RESEARCH ON THE PROBLEMS FACED BY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHOSE FAMILIES WORK ABROAD

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this research is to determine the problems faced by high school students in Kyrgyzstan whose families work abroad. The research uses a qualitative research method and a case study model. The study group consists of 14 high school students (5 girls and 9 boys) aged 12 to 18, from various schools in Kyrgyzstan during the 2023-2024 academic year. According to the findings of the research, almost all participants stated that the living conditions are good. As the effect of the family's migration, most of the participants stated that their need for love is not being met. Due to the family being far away, almost all participants stated that they feel longing. Due to the family being in another country, most participants stated that family activities are lacking. The most frequent responses given by the participants were: no difficulties, relationship problems, living in someone else's house, spiritual and financial issues, and heavy household chores.

АННОТАЦИЯ

Целью данного исследования является определение проблем, с которыми сталкиваются старшеклассники в Кыргызстане, чьи семьи работают за границей. В исследовании используется качественный метод исследования и модель изучения случая. Исследовательская группа состоит из 14 старшеклассников (5 девочек и 9 мальчиков) в возрасте от 12 до 18 лет из разных школ Кыргызстана в течение 2023-2024 учебного года. Согласно результатам исследования, почти все участники отметили, что условия проживания хорошие. Как влияние миграции семьи, большинство участников заявили, что их потребность в любви не удовлетворяется. Из-за того, что семья находится далеко, почти все участники заявили, что они чувствуют тоску. Из-за того, что семья находится в другой стране, большинство участников отметили, что отсутствуют семейные мероприятия. Наиболее часто встречающиеся ответы участников включают: отсутствие трудностей, проблемы в отношениях, жизнь в доме у других людей, духовные и материальные проблемы, а также обременительные домашние дела.

Keywords: Family, adolescent, family problems.

Ключевые слова: Семья, подросток, семейные проблемы.

Introduction

Adolescence is a complex and challenging process that every individual goes through as they transition into adulthood. The complexity of this period arises from the intense experience of ordinary events and emotions [1]. At the same time, adolescents must adapt to a rapid process of growth and change. In this regard, environmental support is crucial. The families, friends, and teachers of adolescents play an important role in helping them. Children who grow up in a positive environment are more likely to go through adolescence in a healthier and more comfortable way, while adolescents who grow up in a negative environment may be at risk. Situations such as parental separation, the loss of a family member, or family breakdowns can negatively affect an adolescent's development and cause them to feel stressed [2].

According to Maslow's hierarchy of needs, individuals experience not only their basic needs but also psychological needs and the need for self-actualization [3]. Basic needs such as physiological and safety needs are essential for survival. Psychological needs include important elements like love and respect, which are necessary for personal development, and self-actualization is a fundamental requirement for a sense of existence [4].

Globalization and economic opportunities in societies have led many families to search for employment opportunities abroad for one or both parents. Parents may have to leave their home countries to improve their living standards, achieve a better position in society, and, most importantly, provide a higher quality of life for their children. This situation has also led to an increase in the number of children whose parents work abroad. Children whose parents work abroad may not develop a core family model and may face psychological issues as a result. According to statistics in Kyrgyzstan, in 2023, the Ministry of Labor discovered that 88,000 children of migrant workers were left in the care of their relatives (https://kg.akipress.org/news:2084766).

Adolescents whose both parents go abroad will experience negative emotions more intensely. A survey found that 97% of children whose parents went abroad reported feelings of longing (continuously - 32%, frequently - 32%, sometimes - 31%), sadness - 86%, anxiety - 77%, fear -50%, and anger - 28% [5]. Children of migrant workers who are left in the care of relatives or placed in boarding institutions are extremely vulnerable to abuse and violence. Prolonged absence of parents can lead to a range of psychological and social issues. Children of internal migrants, many of whom do not have birth registration documents, are largely "invisible" to society. They face difficulties in accessing basic services such as education, health, social assistance, and social protection, and often live in the poorest and most dangerous conditions in Kyrgyzstan. Migrant children are exposed to overlapping deprivations, especially poverty, and face high risks of violence, exploitation, and abuse (https://www.unicef.org/kyrgyzstan/children-migrants).

Researchers have found a negative relationship between parental migration and child development when studying the impact of migration on children's intelligence levels, recent illnesses, nutrition, and overall development. Crimes and deviant behavior among adolescents raised by grandparents are partly seen as a result of the lack of parental support [5].

Based on the aforementioned literature, the problem statement for this research is: "What problems do high school students in Kyrgyztan whose parents work abroad face?" The aim of this research is to investigate the problems faced by high school students whose parents work abroad.

Research Model

This research uses a qualitative research method and a case study model. Qualitative research helps to reveal and understand the phenomenon or event being studied in its context through qualitative data methods (such as observation, interviews, and document analysis) [6]. The study group consists of a total of 14 high school students (5 girls and 9 boys) aged 12 to 18 from Kyrgyzstan during the 2023-2024 academic year.  The data for the research were collected using a "Semi-Structured Interview Form" developed by the researcher.  During class hours, the researcher visited the sections designated by the school administration. After obtaining approval from the class teacher, the adolescents were informed about the research, and the data collection tools were applied to those who volunteered to participate.  Content analysis was used as the method for data analysis in this study. Content analysis is the process of organizing the data obtained through data collection tools under various concepts and themes, categorizing the information, interpreting it, and presenting it to the reader.

Results

The findings of the study are presented in the order of the research questions. 

The first research question, "What do you think about your living conditions?" is analyzed in Table 1. 

Table 1.

Living Conditions

When Table 1 is examined, almost all of the participants (11) stated that their living conditions were good. P7: "I live in my own house. My living conditions are very good, I have my own room."  Some participants mentioned that they had their own room, while others stated that they did not. P14: "I am happy with where I live, I have my own room."  Other participants (3) stated that their living conditions were average. P10: "I live with my grandmother. The conditions where I stay are average, and since there are relatives' children in the house, sometimes we have to study at the same table."

The second research question, "How did your family's move to another country affect you?" is analyzed in Table 2. 

Table 2.

The Impact of Family Migration

Table 2 shows that when examined, the majority of the participants (7) stated that the need for love was not met as an effect of the family's migration. P1: "I did not receive enough family love. The event that never leaves my memory is when I got sick while I was in 1st grade and had to stay alone in the hospital for a month. The child who stayed in the same room with me was taken care of by his father. I wish my family had been with me too." As the effect of the family’s migration, the most frequent answers given by the participants (4) were feeling a sense of deficiency and disruption of peace. P2: "I feel bad whenever my aunt and her husband fight." Some participants also mentioned that as an effect of the family’s migration, there were difficulties in family communication and the place they stayed in was not permanent. P7: "With my family going abroad, I had to change places and schools many times."

The answers to the 3rd question of the study, "How does your family’s being far away make you feel?" are analyzed in Table 3.

Table 3.

Their feelings

When Table 3 is examined, almost all of the participants (12) stated that what they felt was longing. P12: "I think about my mom every second. I want the moments when my mom pampered me to come back, I want to hold her hands and kiss them." 

Some participants mentioned that the emotion they felt was loneliness, while others said everything was fine. P2: "Even if my parents were alive, they were never a part of my life."  There were also participants who answered this question by saying they felt like a foreigner, sadness, and irritability. P1: "I don’t talk much with my dad. Sometimes I feel like I'm not part of the family." 

The answers to the fourth research question, "What kind of difficulties did your family's presence in another country cause you?" are analyzed in Table 4. 

Table 4.

Difficulties Caused by Family Being in Another Country

When Table 4 is examined, most participants (6) stated that they did not experience any difficulties due to their family being in another country. P6: "I don’t think I’ve faced any difficulties; I just miss going out and spending time with my mom like we used to."  Some participants (4) stated that the difficulty they faced was the lack of family activities. P8: "My dad's advice, going shopping together, and the nice memories of cooking together at home are missing." 

The most frequent answers (3) given by participants regarding the difficulties caused by family being in another country were relationship difficulties, living in someone else's house, spiritual and financial problems, and heavy household chores. P14: "When my family is far away, my relationship with them isn't very good, it’s hard to communicate." Other participants mentioned that the difficulties of having their family in another country included limited freedom and feeling vulnerable. P5: "I don’t go out much. I want to attend an English language course." 

The answers to the fifth research question, "What has your family being abroad brought to you?" are analyzed in Table 5. 

Table 5.

Achievements

When Table 5 is examined, most of the participants (9) stated that the gains were taking on responsibility. P1: "Since my family was not with me when I was younger, I had to take responsibility for myself, and I can say that this is reflected in my success in lessons."  The most frequent answers given by participants regarding the gains were independence and strength, with 8 participants mentioning these. P14: "The distance from my family made me grow up early. I learned to endure difficulties, to stand tall, and my self-confidence increased."  Some participants mentioned that their gain was understanding the value of family. P10: "I started thinking more about my family, understanding them, and valuing them. I try to be a good older brother to my younger siblings." 

Results and Discussion

In this section of the research, the findings are compared with similar studies in the literature and interpreted in an institutional context. 

Regarding the first research question, "What do you think about your living conditions?" the results showed that nearly all participants stated that their living conditions were good. Some participants mentioned having their own room, while others said they did not, describing their living conditions as average. 

For the second research question, "How did your family's move to another country affect you?" the majority of participants stated that their family's migration resulted in unmet needs for love. The most frequent answers were feelings of deficiency and the disruption of peace. Some participants also mentioned difficulties in family communication and the lack of a permanent residence. A few participants expressed that they were separated from their siblings, working in one place, and had increased responsibilities.  In his study on broken families, Shefchenko [5], found that children with parents abroad suffer from emotional deprivation, have lower academic performance compared to peers from intact families, and see their future abroad. They mentioned being deprived of parental love and communication. The results of Shefchenko’s study support the findings of this research. 

In a study by Amato [7], it was emphasized that the importance of a healthy family environment for children is indisputable. Studies show that a quality relationship between parents and a positive home environment are crucial for both the family and the children. In this study, it was observed that the majority of participants were negatively affected due to being separated from their families because their families were abroad, the results of Amato's research do not support the findings of this study. In a study by Karaman and Bulut [10], it was concluded that people of all age groups can be negatively affected psychologically by migration events in recent years. In this study, it was observed that adolescents with parents abroad were negatively affected psychologically by unmet needs for love, feelings of deficiency, difficulties in family communication, and lack of permanent housing. Therefore, the findings of Karaman and Bulut’s study support the results of this research.

The results obtained for the third research question, "How does your family’s absence make you feel?" show that nearly all participants felt longing due to the distance from their families. Some participants expressed feelings of loneliness, while others stated that everything was fine. A few participants reported feeling like a stranger, sadness, and irritability. 

For the fourth research question, "What kinds of difficulties have you experienced due to your family being in another country?" the results showed that most participants did not experience difficulties due to their family's absence. However, some participants mentioned that the lack of family activities was a difficulty. The most common difficulties reported by participants were related to relationship issues, living in someone else's home, emotional and financial problems, and heavy household chores. Other participants reported that limitations on their freedom and feeling defenseless were challenges they faced. 

Bozkaya [8], in their assessment of migration and children's rights, emphasized that children's rights are not because children are privileged, but because of their developmental stage and their specific needs for care, upbringing, and protection. Their research findings support the results of this study, as participants identified difficulties such as living in someone else’s home, limitations on freedom, and feeling defenseless. According to the UNICEF report "State of the World's Children" [12], children living in poverty lack the material, spiritual, and emotional resources necessary for life, growth, and development, which prevents them from enjoying their rights and fully developing their abilities. As a result, they are unable to fully participate as equal members of society. Elmaoglu and Özdemir [9], in their study on the relationship between parenting attitudes and psychosocial status of children aged 3-6, concluded that growing up in a healthy family environment from a young age can reduce future problems and provide individuals with the right to grow into healthy, well-adjusted people. However, the results of Elmaoglu and Özdemir's research do not support the findings of this study.

The fifth research question, "What has your family’s being abroad given you?" resulted in most participants stating that they had learned to take on responsibility. Some also mentioned that taking responsibility had led to success in their studies. The most common gains mentioned by participants were independence and strength. Some participants expressed that they had gained a greater understanding of the value of family. Other participants mentioned awareness, learning household chores, adapting, and getting to know themselves as their gains. Özdemir and Çok [11], in their study on autonomy development during adolescence, stated that emotional support from parents is crucial for adolescents. Positive relationships with parents are valuable for an adolescent's healthy development. Adolescents seek to become independent, but with clear boundaries, and emotional autonomy is best achieved through balanced communication with parents.

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