Parental incarceration, coping strategies, Survival, Parenthood, Resilience, challenges 

Parental incarceration presents multifaceted challenges for PDL parents who must navigate survival behind bars while striving to fulfill their parental roles. This descriptive survey research aimed to identify the coping strategies and challenges faced by parents detained in the Dagupan City Jail (DCJ). The study collected data through a survey questionnaire, analyzing responses to determine demographic profiles, coping strategies, and the frequency of encountered challenges. Key demographic variables included age, gender, place of origin, and length of stay in jail, civil status, economic status, religion, educational attainment, and number of children. The findings revealed a diverse demographic profile among the respondents, influencing their survival and parenting within the jail environment. PDL parents employed various adaptive coping strategies, such as acceptance, self-control, social support, emotional distancing, radical acceptance, and positive appraisal. Despite facing significant stressors, such as concerns over their children's welfare and financial inability to support them, the individuals demonstrated remarkable resilience. The study concluded that while current welfare and development programs are effective, further enhancements are necessary to address persistent challenges. Recommendations include expanding gender-responsive and providing tailor-fit parenting programs, facilitating meaningful contact between parents and children, implementing supportive family policies, and engaging community efforts to reduce stigma and aid reintegration. Ultimately, this research underscores the critical importance of fostering resilience and providing comprehensive support to incarcerated parents to balance survival and parenthood effectively. The results are intended to guide further research and inform policy enhancements aimed at better supporting corrections-involved families.