A Phenomenological Study of Filipino Female Adults’ Lived Experiences of Mother-Daughter Estrangement

In the Philippines, familial estrangement remains a stigmatized phenomenon, with Filipinos overtly undermining the issues elicited within this phenomenon in a collectivistic society. Studies on familial estrangement were primarily conducted in Western cultures, especially those involving mother-daughter estrangement, which has led to limited attention in the Filipino cultural context. This study aimed to explore the lived experiences of Filipino female adults aged 20-25 on mother-daughter estrangement, providing rich qualitative data essential to modernizing the existing body of knowledge in the Philippines, thereby bridging the gaps between intergenerational literature on Filipino cultural values and family dynamics. As an understudied phenomenon in the Philippines, the researchers deemed it suitable to utilize a qualitative research approach grounded on Moustakas’ transcendental phenomenology, critical in capturing the essence of the phenomenon in the Filipino context, in which four key themes emerged: Physical and Emotional Absence in a Strained Mother-Daughter Bond, Cultural Expectations and Familial Duty in the Context of Estrangement, The Role of Mother-Daughter Boundaries Amid Estrangement in Shaping Self-Identity, and Intergenerational Consciousness and Advocacy for Change. The findings revealed a paradoxical relationship between maternal longing and neglect, despite estrangement, which was exacerbated by societal and cultural expectations such as utang na loob, filial piety, and unbridled love. The findings suggest the need for future studies on familial estrangement and practical applications in advancing phenomenological understanding of mother-daughter estrangement, promoting social support, and improving mental health care.