Elucidating The Spiritual Development of Public Grade 10 Junior High School Learners

This study involved qualitative research particularly phenomenological design. It delved into the lived experiences on the spiritual development of the Grade 10 public Junior high school learners in Padada District. A purposive sampling technique was used in selecting the participants who were chosen and qualified based on the inclusion criteria set to become participants for the in-depth interview (IDI) and focus group discussion (FGD). Thematic analysis was used to extract the essential themes from the responses of the participants. There were seven essential themes on spiritual development such as friendship with God, sensitive to the needs of others, awareness of one’s strength, practice of mindfulness, finding meaning in living, family crisis, and academic pressure. The learners coped with their challenges through the help of their family as their protective structure, unshakable faith in God, the reassurance given by the academe, and their community involvement. The learners were willing to share insights to the academe and their community on the following facets: giving without expecting in return, prayer can solve problems; and knowing and accepting one’s strengths and weaknesses.

Education, lived experiences, spiritual development, public junior high school learners, phenomenology, Philippines

1. Ammerman, N. T. (2020). Rethinking religion: Toward a practice approach. American Journal of Sociology, 126(1), 6-51. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

2. Barnachea, J. R., Vargas, D., & De Torres, M. (2022). Roman Catholic Church Goers' Perception of Mass Gatherings During the Pandemic. Available at SSRN 4188249. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

3. Barry, C., Nelson, L., Davarya, S., & Urry, S. (2010). Religiosity and spirituality during the transition to adulthood. International journal of behavioral development, 34(4), 311-324.https://doi.org/10.1177/0165025409350964 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

4. Benson, P. L., King, P. E., & Wagener, L. M. (2003). Spiritual development in childhood and adolescence: Moving to the scientific mainstream. The handbook of spiritual development in childhood and adolescence, 1-15. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

5. Benson, P. L., & Roehlkepartain, E. C. (2008). Spiritual development: A missing priority in youth development. New directions for youth development, 2008(118), 13-28. https://doi.org/10.1002/yd.253 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

6. Bibby, R. W., Thiessen, J., & Bailey, M. (2019). The millennial mosaic: How pluralism and choice are shaping Canadian youth and the future of Canada. Dundurn. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

7. Bloomfield, P. (2020). Humility is not a virtue. In The Routledge handbook of philosophy of humility (pp. 36-46). Routledge. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

8. Bølling, M., Niclasen, J., Bentsen, P., & Nielsen, G. (2019). Association of Education outside the Classroom and Pupils' Psychosocial Well‐Being: Results from a School Year Implementation. Journal of school health, 89(3), 210-218.https://doi.org/10.1111/josh.12730 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

9. Bosacki, S. (2015). Silence, Solitude and Social Cognition in Adolescence: Implications for Research and Education. Paedagogia Christiana, 45(1), 101-121. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

10. Brandes, S. C. C. (2018). Attachment in adolescence: associations with internalizing and externalizing behavior (Doctoral dissertation). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

11. Bhandari, P. (2020). What is qualitative research? | Methods & examples. Erişim adresi: https://www. scribbr. com/methodology/qualitative-research. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

12. Canete, J. J. O. (2021). When expressions of faith in the Philippines becomes a potential COVID-19 ‘superspreader’. Journal of Public Health, 43(2), e366-e367. https://doi.org/10.1093/pubmed/fdab082 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

13. Carlson, E. (2022). The Effects of Outdoor Education and Mindfulness Practices on Attention Issues of Third Graders. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

14. Carmichael, A., Cordier, S., Eggesbø, M., ... & Nieuwenhuijsen, M. (2012). European birth cohorts for environmental health research. Environmental health perspectives, 120(1), 29-37. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

15. Casidy, R., Duhachek, A., Singh, V., & Tamaddoni, A. (2021). Religious belief, religious priming, and negative word of mouth. Journal of Marketing Research, 58(4), 762-781. https://doi.org/10.1177/00222437211011196 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

16. Creswell, J. W. (2014). A concise introduction to mixed methods research. SAGE publications. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

17. Crosnoe, R., & Johnson, M. K. (2011). Research on adolescence in the twenty-first century. Annual Review of Sociology, 37, 439-460. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

18. Cena, J. B., & Bual, J. M. (2021). Spiritual well-being of senior high school students of Philippine public schools. Philippine Social Science Journal, 4(4), 50-61. https://doi.org/10.52006/main.v4i4.446 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

19. Chongvisal, R. (2021). Preparation for pre-ageing populations in the workplace: Spiritual health and psychological well-being development program. Kasetsart Journal of Social Sciences, 42(4), 761–769. Retrieved from https://so04.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/kjss/article/view/255724 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

20. Cook, J. W. (2019). Sustainability, human well-being, and the future of education (p. 425). Springer Nature. http://library.oapen.org/handle/20.500.12657/22996 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

21. Cotter, C. R. (2015). Without God yet not without nuance: A qualitative study of atheism and non-religion among Scottish university students. Atheist identities-spaces and social contexts, 171-193. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

22. Frenkel, M., & Wasserman, V. (2023). Bodies in‐between: Religious women's‐only spaces and the construction of liminal identities. Gender, Work & Organization. https://doi.org/10.1111/gwao.12958 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

23. Gasulas, J. (2019). Roles and influences of the three filipino congregations in eastern Norway towards filipino youth (Master's thesis, VID vitenskapelige høgskole. Diakonhjemmet Oslo). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

24. Good, M., & Willoughby, T. (2008). Adolescence as a sensitive period for spiritual development. Child Development Perspectives, 2(1), 32-37. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1750-8606.2008.00038.x [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

25. Groves, R., & Welsh, B. (2010). The high school experience: What students say. Issues in Educational Research, 20(2), 87-104. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

26. Homan, K. J., & Boyatzis, C. J. (2010). The protective role of attachment to God against eating disorder risk factors: Concurrent and prospective evidence. Eating Disorders, 18(3), 239-258. https://doi.org/10.1080/10640261003719534 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

27. Hwang, Y. S., Noh, J. E., Medvedev, O. N., & Singh, N. N. (2019). Effects of a mindfulness-based program for teachers on teacher wellbeing and person-centered teaching practices. Mindfulness, 10, 2385-2402. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

28. Jacobs, D., & White, K. . (2023). The Kingdom Professional Model: Living Our Faith Out Loud. Journal of Faith in the Academic Profession, 2(1), 10–19. Retrieved from https://www.cbuopenpublishing.org/index.php/jfap/article/view/18 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

29. Jerald, M., & Me, V. H. (2020). Number of Friends in School and the Level of Self-Confidence of the Students. International Journal of Research-Granthaalayah, 8(1), 277-286. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

30. King, P. E., & Boyatzis, C. J. (2015). Religious and spiritual development. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1002/9781118963418.childpsy323 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

31. Kor, A., Pirutinsky, S., Mikulincer, M., Shoshani, A., & Miller, L. (2019). A longitudinal study of spirituality, character strengths, subjective well-being, and prosociality in middle school adolescents. Frontiers in psychology, 10, 377. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00377 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

32. Krok, D. (2018). When is meaning in life most beneficial to young people? Styles of meaning in life and well-being among late adolescents. Journal of adult development, 25, 96-106. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

33. Laflamme, W. S. (2022). And then there were none: Regional dynamics of non-religious identities, beliefs and practices among Canadian millennials. Studies in Religion/Sciences Religieuses, 00084298221102926. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

34. Luckmann, T. (2019). The new and the old in religion. In Social theory for a changing society (pp. 167-188). Routledge. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

35. Madrigal, D. V., Erillo, R. P., & Oracion, E. G. (2020). Religiosity and spiritual well-being of senior high school students of a catholic college in the Philippines. Recoletos Multidisciplinary Research Journal, 8(1), 79-95. https://doi.org/10.32871/rmrj2008.01.06 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

36. Mccollum, R. J. (2019). Faculty Perceptions of Biblically Integrated Instruction and Spiritual Development of High School Seniors: A Causal-Comparative Study (Doctoral dissertation, Columbia International University). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

37. Martela, F., & Steger, M. F. (2016). The three meanings of meaning in life: Distinguishing coherence, purpose, and significance. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 11(5), 531-545. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

38. McNamara, R. A., & Purzycki, B. G. (2020). Minds of gods and human cognitive constraints: socio-ecological context shapes belief. Religion, Brain & Behavior, 10(3), 223-238. https://doi.org/10.1080/2153599X.2019.1678510 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

39. Mubashar, U. E. F., Salman, D. Y., Irfan, D. S., & Jabeen, P. D. N. (2020). Spiritual leadership in organizational context: A research gap in South Asia. South Asian Studies, 32(1). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

40. Nasrollahi, Z., Eskandari, N., Adaryani, M. R., & Tasuji, M. H. H. R. (2020). Spirituality and effective factors in education: A qualitative study. Journal of education and health promotion, 9(1), 52.https://doi.org/10.4103%2Fjehp.jehp_430_19 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

41. Nowak, B., Brzóska, P., Piotrowski, J., Żemojtel-Piotrowska, M., & Jonason, P. (2022). Disentangling the effects of religiosity and spirituality on contaminated mindware. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

42. Nye, R. (2009). Children's spirituality: What it is and why it matters. Church House Publishing. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

43. Niemiec, R. M., Russo-Netzer, P., & Pargament, K. I. (2020). The decoding of the human spirit: A synergy of spirituality and character strengths toward wholeness. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, 2040. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.02040 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

44. Nimmi, P. M., Binoy, A. K., Joseph, G., & Suma, R. (2022). Significance of developing spirituality among management students: Discerning the impact on psychological resources and wellbeing. Journal of Applied Research in Higher Education, 14(1), 317-331. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

45. Özdemir, A. A., Kavak Buda, F., Dural, G., & Gültekin, A. (2022). The Relationship between spiritual well-being, life satisfaction and hope in elderly individuals in Turkey. Journal of Religion and Health, 1-14. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

46. Pattiwael, A. S. (2019, January). Literature for Developing Student's Humanity Awareness. In Journal International Seminar on Languages, Literature, Arts, and Education (ISLLAE) (Vol. 1, No. 1, pp. 79-88). https://doi.org/10.21009/ISLLAE.01115 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

47. Pham, T., & Del Castillo, F. (2020). Understanding the spiritual well-being of the youth in the Philippines and Vietnam: An exploratory study. Asia Pacific Journal of Multidisciplinary Research, 8(2), 27-34. http://www.apjmr.com/ [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

48. Piotrowski, J. P., Żemojtel-Piotrowska, M., Piedmont, R. L., & Baran, T. (2021). The Assessment of Spirituality and Religious Sentiments (ASPIRES) scale: Examining a spiritual transcendence nomological net in Polish context. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, 13(1), 36.https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1037/rel0000273 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

49. Rame, T., Ruindungan, M. G., & Lumi, D. R. (2022). Holiness Signifies the Presence of God in the Church Congregation. Papendangan: International Journal of Religious and Culture, 1(1), 12-22. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

50. Resurreccion, N. Maddi, S. R., Harvey, R. H., Khoshaba, D. M., Fazel, M., & (2009). Hardiness training facilitates performance in college. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 4(6), 566-577. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

51. Strulowitz, J.D. (2023, January). The impact of a positive teacher-student relationship with Judaic studies teachers on the religious observance and spiritual connection of Modern Orthodox adolescents during their time in high school (Publication No. 30246212) [Doctoral dissertation, Yeshiva University]. PQDTG [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

52. Szutta, N. (2020). The virtues of will-power–from a philosophical & psychological perspective. Ethical Theory and Moral Practice, 23(2), 325-339. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

53. Tan, C. O., Cohen, M. A., Eckberg, D. L., & Taylor, J. A. (2009). Fractal properties of human heart period variability: physiological and methodological implications. The Journal of physiology, 587(15), 3929-3941. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

54. Thiessen, J. (2012). Marginal religious affiliates in Canada: Little reason to expect increased church involvement. Canadian Review of Sociology/Revue canadienne de sociologie, 49(1), 69-90. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

55. Trevethan, R. (2017). Sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values: foundations, pliabilities, and pitfalls in research and practice. Frontiers in public health, 5, 307.https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2017.00307 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

56. Thomson, D. R. (2009). Growing in favor with God: Young children's spiritual development and implications for Christian education. University of North Texas. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

57. Thomas, P. A., Liu, H., & Umberson, D. (2017). Family relationships and well-being. Innovation in aging, 1(3), igx025. https://doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igx025 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

58. Tozer, A. W. (2022). Knowledge of the Holy: The Attributes of God. Their Meaning in the Christian Life. Knowledge of the Holy, 1-128. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

59. Usmanov, N. (2021). The Philosophical Basis for The Formation of Spiritual Maturity Among Young People. Oriental Journal of Social Sciences, 1(1), 33-37. https://cyberleninka.ru/viewer_images/19207296/f/1.png [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

60. Voorhis, F. L. V. (2011). Costs and benefits of family involvement in homework. Journal of advanced academics, 22(2), 220-249. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

61. Weare, K. (2019). Mindfulness and contemplative approaches in education. Current opinion in psychology, 28, 321-326.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2019.06.001 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

62. Willard, D. (2021). Renovation of the Heart: Putting on the Character of Christ. NavPress. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

63. Woodward II, J. D. (2020). Spiritual Formation in Christian Higher Education (Doctoral dissertation, The University of Findlay). https://www. search.proquest.com [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

• Assessment of the Role of Artificial Intelligence in Repositioning TVET for Economic Development in Nigeria
• Teachers’ Use of Assure Model Instructional Design on Learners’ Problem Solving Efficacy in Secondary Schools in Bungoma County, Kenya
• “E-Booksan Ang Kaalaman”: Development, Validation, and Utilization of Electronic Book in Academic Performance of Grade 9 Students in Social Studies
• Analyzing EFL University Students’ Academic Speaking Skills Through Self-Recorded Video Presentation
• Major Findings of The Study on Total Quality Management in Teachers’ Education Institutions (TEIs) In Assam – An Evaluative Study