Don R. Santella | Marjorie Joy O. Regalado | Rey Chris S. Querubin
Discipline: Psychology
The aim of this study was to explore the adversity quotient of the upland farmers in Mt. Makiling, Los Baños, Laguna. Specifically, it sought to (1) identify the adversities of the upland farmers in the society, workplace, as an individual, and as well to identify their categories; and (2) ascertain the control, origin and ownership, reach, and endurance of these upland farmers. There were eight participants consist of four males and four females. In-depth interview, key informant interview, and focus group discussion were used as tools for data gathering.
In terms of societal adversities experienced by the participants, many of them have misunderstanding with their neighbors, absence of electricity, poor road condition, and distrust to the student-researchers, the proponents of this study. In terms of their adversities in the workplace, all cited natural calamities while some consider pests attacking their agricultural crops. Moreover, individual adversities experienced by the upland farmers revolved around the family such as death, sickness, the habit of drinking alcoholic beverages of husbands (for the female respondents), and financial matters specifically expenses related to illness and their farm. Each participant has differences in coping with adversities which allowed them to be categorized as campers, climbers, and quitters.
In view of the factors that influenced the adversity quotient of the participants such as control, origin and ownership, reach, and endurance, themes were formulated. Themes under control factor are financial matters, decrease in damage, control over resources, faith, and lack of control. On the other hand, the origin factor includes environmental stressors, God, fate, and universality. Themes formulated under ownership factor consist of independent, dependence to other people, dependence to God, and dependence to time. Themes under reach include physical, emotional, mental, social, and spiritual. Moreover, resolution, acceptance, and long term effects are the themes formulated under the factor of endurance.
Results revealed that three participants have obtained high adversity quotient, thus, belonging to the climbers’ category; four participants have average adversity quotient, thus, belonging to the campers’ category; and only one has a low adversity quotient, thus, belonging to the quitters’ category.
ISSN 1908-3866 (Print)
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