Hindi Talaga Maiiwasan ‘Yon: The Silent Battles of Filipino Parents of Glass Children

Proponent/s Name/s (Last Name, First Name, Middle Initial)

• Franchezka Sophia R. Rabara, De La Salle University, ManilaFollow
• Rhionaline D. Manuzon, De La Salle University, ManilaFollow
• Mary Elaiza M. Nueno, De La Salle University, ManilaFollow
• Ma. Victoria Ysabel S. Singson, De La Salle University, ManilaFollow
• Alegria Rose K. Fermo, De La Salle University, ManilaFollow

Document Types

Paper Presentation

Research Theme (for Paper Presentation and Poster Presentation submissions only)

Family, Relations, and Social Structure (FRS)

School Name

De La Salle University, Manila

Track or Strand

Humanities and Social Science (HUMSS)

Research Advisor (Last Name, First Name, Middle Initial)

Vicentino, Leo

Start Date

23-6-2026 1:30 PM

End Date

23-6-2026 3:00 PM

Zoom Link/ Room Assignment

DLSU Manila Campus (In-person) - Don Enrique T. Yuchengco Hall - Y306

Abstract/Executive Summary

"Glass children" refers to the typically developing siblings of children with disabilities or complex medical needs—siblings who often feel unseen, as caregivers' attention is disproportionately directed toward the child requiring much intensive support. While the existing literature extensively documents the psychological and emotional impacts on siblings, a significant narrative gap remains regarding how parents perceive, navigate, and make sense of this complex family dynamic. This study aims to fill this gap by exploring the lived experiences, narratives, and perceptions of parents raising nonmedically diagnosed children or "glass children." Using a qualitative multiple-case study design, the research examines the unique contexts of eight parents residing in the Philippines. Data were collected through in-depth, semi-structured interviews designed to elicit rich, personal narratives surrounding their parenting journey. Utilizing thematic analysis, the study distills the parents' accounts into central themes. Preliminary findings reveal a profound duality in the parental experience: a pervasive sense of parental guilt and the continuous, often exhausting, struggle to equitably distribute emotional and physical resources. The narratives highlight parents' retrospective recognition of their typical child's forced early maturity, familial duty within the Philippine context that may exacerbate the phenomenon, and the parents' internal conflicts when unintentional emotional neglect occurs. Ultimately, this research decenters the traditional focus on the sibling to illuminate the parental ecosystem, offering critical insights that advocate for holistic, family-centered psychological interventions capable of supporting parents in mitigating the "glass child" experience.

Keywords

child development, Filipino culture, parenting styles, parental involvement, siblings

Initial Consent for Publication

yes

Statement of Originality

yes