Tensions Between Personal Life and Social Responsibility: A Dilemma of Faculty Members in Higher Education in Cavite, Philippines

Abstract

The factors that interweave between the personal life of faculty members and their social responsibility seem to be inextricable. Factors, such as personal financial investments, life projects, and even family sacrifices, shape faculty members’ professional development, with a profound impact on the performance of their social responsibility as educators. However, seminal researchers have begun the process of identifying factors that can explain the professional life cycle of educators and are still debating whether the main component is age, professional development, vital crises, or educational policies. Educators manage the tension between personal and social responsibility throughout their professional life cycle. Self-determination plays an active role in how faculty members can embrace this tension positively (Deci & Ryan, 2000). This research study was conducted to find out how faculty members manage to balance their social responsibility and personal life. This case study was conducted in two faith-based institutions of higher education with 10 participants. The findings showed that the faculty did have tensions with family orientations, wellness of the family, socially being responsible, difficulty in balancing personal and social responsibility, work-family conflicts, long hours of work, and quality time spent on social service. However, the faculty was able to manage with emotional health, family life, physical health, spiritual health, professional meetings, and socializing in recreational centers