued social relationships is important in the achievement strivings of perfectionists. The academic life domain is the area wherein perfectionistic tendencies were most salient. Significant others play an important role in the origin of and continued adherence to perfectionistic values and beliefs. Overall the results underscore the significance and ubiquity of the independent nature of the self in the Philippine setting.

The study identified the needs and issues of practicing counselors in the educational setting. Quantitative results clearly point to the reality that school counselors assume wide and varied functions that are related to the academic career, and personal-social development of students. Skills in counseling, research, individual and group strategies, and in the enhancement of professional  growth were deemed as necessary counselor competencies. The professionalization of the practice of counseling was also a key issue that was articulated by participants. Results highlight the need for counselor education program to emphasize practicum experiences that would equip the counselor trainee with necessary skills and confidence to handle multiple roles and functions. Recommendations are enumerated based on the descriptive data that was obtained.

In response to the need to measure people?s perceptions of their expected performance levels and their expectancies for success in achievement situations, this study was conceived. It served a two-fold purpose: (1)to examine whether advance counselor trainees differ in their perceived self-efficacy judgments, and (2) to explore the efficacious person?s cognitive processes in terms of reasons propelling subsequent counseling actions. In order to address these research goals, the quantitative and qualitative approaches were employed. A total of 40 masters and doctoral students of De La Salle University who were grouped into two, served as participants. They were asked to respond to Larson?s Counseling Self-Estimate inventory and a question constructed for the purpose of this study. Results reveal that the advanced counselor trainees differ significantly with beginning counselor trainees in four and over-all perceived self-efficacy. In particular, they appear to be more confident with their basic and advanced counseling skills, in dealing with difficult client behaviors and are aware of their values that might interfere in their counseling work. Furthermore, both groups seem to be confident in handling client who are different from them in terms of socio-economic status and cultural background. These counselor trainees who judged their self-efficacy to be high expected better counseling performance interns of applying skills learned in training,  conceptualizing case problems, dealing with their own issues, establishing a clear counseling philosophy, accepting capability to do counseling work, going through client?s experiences, being non-judgmental and continuously updating and improving oneself.

This study identified predictor variables of life satisfaction among single women and disputed the misconceptions about them. Results revealed that the single women midlifers are moderately satisfied with their life contrary to the views of the society that they are likely to be frustrated with life due failure in finding a lifetime partner. Likewise the study shows that the life satisfaction among single women is best predicted by self-esteem, goal attainment of relatedness, community feeling or helpfulness, and image.

Published Issues:

• Volume 3 November 2000
• Volume 4 November 2001
• Volume 5 February 2003
• Volume 6 February 2004
• Volume 7 February 2005

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