Psychological Development of Left-Behind Children in the Philippines, Mother-Migrant Transnational Families, and Filipino Culture

This grounded theory study seeks to explore the unique cultural characteristics and the different contexts that surround the Filipino mother-migrant transnational families in relation to the psychological development of their left-behind children. Past research studies on Philippine migration, in particular maternal migration, and its impact on the wellbeing of left-behind children have relied heavily on Western values and paradigms that usually do not represent the Filipino culture. To capture a more culturally appropriate understanding of the Filipino psychology, this study will be guided by a methodology and framework that is in keeping with Cultural Psychology best practices. The study will answer the following questions: (1) What are the different parental ethnotheories existing in a Filipino mother-migrant transnational family? (2) What are the different surrounding contexts (e.g., social, economic, religious, familial etc.) of a Filipino mother-migrant transnational family? (3) What does a psychologically healthy child mean for a Filipino mother-migrant transnational family? (4) How do Filipino mother-migrant transnational family's parental ethnotheories, surrounding contexts, and concept of a psychologically healthy child shape the development of their left-behind children?...