Home⇛International Journal of Multidisciplinary: Applied Business and Education Research⇛vol. 7 no. 8 (2026)

Policy vs. Poverty: Evaluating Support Gaps and the Implementation of the Solo Parents Act Among Widows

Emil Arca

Discipline: Economics

 

Abstract:

This study addresses the implementation gaps of the Expanded Solo Par- ents Welfare Act (Republic Act No. 11861) by evaluating how socio-eco- nomic status (SES) shapes the well-being of widows in the Fifth District of Bulacan, Philippines. Using descriptive statistics and semi-structured in- terviews with fifteen widows, the study explored socio-economic condi- tions, lived experiences, and support gaps. The findings reveal that widow- hood leads to interconnected consequences, such as economic, health, psy- chological, and social threats. Outcomes varied according to dependency burden, pension and insurance coverage, and the availability of social as- sistance and support networks. Although Republic Act No. 11861 provides a formal framework for protection, most participants reported limited uti- lization of the available programs, indicating a disconnect between the le- gal provisions and community-level implementation. The study argues that widows' well-being is shaped not only by material deprivation but also by their ability to translate formal entitlements into tangible support. By demonstrating how implementation gaps constrain access to existing pro- tections, the study highlights the importance of strengthening policy im- plementation at the community level. The findings show that widowhood is shaped by both socio-economic disadvantage and institutional accessi- bility, positioning it as both a socio-economic and governance issue.



References:

  1. Abalos, . B., & Yeung, W. J. (2023). Demographic, socioeconomic, and cultural factors for the rise in one-person households in developing countries: the case of the Philippines. Journal of Population Research, Springer, vol. 40(4), pages 1-32. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12546-023-09312-z
  2. Adena, M., Hamermesh, D., Myck, M., & Oczkow-ska, M. (2023). Home alone: Widows' well-being and time. Journal of Happiness Studies, 24(2), 813-838. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-023-00622-w
  3. Akıncı, M., Öztürk, H., Arıkan, E. S., Demir, M., Yıldız, M., Türkoğlu, B., & Yıldırım, F. (2024). Narrative research on the capabilities of widows receiving social cash transfer. Women's Studies International Forum, 106, 102958. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wsif.2024.102958
  4. Awaliah, P., Adenika, R., & Kaloeti, D. V. S. (2023). Social support as a protective factor for widows' resilience: A Systematic literature review. Proceedings of International Conference on Psychological Studies (ICPsyche), 4, 412-422. https://doi.org/10.58959/icpsy-che.v4i1.56.
  5. Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2013). Successful qualitative research: A practical guide for beginners. SAGE Publications.
  6. Boudet, A. M. M., Buitrago, P., De La Briere, B. L., Newhouse, D., Matulevich, E. R., Scott, K., & Suarez-Becerra, P. (2018). Gender differences in poverty and household composition through the life-cycle: A global perspective. In World Bank, Washington, DC eBooks. https://doi.org/10.1596/1813-9450-8360
  7. Burgund, A., Pantelic, M., & Milanovic, M. (2013). Single-parent families: Social status, needs, and challenges. Journal for Interdisciplinary Studies, 3(1), 3-22.
  8. Carr, D., & Utz, R. L. (2020). Families in later life: A decade in review. Journal of Marriage and Family, 82(1), 346-363. https://doi.org/10.1111/jomf.12609
  9. Chami, J. M., & Pooley, J. A. (2021). Widowed young: The role of stressors and protective factors for resilience in coping with spousal loss. OMEGA -Journal of Death and Dying, 88(2), 477-504. https://doi.org/10.1177/00302228211047088
  10. Chen, J. H., Bierhals, A. J., Prigerson, H. G., Kasl, S. V., Mazure, C. M., & Jacobs, S. (1999). Gender differences in the effects of bereavement-related psychological distress in health outcomes. Psychological medi-cine,29(2), 367-380. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0033291798008137
  11. Dabergott F. (2022). The gendered widowhood effect and social mortality gap. Population studies,76(2), 295-307. https://doi.org/10.1080/00324728.2021.1892809
  12. Djuikom, M. A., & Van De Walle, D. (2018). Marital shocks and women's welfare in Africa. In World Bank, Washington, DC eBooks. https://doi.org/10.1596/1813-9450-8306
  13. Doris, F. A. (2018). Widowhood rite: An infringement on the rights of widows in Bongo. International Journal of Developing Societies, 7(2), 1-8. https://doi.org/10.11634/216817831504951
  14. Dube, M. (2023). The challenges facing widows in African contexts: A literature review. International Journal of Research in Busi-ness and Social Science (2147-4478), 12(7), 452-459. https://doi.org/10.20525/ijrbs.v12i7.2775
  15. Eagly, A. H. (1987).Sex differences in social behavior: A social-role interpretation. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc.
  16. Kung, C. S. (2020). Health in widowhood: The roles of social capital and economic re-sources. Social Science &Medicine, 253, 112965. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2020.112965
  17. Hardwick, L., & Worsley, A. (2011). Doing social work research. SAGE Publications Ltd, https://doi.org/10.4135/9781446269602
  18. Kapelle, N., & Van Winkle, Z. (2024). Changes in household wealth over the process of widowhood across European countries. The Journals of Gerontology Series B, 79(10). https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbae116
  19. Lee, Y., Chi, I., & A Palinkas, L. (2019). Widow-hood, leisure activity engagement, and cognitive function among older adults. Aging & mental health,23(6), 771-780. https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2018.1450837
  20. Macapas, C. J., & Labadisos, R. (2025). Exploring the role of mothers as breadwinners in Bukidnon, Philippines. APCORE Online Journal, 1(2), 62-71. https://doi.org/10.65232/m7dn6p48
  21. Mwania, D. T., & Nzengya, D. M. (2025). Eco-nomic and socioeconomic status of wid-ows in low and middle-income countries: A scoping review of empirical evidence and policy implications. African Multidisciplinary Journal of Research,2(2), 337-353. https://doi.org/10.71064/spu.amjr.2.2.2025.441
  22. Narit, S. R., Capulong, C., Sirad, A., Pendang, T. M., Encabo, C., Pujanes, J. M., & Quesada, D. (2024). Women's socioeconomic status and needs assessment for women's associations in a geographically isolated and disadvantaged area. the Technician., 36(1). https://doi.org/10.62071/tmf.v36i1.673
  23. Oakes, J. M., & Rossi, P. H. (2003). The measurement of SES in health research: current practice and steps toward a new approach. Social science & medicine (1982),56(4), 769-784. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0277-9536(02)00073-4
  24. Padgett, D. K. (2017). Qualitative methods in social work research(3rd ed.). SAGE Publications.
  25. Philippine Statistics Authority(2020). Four Out of Ten Persons Were Never Married (2020 Census of Population and Housing). https://psa.gov.ph/statistics/population-and-housing/node/1684041368.
  26. Porio, E. E., Zulueta, J., & Pascual, T. B. (2025). Gender, social capital, and well-being in disaster-prone communities in the Philippines. Journal of Asian sociology,54(2), 191-214. https://www.jstor.org/sta-ble/27401172
  27. Republic Act No. 11861.https://lawphil.net/statutes/re-pacts/ra2022/ra_11861_2022.html
  28. Sahih al-Bukhari (M. M. Khan, Trans.). (1997). Darussalam. (Original work published ca. 846). https://sunnah.com/bukhari:5353
  29. Sen, A. (1995). Inequality re examined. Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/0198289286.001.0001
  30. Singham, T., Bell, G., Saunders, R., & Stott, J. (2021). Widowhood and cognitive decline in adults aged 50 and over: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Ageing Re-search Reviews, 71, 101461. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arr.2021.101461
  31. Streeter, J. L. (2020). Gender differences in wid-owhood in the short-run and long-run: Financial, emotional, and mental wellbeing. The Journal of the Economics of Ageing, 17, 100258. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jeoa.2020.100258
  32. Stroebe, M., Stroebe, W., Schut, H., & Boerner, K. (2017). Grief is not a disease but bereavement merits medical awareness. Lancet (London, England),389(10067), 347-349. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(17)30189-7
  33. Thomeer, M. B., & Umberson, D. (2023). Widowhood. In Encyclopedia of Quality of Life and Well-Being Research (Maggino, F., pp. 7720-7725). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-17299-1_3238
  34. Thapa, R., Van Teijlingen, E., Regmi, P. R., & Heaslip, V. (2021). Caste exclusion and health discrimination in South Asia: a Systematic review. Asia Pacific Journal of Public Health, 33(8), 828-838. https://doi.org/10.1177/10105395211014648
  35. Torregoza, H. L. (2022). More senators welcome law supporting 15M solo parents in PH. Manila Bulletin. https://mb.com.ph/2022/6/29/more-senators-welcome-law-supporting-15m-soloparentsin-ph
  36. UN Women. (2021). Explainer: What you should know about widowhood. https://www.un-women.org/en/news/sto-ries/2021/6/explainer-what-you-should-know-about-widowhood
  37. Rackoff, G. N., & Newman, M. G. (2022). Distinct psychological characteristics predict resilience and recovery throughout widow-hood. Behavior therapy,53(3), 428-439. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.beth.2021.11.002
  38. Witting, A. B., Lambert, J., Johnson, L. N., Good-kin, C., & Wickrama, T. (2020). The stigma of widowhood in war and disaster-affected communities of Sri Lanka. International Journal of Psychology, 55(4), 647-656. https://doi.org/10.1002/ijop.12628
  39. Wu, E. L., Brown, R. L., Chirinos, D. A., Chen, M. A., de Dios, M. A., Taylor, D. M., Butner, J. E., Heijnen, C. J., & Fagundes, C. P. (2021). Socioeconomic disparities in health: Changes in sleep quality and inflammation during bereavement. Comprehensive Psycho neuro endocrinology, 7, 100056. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpnec.2021.100056
  40. 13.) Algorithmic Literacy, Digital Literacy, and Perceived Digital Self-Efficacy as Predictors

Tools


Copyright © 2026  KITE Digital Educational Solutions |  Exclusively distributed by CE-Logic