1

CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

In society, a mother’s role is to takecare of her offspring and her family. Lots of

women look forward to motherhood – getting to know a tiny baby, raising a growing

child, developing a relationship with a maturing son or daughter. Procreation specify that

a married couples should want children and should actually have them. Ann Landers

(2009) stated that “Everyone should have children. No one should be allowed to escape

the wonderful experience that accompanies each stage in the development of the young

(p11). All over the world, people believe that parenting is the most rewarding part of life

but as time changes, high numbers of married couples are becoming childless..Society

views that there is nothing sadder than a childless couple for children are seen to be a

source of happiness. The marital satisfaction among couples with and without children

may particularly influenced and this effect on the couple is the focus of this study.

In Philippine culture, it is the norm to marry and have children. People often say

that life is more fulfilling when you have kids. It is revealed in 2013 National

Demographic and Health Survey that among married women, more than one out of three

married couples do not have any children and every one of them has their own reasons: it

can either be their own choice or cause of infertility.

As cited by Khan and Majid (Little 2011), marriage is social contract between two

people recognizes legally, traditionally based on a sexual relationship and implying a

permanence of the union. A group consisting of two parents and their children living

together as a unit is called a family. Different societies defined family in this way that
 2

each family member had a certain role within family in which one is father, mother and

their child. Family can be defined in different terms or manners that family members are

grouped together in particular status roles in a strict array. A family in which a person is

born is called Orientation family. The family in which person is bound in relations after

marriage is called Procreation family. These issues are culturally differentiated in all over

the world.

Powdthavee (2013) and Sander (2010) emphasized that parents often report

statistically significantly lower level of happiness, life satisfaction, marital satisfaction,

and mental well-being compare with non-parents. The presence of a child is significantly

associated with lower marital satisfaction which results in a decline on marital

satisfaction due to the fact that children impose additional household chore on couples.

Catualin, Lansangan and Leon (2005), noted that children is the primary reason for

changes in level of marital satisfaction.. Marital satisfaction is greater in families with

fewer or no children. The transition to parenthood affects marital satisfaction about 13%

of couples report a severe decline in marital satisfaction about 38% report a moderate

decline,30% see no difference and 19% improve their marriages. Children are often

source of stress and strain in marriage. Researchers also point out that more vital and

happy relationships among those without children because childfree couples can devote

more time to their marriages.

Campbell, Foster and Twenge (2003), on their research on “Parenthood and

Marital Satisfaction: A meta-analytic Review” theorized that the parents report lower

marital satisfaction than non parents. People with more children report greater marital

dissatisfaction than people with fewer children. The effect size is stronger when parents
 3

are compared with nonparents than when correlating marital satisfaction and number of

children. Becoming a parent has the largest effect on marital satisfaction.Mothers of

infants are significantly more dissatisfied with their marriages than any other group (e.g.,

men with infants, men with older children and women with older children.)The large

effect for mothers of infants suggests that marital satisfaction decreases the most among

the individuals who are most responsible for the child.In the vast majority of cases is the

mother. As cited by Campbell , (Meijer and Wittenboer , 2007), indicated that a handful

of factors do impact how couples experience their marital satisfaction after they become

parents. The first significant interaction was between sex and parental status. Women

who had children reported being less satisfied in their marriages than men (p.580).

This study considers the problem associated with couples with and without

children and and its impact on the level of marital satisfaction. The researchers chose this

topic because of their interest on finding whose couples are more satisfied in their

married life: those who are childless or those who have a child?. Researchers also knew

couples with and without children who both stated that they have been satisfied with their

life. So, the major aim of the present study is to investigate the difference between

couples with and without chidren and the level of marital satisfaction .
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Statement of the Problem

The study aims to determine the differenece of marital satisfaction among couples

with and without children. Specifically, it aims to answer the following:

1. What is the profile of the respondents in terms of

1.1 socioeconomic Status, and

1.1.1 middle class,

1.1.2 upper middle class

1.2 length of Marriage ?

2. What is the level of the respondent’s marital satisfaction in terms of the following

2.1 communication,

2.2 financial management,

2.3 leisure activities,and

2.4 sexual relationship?

3. What is the level of the respondent’s marital satisfaction in terms of the domains

in relation to the demographic variables?

4. Is there a significant difference between couples with and without children in

relation to the level of marital satisfaction?

Hypothesis

There is no significant difference between couples with and without children in

relation to marital satisfaction.

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Significance of the Study

The researchers believe that this study will be beneficial to the following:

Married Couples.This study will be beneficial to married couples especially to those

who wanted to have a child and those who wanted to remain childless. This may help

them be aware on how being childless can affect marital satisfaction, thereby challenge

them on whether to have a child or not.

Students. This study will benefit students by using this as a reference on research papers,

and can also help them better understand adults who are married but are childless. This

will enable them to be more aware on the society and the choices married couples do.

Researchers. Other researchers in the same topic will find this study helpful. This

research will add to the existing body of knowledge and create room for further research

necessary on involuntary and voluntary childlessness and its impact on marital

satisfaction of the couples.

Scope and Limitation

This research only focused on the study of the level of marital satisfaction in

terms of four domains which are communication, financial management, leisure

activities, and sexual relationship among couples with and without offspring in Philam,

Pamplona Dos, Las pinas City. The demographic profile investigated in the study

includes socioeconomic status which are middle class, upper middle class, and length of

marriage. This study is limited to couples with and without children in Philam, Pamplona

Dos, Las Piñas City.

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Theoretical Framework

Childlessness has different consequences through its effects on societies and on

the lifestyles and life chances of individuals. The childless lifestyle increases life

satisfaction for some individuals or couples, while diminishing it for others, for whom

parenthood was a personal goal.

A Psychoanalytic theory proposed by Sigmund Freud gives importance to

reproductive ability in defining an individual’s sense of self and the powerful influence of

sexuality. This suggests that are childless womentraditionally viewed as pathological,

unable to achieve their functional and most fulfilling role in society. The theory states

that a woman’s task is to be a mother to her children and that she must bear a child. It is a

fulfilment of the self and an individual’s primary aim to know its stand in the society. It

was said that being childless significantly affects the identity formations for it is a woman

who’s the primary job of caring her female and male offspring.

Bronte-Tinkew, Carrano, Cleveland, and Moore (2003) in their journal

“Conceptualizing and Measuring Healthy Marriages For Empirical Research and

Evaluation Studies: A Compendium of Measures- Part II”, ENRICH Marital Satisfaction

(EMS) Scale was used that to measure marital satisfaction, the EMS also give categories

that are used to identify how satisfie coupls are in the relationship and some of these are

communication, financial management, leisure activities, and sexual intimacy.

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Conceptual Framework

Demographic Profile

Couples with Children Couples without Children

Marital satisfaction in terms

of :

1. Communication
2. Financial Management
3. Leisure Activities
4. Sexual Relationship

Figure 1

The figure shows how marital satisfaction can be affected on having a child and being

childless by measuring the domainswhich arethe communication, financial

management, leisure activities, and sexual relationship in relation to respondents

demographic profile.
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Definition of Terms

The following words are operationally defined, this is based on how they are used

in the study.

Couples with Children is defined in this study as the married couples having an

offsprinng.

Couples without Children is defined as the married couples who are childless.

Marital Satisfaction refers to the evaluation to quality of relationship the couple has, and

how each individual satisfy the needs and desire of their partner.
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CHAPTER II

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES

This chapter presents the literature and foreign and local studies which the

researchers found relevant to the present study.

A. Related Literature

Petersen (2011), discussed in her article “So Cute, So Hard on a Marriage” that

numerous studies have shown that a couples' satisfaction with their marriage takes a

nose dive after the first child is born. Sleepless nights and fights over whose turn it is

to change diapers can leach the fun out of a relationship.Now, a growing number of

mental-health professionals are advising couples to undergo pre-baby counseling to

hash out marital minefields such as divvying up baby-related responsibilities, money

issues and expectations for sex and social lives. A growing number of hospitals,

midwives and doulas are teaching relationship skills alongside childbirth education

classes.About two-thirds of couples see the quality of their relationship drop within

three years of the birth of a child, according to data from the Relationship Research

Institute in Seattle, a nonprofit organization focused on strengthening families.

Conflict increases and, with little time for adult conversation and sex, emotional

distance can develop.

In the book “Infertility Counseling: A Comprehensive Handbook for Clinicians”

Burns and Covington (2006), proposed that although the value and reasons for having

children may have changed as the world moved away from agrarian, tribal or feudal

social structures to urbanization and industrialization, children remain fundamentally

 10

important. In the past, children may have been valued for primarily economic reasons

(e.g., labor value to the family), but with the Industrial Revolution in eighteenth-

century Europe, the family home became a private retreat from the challenges of the

world. Reproduction and procreation shifted from a matter of survival to a source of

personal happiness, resulting in smaller families and a focus on parent/child

relationships. As children became more valuable as a source of personal happiness,

childlessness took on new psychosocial dimensions. Prior to the Industrial

Revolution, motherhood was never a psychologically significant role for women –

and, in fact, many women interpreted motherhood and childbirth as burdensome to

their own health and well-being. Fewer workers were needed after the Industrial

Revolution, so motherhood became an important and worthy occupation for women,

taking women out of the workplace and thereby, providing more jobs for men. As a

result, motherhood became an idealized and glorified occupation – and gave women

something to do. Childless women were viewed as maladjusted and unable (or

unwilling) to conform to appropriate gender roles – a viewpoint influenced by the

burgeoning science of psychiatry and an earlier feminist movement in which women

demanded the right to vote in democracies around the world.

According to Vesper (2008) on his article “No to children, Yes to

childfreedom”,the most problematic issue for men and women in the early family

years is who cares for the children. Neither the traditional male/female division nor

the new egalitarian sharing arrangements stand out as ideal: Modern couples get

penalized either way. When one parent brings home the bacon while the other stays

home to look after the child, both can feel underappreciated and strapped
 11

economically, which cause burdens to the marriage and to the children. When both

parents work outside the family, they tend to feel better about themselves and about

their contributions to the family economy, but parents and children are breathless,

often missing the opportunity for intimate moments. In addition to having higher

levels of marital satisfaction, childfree marriages tend to be more egalitarian with

more freedom to modify conventional sex roles.

In the journal “Voluntary Childlessness and Being Childfree,” Basten (2009),

identified two distinct yet interrelated motivational factors toward choosing to be

childfree –the attraction or pull of being childfree and the rejection or the push away

from motherhood. The former is characterized by increased freedom, and better

relationships with partners and others, while the push from motherhood involves a

loss of identity and a rejection of the activities associated with motherhood. One

significant ‘pull’ towards being childless is surely that couples often appear to be

happier without offspring. Even in 1957, it was said that the coming of a child

represented a “crisis‟ for the marriage, although with a pro-natalist overtone – like

military service, childbearing was „a rough experience, but worth it‟. In Winnipeg,

couples were, ultimately, happier without children; it was found that despite negative

stereotyping by friends, being voluntarily childfree displayed higher levels of dyadic

cohesion and dyadic satisfaction. Among lesbian couples who either adopt or become

parents via assisted reproduction, the quality of life often falls significant, less

stressful “marital adjustment” is observed among those without. In terms of financial

expenditure, it was stated that “married couples without kids have more discretionary

income than households with children”. (p.10)

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Chancey and Dumais (2009), discussed in their journal “Voluntary Childlessness

in Marriage and Family Textbooks” that the voluntarily childless choose their career,

independence, and romantic relationships over children. Apart from these, each

decade seemed to have a theme that set it apart from the other decades. The textbooks

sampled are characterized by many shifts in perspective, including a change from

treating parents as tough, hardy individuals to hinting that parents are jealous of those

who have freedom from children. In the 1950s, there was a certain attitude about

people who choose not to have children. They were faint of heart; not up to the

challenge of child rearing. From concerns about pain in childbirth to worries about

whether one had what it takes to be a parent, adding children to a family in the 1950s

was perceived to be a definite risk. The tone of these books did not seem to have the

goal of dissuading people from child rearing. Rather, it seemed to reward the

intestinal fortitude of parents (p.13).

Shukert (2010) in her article “My Happy, Childless Marriage” that according to a

released results from the Marriage and Cohabitation Study, begun by the Centers for

disease Control and Prevention in 2002, 79 percent of couples who has a baby within

eight months of getting married were still together in 10 years. Some 54 percent of

couples that conceived a child together before getting married made it to 10 years, as

did 55 percent of couples that already has child prior to marrying, and the percentage

of childless couples that celebrated a 10th anniversary is 34 percent. According to Bill

Mosher, a statistician at the CDC, not having children during a first marriage can

sometimes be an indicator that there is stress within the marriage; an inability to have

children also cause or can cause stress on the relationship and once children do arrive,
 13

they often become a strong reason for people to stay together. However, an

interesting contrast with the data from the extensive National Survey of Families and

Households, which found no significant difference in reported ‘happiness’ between

childless couples and couples with children, and or with the finding of another study

carried out by two researchers at the University of Pennsylvania reported that while

men seem to get happier as they move into middle age, women’s happiness levels

peak in their twenties and sharply decrease from there. From the data, one could also

reasonably infer that parenthood is like any other difficult, stressful job, and not an

automatic, unrevoked plug in to some metaphysical Na’vi dead Relative Sex Tree of

Bliss.

Dingfelder (2011), in her article “Must babies always breed marital satisfaction?”

discussed that after having a baby, 64 percent of couples see their marital satisfaction

plummet according to a research presented at APA’s 2011 Annual Convention by

John Gottman. Gottman said on his research that post-baby discontent is so common

and many people think it’s inevitable and acceptable. But what they probably don’t

realize is the negative impact squabbling couples can have on their children. John

Gottman together with his wife Julie Gottman, PhD, has been studying examples of

the 33 percent of couples who stay happy after having a baby. According to a

randomized trial published in the Journal of Family Communication (Vol. 5, No.1),

participants in the Gottmans’ workshop before the birth of their babies were,

following their babies birth, more likely to remain satisfied with their relationships

than participants in a waitlist control group(p. 9).

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Walker (2011), in her article “Fact or Fiction: Childfree Couples Are Happier

than Couples with Kids” remarked that children would bring a ray of sunshine to a

home. Likewise, a couple that is drifting apart or lacking for conversation at the

dinner table could bring new energy to their marriage with the addition of a bundle of

joy. The reality, however, is that this does not usually happen. The myth of the

bonding effect of babies on marriage has been shattered through well-documented

research. The American Sociological Association recently conducted a study on this

very topic and found that parents are more likely to be depressed than their childfree

counterparts. In fact, people without kids were happier than any other group,

including empty nesters.

In the article “Parenthood and Happiness”, Hansen (2011), discussed that a

different image of childless persons exists that sees them not as unfulfilled and lonely,

but rather as pleasure-seeking individualists. Qualitative studies show that parents

often view the voluntary childless as immature and self-centered persons, who want

to live free from obligations and responsibilities and to just focus on their career,

leisure activities and romantic relationships .

Hendrick (2009), stated in his article “Kids can make a beautiful marriage ugly”

that There was a significant decrease in marital satisfaction for both men and women

after the birth of a child. Sudden increases in problem intensity and poor conflict

management, and decreases in relationship confidence, were seen in mothers after

birth; a sudden decrease in relationship dedication was seen in fathers.In the couples

without children, declines in marital satisfaction occurred gradually over time. Men

had decreased relationship dedication, as well, over time.Mothers with daughters had
 15

greater decreases in marital satisfaction compared to mothers who had boys. The

authors write that their findings are “consistent with previous studies that have shown

that male children are associated with lower rates of divorce and higher marital

satisfaction, possibly because fathers of girls are less active in childcare than fathers

of boys.”

Professor of behavioral science Powdthavee (2013), discussed that the warnings

for prospective parents are even more stark than ‘it’s not going to make you happier’.

On aggregate, parents often report statistically significantly lower levels of happiness,

life satisfaction, marital satisfaction, and mental well-being compared with non-

parents. There is also evidence that the strains associated with parenthood are not

only limited to the period during which children are physically and economically

dependent. There are findings that those older parents whose children have left home

report the same or slightly less happiness than non-parents of similar age and status.

Thus, what these results are suggesting is something very controversial – that having

children does not bring joy to our lives.

B. Foreign Studies

A study of Factors Contributing to Marital Satisfaction by Mathews (2002), found

that the decline in the percentage of individuals who are happily married and an

increase in the percentage of those who are not happily married was noted, in

accordance with an increase in the number of years married, until the twentieth year.

In the 21 years and above category 50% of the respondents are satisfied with their

marriage and 50% are not satisfied with their marriage. The findings of this study

support the theory that marital satisfaction decreases in the first 10-20 years of
 16

marriage, it did not support that marital satisfaction may increase again in late

adulthood and retirement. These findings may imply that the number of years married

may contribute to the steady decline in the percentage of individuals who are happily

married as duration of marriage increases. Perhaps it is not only the number of years

married per se but that individuals are more honest and take a more objective view

regarding their relationships as duration of marriage increases (p.42). In the

demographic profile of respondents in terms of presence of a child- the hypothesis

that there would be no relationship between the presence of children in the home and

marital satisfaction was not supported by the findings. In the 6-10 category, 11-15

year category and the 16 years and above category, the mean of the respondents fall

into the 'not satisfied' with their marriage category, because the mean of the scores is

above 30. This also occurs in the category where individuals have one or more

children in both the 0-5 and 11-15 year category and also individuals who have one or

more children in the 6-10 and 16 and above year category. In the category where

individuals have a child/children in only the 0-5 year category, the mean of the scores

falls within the 'satisfied with the marriage' range. The mean of the scores is 30 or

below. As Mathews cited (White and Booth ) who found no apparent negative effect

on marriage due to the transition to parenthood . They speculated that while the

presence of children in the home may not necessarily impact negatively on marital

quality, it might delay the divorces of many couples that are in unhappy marriages

(p.44).

Campbell, Foster and Twenge (2003), on their research on “Parenthood and

Marital Satisfaction: A meta-analytic Review” theorized that the parents report lower
 17

marital satisfaction than non parents. People with more children report greater marital

dissatisfaction than people with fewer children. The effect size is stronger when

parents are compared with nonparents than when correlating marital satisfaction and

number of children. In addition, marital satisfaction is lower among parents of

infants, particularly mothers. Taken together,these results suggest that the transition

to parenthood is crucial. Becoming a parent has the largest effect on marital

satisfaction.Mothers of infants are significantly more dissatisfied with their marriages

than any other group (e.g., men with infants, men with older children and women

with older children.)The large effect for mothers of infants suggests that marital

satisfaction decreases the most among the individuals who are most responsible for

the child.In the vast majority of cases is the mother. As cited by Campbell , (Meijer

and Wittenboer , 2007), found a decrease in marital satisfaction that was more

pronounced in women than men in the age of 35 following the birth of their first

child. They attributed this finding to the insomnia created by a crying baby and the

gender norms that dictate that childcare is a woman’s job. Having to revert to

traditional gender roles after becoming a mother may be the cause of the significant

decrease in female’s marital satisfaction. The results indicated that a handful of

factors do impact how couples experience their marital satisfaction after they become

parents. The first significant interaction was between sex and parental status. Women

who had children reported being less satisfied in their marriages than men (p.580).

According to Sokolski (2004), marital relationship is perhaps the most complex,

contradictory, and fulfilling of all human relationships. They state that in no other

relationship are there such high expectations for such a long period of time. Because
 18

marriage is supposed to last forever, and because people enter into marriage with such

high expectations, there can be many causes of disappointment. It is a

multidimensional phenomenon and is represented on a continuum reflecting

"numerous characteristics of marital interactions and marital functioning. In her study

entitled “A Study of Marital Satisfaction in Graduate Students Marriages “ , found

that the couples without children reported higher levels of satisfaction, though this

finding was significant only at the .05 level. The presence of children increases

responsibility, adds to financial demands, and changes the parameters of the family

unit. Specifically in graduate student marriages, parenting responsibilities do not ebb

and flow with semester requirements and final examinations. Thus having children

could impact overall stress and overall life satisfaction, both of which were related to

marital satisfaction (76).

Cowan, Cowan, Hirschberger, Marsh and Srivastava (2009) in their study

“Attachment, marital satisfaction and divorce in the first fifteen years of parenthood”

stated that many married individuals experience significant changes in their lives after

they become parents, including identity changes, shifting roles in the marriage and

outside the family, and changes in the relationship with their own parents. How do

couple relationships fare over time after partners become parents, and what are the

factors that predict the long-term marital success of these couples? Over the past 50

years, a number of researchers have proposed that marital satisfaction peaks around

the time of the wedding and tends to decline from that point on. Nonetheless, some

recent evidence suggests that when children leave home couples experience an

increase in their marital satisfaction. The transition to parenthood is a particularly

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important milestone event in a marriage that provides excitement and joy, but is also

often related to distress in the individual parents. Thus, the period following this

transition may be a critical time for determining the health and longevity of the

marital relationship. The birth of a first child presents a significant challenge for

married couples, as their relationship undergoes a transition from a dyadic unit to a

family of three or more. This transition may affect the family system in many

different ways, both positive and negative. On the positive side, parents often

experience a sense of gratification and joy over having a new baby. On the negative

side, they may also experience exhaustion, lack of time for themselves, and more

disagreement over issues pertaining to care of the baby and the division of family

labor. These strains and difficulties may affect the quality of their relationship as a

couple adversely. One of the earliest findings in the marital satisfaction literature is

that partners’ satisfaction tends to be high around the time of the wedding, after

which it begins a slow but steady decline. The birth of the first child is not the only

factor responsible for the decline in marital satisfaction. It is possible that some of the

decline in marital satisfaction is a function of time and erosion in the relationship that

may characterize childless couples as well. Nevertheless, the period following

childbirth is a time that merits special attention because the transition seems to

introduce additional stress and strife into the couple relationship, which may

accelerate the decline in marital satisfaction. Indeed, a recent meta-analysis reveals

that although childless couples experience a decline in marital satisfaction over time,

parents are significantly less satisfied than non-parents are, and number of children is

reliably related to marital dissatisfaction. Since the pioneering study of LeMasters

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(1957) , research has consistently shown that the transition to parenthood poses a

serious challenge if not a crisis for marriage. Given the high rates of divorce in

contemporary marriages it seems imperative that we understand the key risks and

buffers to marital stability.

Bali ,Baru , and Dhingra (2010), stated that marital adjustment is the process of

modifying, adopting or altering individual and couple’s pattern of behavior and

interaction to achieve maximum satisfaction in the relationship. Studies have revealed

greater unanimity of response between childless partners who may however have

been tempted to idealize their relationship. It is also revealed that parenthood may

limit the scope of communication between spouses. Childlessness may be stressful

but it can also make for closer mutual affinity in the couple’s thought and feeling

(Humphrey 1975). The experience can stress a couple’s personal relationship,

diminish sexual satisfaction, deplete financial resources, and threaten perception of

masculinity and feminity and cause psychological stress. The experience of infertility

is unanticipated and to poor women with little or no education the failure to have any

children would certainly lead to divorce or a remarriage on the part of the husband.

Researcher found that out of the total respondents, 77% were primary infertile, 10%

had suffered experiences of pregnancy wastage and 13% were secondary infertile. It

was found that before diagnosis of the problem 80% of the husbands had positive

attitude but after diagnosis of the problem 20% of the husbands changed their attitude

from positive to negative. Childlessness had great effect on the marital adjustment of

the respondents and from the entire sample group it was found that different people

have different styles for spending their leisure time. Women faced both physiological
 21

as well as psychological problems due to childlessness. The investigation of infertility

may pose additional trauma, interfere intolerably with sex life and even erode the love

a couple feel for each other. It was also found that with the increase in marital

duration there was increase in marital adjustment (p. 268).

Sanders (2010), found that the presence of a child is significantly associated with

lower marital satisfaction in every model and even gained statistical power as the

models included more variables. This effect did not hold for respondents who already

had at least one child and were adding another. Only respondents having their first

child experienced a significant decline in marital satisfaction. The presence of a child

is not a mediating factor and holds its significance no matter what else is being

controlled. This finding supports previous literature. Children require a renegotiation

of the marriage arrangement and can test each parent’s coping strategies and magnify

difficulties which can result in a decline in marital satisfaction to an intensified focus

on instrumental functions rather than on emotional expression. This can be due to the

fact that children impose additional household chores on couples. Another consistent

finding was that women reported significantly lower marital satisfaction than did

men. This effect held for all models. Parenthood as being more burdensome to

women than to men is nothing new in marriage literature. Many studies have found

gender differences across the transition to parenthood. Women have long been

ascribed the position of primary caregiver of a child and remain responsible for the

quality of this care (p.37).

The major aims of the study entitled “ The Predictive Role of Communication on

Relationship Satisfaction in Married Individuals With and Without Children and in

 22

Cohabiting Individuals: The moderating Role of Sexual Satisfaction” by Sakmar

(2010) have been to investigate the predictive role of communication patterns and

sexual satisfaction on relationship satisfaction; and to investigate the moderating role

of sexual satisfaction on this relationship for married individuals both with and

without children and for cohabiting individuals. Results of the present study indicated

that married individuals, both with and without children, and cohabiting individuals

do not differ in their communication patterns in terms of destructive, constructive,

emotional-logical, and aggressive communication patterns (p.94). Second, this study

indicated that married individuals with and without children do not differ in terms of

sexual satisfaction (p.95). Third, emotional-logical and aggressive communication

patterns were examined. The association between emotional-logical communication

patterns and relationship satisfaction was only significant among married individuals

with children. The results indicated that greater emotional-logical communication

patterns lead to greater relationship satisfaction for married individuals with children.

The results also showed that aggressive communication patterns were significantly

predictive for relationship satisfaction among married individuals without children

and cohabiting individuals, but for not married individuals with children. The results

also demonstrated that individuals who report more aggressive communication

patterns tend to declare lower relationship satisfaction among married individuals

without children and cohabiting individuals. These findings may be the result of the

existence of children. Having children might suppress the effect of aggressive

communication patterns and promote the effect of emotional-logical communication

patterns on relationship satisfaction. Moreover, nonexistence of children might

 23

promote the effect of aggressive communication on relationship satisfaction and

suppress the effect of emotional-logical communication patterns on relationship

satisfaction (p.98).

Animasahun and Oladeni (2012) cited a study by Osiki (1995) in which he

investigated marital duration, age and childlessness as they affect marital happiness,

using a sample size of 300 married undergraduate students of the University of

Ibadan, who were randomly drawn from the Faculty of Education, Social Sciences,

Arts, Agricultural Science, and Medicine. The findings from the above pair-wise

comparison indicate that marital duration of married couples does not have any direct

relationship to the level of marital satisfaction to be derived. This means that whether

couples are long-married (that is, 11 years and above) or recently married (0 - 10

years), their levels of marital adjustment is significantly the same. The findings are,

however, at variance with several studies. Awe (1986) opined that the difference is

occasioned by the fact that the first few years are periods of active adaptation to one’s

spouse. According to Awe (1986) couples usually spend the first few years of their

marriage adjusting to their individual differences and other external factors affecting

their marriage. The first two to five years are the most critical for couples in marriage

since after the first five years of marriage couples begin to tolerate each other and to

understand each other better, especially when children start coming.

Khan and Majid (2015) in their current study entitled “ Comparison of Parents

and Childless Couples: Life satisfaction , Social Support , and Personality Traits

Among Married Couples With and Without Children”, compares couples with

children and without children on three variables that is life satisfaction, social support
 24

and personality traits. A purposive sampling technique was used and data was

collected from (N=120). The participants were divided into two groups, couples with

children (N=60) and couples without children (N=60). The measurement tools were

Satisfaction with life scale, Multidimensional scale for perceived social support and

NEO-IP scale for personality traits. The independent t-test was used to compare the

groups and Pearson correlation was also used to find out correlation. The result

showed that the couples with children were had more life satisfaction on Satisfaction

with life scale (M= 32.52) as compared to couples without children those show less

life satisfaction (M= 12.75). The couples with children are more extroverted and

narcistic and they have more open to experience as the couples without children are

more agreeable. The current study revealed that having children had great impact on

life satisfaction and social support of the couples, and that they have the trait of

conscientiousness in common.

C. Local Literature

Sison (2014) stated in her online article “a farewell to motherhood” that passing

on parenthood is not selfish but having a child when one is not ready is the more

selfish act. Sison said that the true purpose of a woman is to honor the creation of life

by not doing it haphazardly. Sison said that she will not have a child without absolute

certainty commitment. She’s been told that she needs to have a child and that so many

people where doing it for the wrong reason but turn out okay. She said that is it really

fair to children to have them just because it could be okay and why must parenthood

be the default setting. Even if many things have changed for the modern woman, it is

still the expectation that all women must want motherhood. It is the general idea that
 25

the end purpose of a woman is to raise a family. Sison said that we shouldn't have

children as a safety net. That's both unfair to them and quite irresponsible of us.

Thoughtful parents leave no debts to their kids, nor do they oblige them to care for

them to return the favor of being parented. They did not request that favor, nor did

they ask to be under your care. Raising children should never be a retirement plan.

Plan for your own future and do not put that burden on your kids.

Yuvienco (2014), in his article “Why these married couples opt not to have

children” shared in the Philippine Daily Inquirer, a 2010 Pew Research report that

there has been a general trend toward delayed marriage and childbearing, especially

among highly educated women. Given that the chance of a successful pregnancy

declines with age, some women who hope to have children never will, despite the rise

in fertility treatments that facilitate pregnancy. Then there are couples who choose to

get married with no plans of having children. It’s not due to fertility or financial

reasons; they just don’t ever see themselves as parents. People seem to forget that this

is a perfectly valid path to take.

Sandler (2014), in her article “Child-free not Childless” said that the choice to

stay child-free is not socially acceptable. They always had the mandate for

motherhood—it’s what women have been deemed ‘for’ in human history. Deciding

whether or not to have children is private, yet society continues to liken womanhood

to motherhood. She shared the story of a couple named Itchy and Scratchy (not their

real names) decided not to have children, even if the bride, Itchy, was only in her 20s

when she married Scratchy three years ago. She said that they did not get married to
 26

have children. They are enjoying each other in the blessing called marriage. They

enjoy their freedom and remain passionate about their work and interests, and instead

of raising one child on limited resources, they would like to use the same to aid a

bigger family—help unwanted children and set up an orphanage or training center for

helping disadvantaged youth toward upward mobility. Their decision was mutually

agreed upon. They are married, in a partnership of mutual trust and respect and that is

a joint decision. If one feels strongly enough to reverse this decision, a discussion is

needed. Like any other kid-free couple, this is Itchy and Scratchy’s lifestyle: they

work long hours, go on lots of business trips, they knew how to save their money, and

go on planned leisure travel and go out on weekends with friends. While typical

couples with children plan for college funds and family vacations, Itchy and

Scratchy’s financial plans include: Investments, relocation, purchase of a home to

include parents/in-laws, capital for setting up either their own business or the

orphanage/training center that they eventually want to have. The couple remained

happy with their decision. The couple said that their parent in-laws are also

supportive of their choice.

Baltasar (2016), in her article “Childless couples by choice” discussed that today,

more and more couples are getting married later and deciding that a life raising

children is not for them. It could be that the couple wants to just spend their money

traveling the world or running a foundation. Whatever the reason, it should not be the

business of other people why these couples don’t choose diapers over nights out. She

said that the childless couples she knew often get mixed emotions from their Filipino

friends and relatives when they learn that they’re not planning to have kids. Some get
 27

offended, some can’t understand their decision, and other people believe that that

they’re not ‘fulfilling’ the purpose of their marriage, which, they say, is to procreate.

She believe that with children, without children, without one parent or both parents—

it is love that is the deciding factor. A family is a unit that is run by love.

Cruz (2016), in her online article “Assunta, childless for 12 years, still not ready

to be a mom” in the Philippine Daily Inquirer shared the story behind why Assunta

decided to be childless. In her article, the Filipino-Italian actress Assunta de Rossi

who has been married for 12 years now to Negros Occidental First District Rep. Julio

“Jules” Ledesma IV. wants to have a full medical workup to increase her chances of

getting pregnant. Her family said that she’s just making excuses to not go to the

doctor, but she said that she’s not. She explained further that she and her husband

have so many people to think about. What she want is that when she finally have her

own baby, she’s relaxed and have nothing to worry about and she can’t do that now

because of so many works due of being an artist. The 35-year-old actress also

admitted that she has myoma, a noncancerous tumor that grows in the wall of the

uterus. She explained that she doesn’t know if that’s the reason why she’s not getting

pregnant, but she found out that it can hinder pregnancy. Or if you are pregnant, you

risk getting a miscarriage. She want to pay my doctor a visit to have it removed, but

don’t have the time.

Casterline and Costello in their article “Fertility Decline in the Philippines:

Current Status, Future Prospects” that if desired fertility were indeed to fall to

replacement level, then couples in the Philippines would be subjected to even longer

periods of risk of unwanted pregnancies than is the case at present While some
 28

unwanted pregnancies in the Philippines are intentionally aborted, this remains an

inconvenient and health-threatening option for most women. The researchers believed

that it is highly unlikely that induced abortion will become a common means of

avoiding unwanted births in the near future. Hence, the prevention of unwanted births

depends on the use of effective means of family planning by couples who wish to

avoid pregnancies. As briefly reviewed here, there are a variety of barriers –

programmatic, social, cultural, economic – to effective contraceptive practice. Most

of these barriers, moreover, have been widely-known features of the contraceptive

decision-making environment in the Philippines for decades. If unwanted fertility is

fall to a level consistent with the attainment of replacement-level fertility, there will

need to be radical changes in contraceptive practice. And these in turn will depend on

sharp reduction in the current barriers to effective contraceptive practice. Changes in

nuptiality in the Philippines during the next few decades could place downward

pressure on fertility; indeed, if such changes were large enough, conceivably they

could result in achieved fertility falling short of desired fertility, as has been observed

in many low-fertility societies. We consider three aspects of nuptiality that reduce

exposure to childbearing: permanent non-marriage, delayed age at entry to first

marriage, and marital dissolution and temporary separation.

D. Local Studies

Camia , Guerrero and Yamaoco (2004-2005) , defined Marital Satisfaction as an

attitude of greater or lesser favorably toward one’s own marital relationship term

marital success, which includes,” adjustment, happiness, satisfactions, consensus,

companionship, integration or some synonym reflexive of the quality of marriage.

 29

Marital Satisfaction is a sense of contentment and happiness as a result of the

fulfillment of the husbands and wives marital needs and needs satisfaction. It is also

define as the sense of absence of pressing difficulties, closeness between spouses, and

commitment to marital relationships of the married couples.

Catualin, Lansangan and Leon (2005), noted that children is the primary reason

for changes in level of marital satisfaction. On the research researcher conducted

stated that people believe that children increase marital satisfaction, but in reality

children increase marital happiness in only about one-fifth of marriages. Marital

satisfaction is greater in families with fewer or no children. The transition to

parenthood affects marital satisfaction about 13% of couples report a severe decline

in marital satisfaction about 38% report a moderate decline,30% see no difference

and 19% improve their marriages. Children are often source of stress and strain in

marriage. Researchers also point out that more vital and happy relationships among

those without children because childfree couples can devote more time to their

marriages.

A study by Noda (2013), found that one in 10 Filipinos is suffering one or more

conditions that prevent them from conceiving, showed results of a study

commissioned by pharmaceutical firm Merck Serono. The study showed that while

majority of couples with fertility problems seek initial consultation, treatment is

hindered by patients’ perception of the high cost of treatment and lack of

understanding on the procedures involved. Merck Serono is the biopharmaceutical

division of Merck KGA with headquarters in Darmstadt, Germany. The company

released the result of the study as it embarks on a campaign to raise awareness on

 30

infertility in the Philippines and its treatment. The campaign dubbed "Hope for

Starting Families", aims to provide couples with relevant information on infertility

treatment through public information efforts such as a series of lay for a across major

cities nationwide, and a dedicated website on infertility such

as www.fertilityphilippines.com. The website will serve as a repository of

information on the causes of infertility, available treatment options as well as a

directory of medical experts and treatment centers in the Philippines. Merck said one

of the barriers for treatment also stems from the misconception that treatment is not

available locally, or that it is more effective in other countries.

The 2013 National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) suggested,

Assuming that voluntary childlessness within marriage is rare, the 3% of married

women aged 45-49 who are childless may be interpreted as an estimate of primary

sterility in the Philippines. Hearing "voluntary childlessness" may seem strange to

some Filipinos. More extreme comments would include: Women are meant to have

children. It is selfish for women not to bear children. In fact, the latter is a sentiment

shared by Pope Francis. Pope Francis said that the choice to not have children is

selfish. Life rejuvenates and acquires energy when it multiplies: It is enriched, not

impoverished. In response, some women – with and without children – reminded the

pope that women are free to make their own choices. And the choice not to have

children does not make them selfish or less of a woman.

Santos (2015), in her study “I don’t want to have kid’s, ok?” that while Filipino

society may have certain expectations from women her age, she says she has no

obligation to fulfill such expectations. Childlessness is uncommon in Filipino society,

 31

the survey said. On average, Filipino women give birth to less than one child in their

early 20s, 3-4 children by their late 30s, and 4 children by the end of their

reproductive period.

Synthesis

Both foreign and local literature and studies that have been gathered by the

researchers have similarity with the present study which are as follows:

Chancey & Dumais (2009), Hansen (2011), Harvey (2008) and Yuvienco (2014)

reported that even though childless couples choose their career, independence, and

romantic relationships over children, the findings of the studies of childless

individuals reported high levels of marital satisfaction is maybe due to primarily the

result of increased freedom, money, time together with spouse, and fewer

responsibilities within the marriage as a result of being childless. Then there are

couples who choose to get married with no plans of having children, it’s not due to

fertility or financial reasons; they just don’t ever see themselves as parents. But the

image of childless persons as self-indulgent individualists seems to translate into a

stereotype of a relatively active, joyful, and happy group. People viewed them not as

unfulfilled and lonely, but rather as pleasure-seeking individualists.

Basten (2009) and Walker (2011) also reported that although children could

seems to bring a sunshine to a home and could bring new energy to the marriage with

the addition of a child, they testified that parents are more likely to be depressed than

their childfree counterparts. In fact, people without kids were happier than any other

group, including empty nesters. Being childless is surely that couples often appear to

be happier without offspring. They also stated that despite negative stereotyping by
 32

friends, being childfree displayed higher levels of dyadic cohesion and dyadic

satisfaction.

Powdthavee (2013) and Sander (2010) emphasized that parents often report

statistically significantly lower level of happiness, life satisfaction, marital

satisfaction, and mental well-being compare with non-parents. The presence of a

child is significantly associated with lower marital satisfaction which results in a

decline on marital satisfaction due to the fact that children impose additional

household chore on couples. Similarly to the statement of Peterson (2011), Hedrick

(2009) and Cowan, Cowan, Hirschberger, Marsh and Srisvastava (2009) that there

was a signifact deacrease in marital satisfaction in couples after the birth of a child

and changes in their marriage after becoming a parent.

However, the results of the studies are in contrast to what Shurkert (2010) and

Dingfelder (2011) disclosed that not having children or an inability to have children

can cause stress on the relationship. They believe that once children do arrive, they

often become a strong reason for people to stay together and more likely to remain

satisfied with their relationships.

Ibisomi & Mudege (2013) and the National Demographic and Health Survey

(2013) believed that although childlessness is usually involuntary, it is still not wholly

acceptable because infertility, pregnancy, child death or still birth is not an excuse as

people could adopt and become social parent. Voluntary childlessness is also not

viewed as a legitimate choice and couples who are childless often met with ridicule,

incredulity and disapproval. They also believed that it is selfish for a woman not to
 33

bear children for having a children was regarded not only as a moral duty for lineage

continuation but also a religious duty.

The researchers believe that all these literature and studies both foreign and local

contributed in explaining the relationship between voluntary and involuntary

childlessness and marital satisfaction.

 34

CHAPTER III

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

This chapter describes the methods use in the study. The methodology includes

the following, research design, research locale, population and sampling,

respondents/participant of the study, research instrument, and validation of instrument,

data gathering procedure and statistical treatment of data.

Research Design

For this study, the researcher will usecomparativedescriptive research design to

attain its objective. It will compare the differences between the two independent

variables couples with children and couples who are childless in terms of the dependent

variable which is marital satisfaction. Descriptive method deals with the question based

on present phenomena. According to Salmorin (2006) , the descriptive research is a

research design wherein events are recorded, described, interpreted, analyzed and

compared. Its objective is to describe systematically a situation, condition or area of

interest factually and accurately (p. 74). Hence, the researcher deems descriptive design

is apt for the study.

According to Richardson, the comparative research design essentially compare

two groups in an attempt to draw a conclusion about them. Researcher attempt to identify

and analyze similaritites and difference between and comparing two separate people

groups.
 35

Research Locale

This study will be conducted at Philam , Las Pinas City in Metro Manila. The

population of this study are the couples with and without a child within this area. The

researchers believe that there will be sufficient respondents in the said location, as a

result the researchers chose to conduct the experiment in Las Pñas where it is known

that a lot of people are residing.

Respondents of the Study/ Sampling Design

The respondents of the study are the couples with and without children within Las

Piñas City.

In selecting the respondents, judgmental/purposive sampling technique will be use,

which primary consideration is the judgment of the researchers as to who can provide the

best information to achieve the objectives of the study (Tongco , 2007) . The researchers

only goes for those people who in his/her opinion are likely to have the required

information and willing to share it.

Data Gathering Tool

The researchers will use adapted questionnaire, the ENRICH Marital satisfaction

by Fowers and Olson(1993) . For the reliability and validity of this adapted questionnaire

researchers undergone pilot testing as well as statistical computation of the pilot testing.

This is in the form of checklist wherein the respondents will decide the level of

satisfaction of each value to the statements. The questionnaire was administered to 30

respondents by selected married couples to determine the clarity and accuracy of the
 36

items. The Crobachs’s alpha revealed a reliability of.83. The ENRICH Marital

Satisfaction Scale was found highly reliable (40 items =.83).

ENRICH Marital Satisfaction (Fowers, B.J. &Olson, D.H. 1993) is conducted to

measure marital satisfaction of couples in terms of different domains primarily

communication, financial management, leisure activities and sexual intimacy.

This study is a quantitative type of analysis method for it will measure the

satisfaction of the married couples in their relationship. Researchers will be using a Likert

scale questionnaire because the statements of opinions are presented to the respondents

where it will be indicated the degree of agreement or disagreement of the respondents by

encircling any of the scales.

ENRICH Marital Satisfaction Scale (EMS) by Fowers, B.J. and Olson, D.H. (1993)

comprises two of the subscales of the ENRICH Inventory. The ENRICH Inventory is a

multidimensional marital satisfaction inventory that includes 12 category scales . These

scales were developed through a series of extensive theoretical and empirical analyses.

The respondents will encircle the number that will indicate their feelings to the

statements using the following scales:

4 – Strongly Agree

3 – Agree

2 -Disagree

1 – Strongly Disagree

The sum of scores divided by the number of items in the four categories.
 37

The scores in the ENRICH Marital Satisfaction Scale will be interpreted as

follows:

3.25-4.00 – Very High

2.50-3.24 – High

1.75-2.49 – Average

1.00-1.74 – Below Average

Data Gathering Procedure

The researchers will request for the assistance of the captains of each baranggay to

help them determine the couples who are childless and couples who have a child in the

community in order to obtain the corresponding data needed to conduct the study. Then,

the researchers will ask the chosen respondent for their permission to participate in the

study. Research instrument will be provided to be given.

Data Analysis Plan

In this study, there are two variables, couples with and without children and marital

satisfaction; its objective is to find whether there is a significant difference between these

variables. Since the researchers are aiming to measure marital satisfaction, this study is

considered an ordinal type which measures satisfaction with rating. In order for the

researchers to get the right data, T-test of Independent/Uncorrelated means will also be

used because it aims to know the significant difference between the averages of two

different/independent groups.
 38

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147.pdf.

Vesper, P. (2008) No to Children, Yes to Childfreedom, Pronatalism and the Perspectives and

Experiences of a Childfree Women. Rutgers University.Retrieved from file:// C: /User

s/jhenrie %20janairo/Downloads/rutgers-lib-24358_PDF-1.pdf ,

Walker, E. (2011, March 3) Childfree Couples are Happier Couples than with kids.

Psychology Today. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/complete-

without-kids/ 2011 03 /fact-or-fiction-childfree-couples-are-happier-couples-kids.

Yuvienco (2014, April).Why these married couple opt not to have children. Retrieved from

http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/155787/why-these-married-couples-opt-not-to-have-children
 44

Appendix A

Research Questionnaire

ENRICH :Marital Satisfaction Scale ( Olson ,Fournier, &Druckman )

Direction : Please rate by encircling the number that indicates how you feel about your
marital relationship using the following scale

4 – Strongly agree

3 – Agree

2 – Disagree

1 – Strongly disagree

Communication Strongly Agree Disagree Strongly

Agree Disagree

1. It is very easy for me to express all my true

feelings to my partner. 4 3 2 1
2. When we are having a problem, my partner
often gives me the silent treatment. 4 3 2 1
3. My partner sometimes makes comments which
put me down. 4 3 2 1
4. I am sometimes afraid to ask my partner for
what I want. 4 3 2 1
5. I wish my partner was more willing to share
his/her feelings with me. 4 3 2 1
6. Sometimes I have trouble believing everything
my partner says to me. 4 3 2 1
7. I often do not tell my partner what I am feeling
because he/she should already know. 4 3 2 1
8. I am very satisfied with how my partner and I
talk with each other 4 3 2 1
9. I do not always share negative feelings I have
about my partner because I am afraid he/she will 4 3 2 1
get angry.
10. My partner is always a good listener. 4 3 2 1
 45

Financial Management Strongly Agree Disagree Strongly

Agree Disagree

1. Sometimes I wish my partner was more careful

in spending money. 4 3 2 1
2. We always agree on how to spend our money.
4 3 2 1
3.We have difficulty deciding on how to handle our
finances. 4 3 2 1
4. I am satisfied with our decisions about how
much we should save 4 3 2 1
5. We are both aware of our major debts, and they
are not a problem for us. 4 3 2 1
6. We keep records of our spending so we can
budget our money. 4 3 2 1
7. Use of credit cards and charge accounts has been
a problem for us. 4 3 2 1
8. Deciding what is most important to spend our
money on is a concern for us. 4 3 2 1
9. It bothers me that I cannot spend money without
my partner’s approval. 4 3 2 1
10. I am concerned about who is responsible for the
money. 4 3 2 1

Leisure Activities Strongly Agree Disagree Strongly

Agree Disagree

1. My partner and I seem to enjoy the same type of

parties and social activities. 4 3 2 1
2. My partner does not seem to have enough time or
energy for recreation with me.
3. I’d rather do almost anything than spend an 4 3 2 1
evening by myself.
4.I am concerned that my partner does not have
enough interests or hobbies. 4 3 2 1
5. I seldom feel pressured to attend social functions
without my partner. 4 3 2 1
6. I always feel good about where and how we
spend our holidays with our families. 4 3 2 1
7.I feel good about the kinds of trips and vacations
we take. 4 3 2 1

8.I am concerned that my partner and I do not spend

 46

enough of our leisure time together. 4 3 2 1

9. I seldom have fun unless I am with my partner. 4 3 2 1
10. My partner and I have a good balance of leisure
time together and separately. 4 3 2 1

Sexual Intimacy Strongly Agree Disagree Strongly

Agree Disagree
1. I am completely satisfied with the amount of
affection my partner gives me 4 3 2 1
2. We try to find ways to keep our sexual
relationship interesting and enjoyable 4 3 2 1
3. I am concerned that my partner may not be
interested in me sexually. 4 3 2 1
4. It is easy and comfortable for me to talk with my
partner about sexual issues. 4 3 2 1
5. I sometimes worry that my partner may have
thought about having a sexual relationship outside of 4 3 2 1
our marriage (affair).
6. Our sexual relationship is satisfying and fulfilling
to me. 4 3 2 1
7. I am reluctant to be affectionate with my partner
because it is often misinterpreted as a sexual 4 3 2 1
advance.
8. Sometimes I am concerned that my partner’s
interest in sex is not the same as mine. 4 3 2 1
9. I am satisfied with our decisions regarding family
planning or birth control. 4 3 2 1
10. It bothers me that my partner uses or refuses sex
in an unfair way. 4 3 2 1
 47

Appendix B

Jorezza P. Antonio

. .
23 Concerto St. Sta. Cecilia Village, Las Pinas City,1740 [email protected] 09272553208

EDUCATION

AB Psychology 2017
University of Perpetual Help System DALTA
Las Pinas City, Metro Manila, Philippines

High School
United Christian Academy
Paranaque City, Metro Manila, Philippines 2013

Grade School 2009

Pulanlupa Elementary School
Las Pinas City, Metro Manila, Philippines

TRAINING/SEMINARS ATTENDED

 DiwangPinoysamgaPagdiriwangPinoy”
Held on January 26-27, 2015 at the Teresa Yuchengco Auditorium, De La Salle
University, Taft Ave. Malate, Maynila.

 “Facts and Fallacies about Epilepsy”

Held on September 19, 2015 at the 3rd floor Amphitheater Tamayo Tower.
 48

 “Neurodevelopmental Center’s Halloween Activity 2015”

Held on October 29, 2015 at the University of Perpetual Help Medical Center,
Las Pinas City, Philippines.

 “Recognizing Movement Disorders and Management for Parkinson’s

Disease”
Held on April 23, 2016 at the 3rd Floor Amphitheater. IHS Bldg., University of
Perpetual Help System DALTA Medical Center, Las Pinas City.

 “Inner strength in Times of Conflicts and Disasters”

Held on September 8, 2016 at Room 124 NCB, University of Perpetual Help
System DALTA, Pamplona 3, LasPinas City.
 49

Mikee E. Dimapilis

. .
5 Atis St. Dona Josefa, Almaza Uno ,Laspinas City,1740 [email protected] 09352482761

EDUCATION:

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology

2017University of Perpetual Help System Dalta ( UPHSD)
Las Piñas City,

High School
Alfonso National High School 2013
Alfonso, Cavite

Grade School

Marahan Elementary school 2009

Alfonso,Cavite

TRAINING/SEMINAR ATTENDED:

 “Facts and Fallacies about Epilepsy”

Held on September 19, 2015 at the 3rd floor Amphitheater Tamayo Tower.

 “Neurodevelopmental Center’s Halloween Activity 2015”

Held on October 29, 2015 at the University of Perpetual Help Medical Center,
Las Pinas City, Philippines.
 50

 “Inner strength in Times of Conflicts and Disasters”

Held on September 8, 2016 at Room 124 NCB, University of Perpetual Help
System DALTA, Pamplona 3, LasPinas City.
 51

Marianne B. Sullano

. .
318 Allenville Townhomes, Kawit, Cavite [email protected] 0905-614-5942

EDUCATION:

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology 2017

University of Perpetual Help System Dalta
Las Piñas City,

High School
St. Emelene Academe 2013
Imus City

Maria Corinne College 2010

Binakayan, Kawit

Elementary
Jedidiah Christian Academy 2009
Imus City

TRAINING/SEMINAR ATTENDED:

 Conflict and Disaster Inner Strength

 52

Appendix C

Letter to Respondents

Dear Respondents,

Greetings!

We, the fourth year students in the degree program of AB Psychology from
University of Perpetual Help System Dalta-Las Pinas, are conducting a research survey
on “Voluntary and Involuntary Childlessness and Marital Satisfaction”. In regard to this,
we would like to solemnly request if you may spare some of your time in answering our
questionnaire to facilitate the data gatheringof our research study.

We would like to emphasize that your answers are extremely valuable to us. We
assure you that the confidentiality of the results will be taken into consideration.

Thank you and good day!

Antonio, Jorezza P.

Researcher

Dimapilis, Mikee E.

Researcher

Sullano, Marianne B.

Researcher
 53

Appendix D

Letter to the Librarian

 54

Appendix E

Reply from the Test Author

Hi,

Thank you for reaching out. Unfortunately, I don't have access to the manual for that

scale- you'll have to contact the researchers who developed it as they own all the rights to

the scale. They are Blaine J Fowers and David H. Olson. Not sure what their current

email addresses are, but I'm sure you can find them online.

Good luck with your project!

Dr. Carrano
 55

Appendix F

Statistical Result of the Reliability of the Instrument