Behavioral Problems of Learners in Iba District, Zambales: Basis for an Intervention Plan
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11594/ijmaber.06.10.28Keywords:
Behavioral Problems, Undesired Learner’s Behavior, Classroom Management, Teacher Coping Strategies, Academic PerformanceAbstract
This descriptive-correlational study surveyed 150 elementary teachers in Iba District, Zambales using a validated questionnaire. Results revealed that learners with behavioral issues generally performed fairly satisfactory (M=79). Common behaviors included indifference, lack of motivation, violent tendencies, destructiveness, and communication problems. Misbehavior significantly correlated with impacts on teaching (r=.756), classroom management (r=.724), academic success (r=.786), and school climate (r=.658). Teachers strongly endorsed preventive, intramural support, and communication strategies. An intervention plan is recommended involving teacher training, parental engagement, and structured behavioral programs.
Downloads
References
Aldrup, K., Klusmann, U., & Lüdtke, O. (2018). Does teacher–student relationship quality mitigate the association between student misbehavior and teacher well-being? Journal of School Psychology, 69, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsp.2018.04.001
Aloe, A. M., Shisler, S. M., Norris, B. D., Nicker-son, A. B., & Rinker, T. W. (2020). A mul-tivariate meta-analysis of student misbe-havior and teacher burnout. Educational Research Review, 31, 100356. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.edurev.2020.100356
Arens, A. K., Marsh, H. W., Pekrun, R., Lichten-feld, S., Murayama, K., & Vom Hofe, R. (2021). Students’ emotions in classroom disruptions and their relations to peer and teacher relationships. Journal of Ed-ucational Psychology, 113(5), 913–930. https://doi.org/10.1037/edu0000524
Bastida, R. P. (2022). Challenges in enhancing language literacy among multicultural learners: A case in Philippine public schools. Journal of Language and Educa-tion, 8(2), 33–41.
Bembenutty, H. (2020). Homework: A tool for learning and self-regulation. Educational Psychologist, 55(1), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1080/00461520.2019.1659797
Climaco, J. M., Salazar, C. A., & Villanueva, R. G. (2025). Task-irrelevant behaviors and classroom engagement among secondary students: Implications for instructional design. Teaching and Teacher Education, 137, 104585. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2024.104585
Dichev, C., & Dicheva, D. (2021). Gamifying education: What is known, what is be-lieved and what remains uncertain. In-ternational Journal of Educational Tech-nology in Higher Education, 18(1), 1–27. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41239-021-00268-x
Fiorilli, C., Albanese, O., Gabola, P., & Pepe, A. (2021). Teacher burnout and student be-havior: A systematic review. Internation-al Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(4), 1882. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18041882
Fiorilli, C., Benevene, P., De Stasio, S., Buono-mo, I., Romano, L., Pepe, A., & Addiman-do, L. (2021). Teachers’ burnout: The role of trait emotional intelligence and social support. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 622. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.628664
Freeman, S., Eddy, S. L., McDonough, M., Smith, M. K., Okoroafor, N., Jordt, H., & Wenderoth, M. P. (2018). Active learning increases student performance in science, engineering, and mathematics. Proceed-ings of the National Academy of Sciences, 111(23), 8410–8415. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1319030111
Freeman, J., Simonsen, B., Kern, L., & Sugai, G. (2021). Integration of academic and be-havior supports: Predictors of improved student outcomes. Journal of Positive Be-havior Interventions, 23(3), 173–185. https://doi.org/10.1177/1098300720986900
Gage, N. A., MacSuga-Gage, A. S., & Lewis, T. J. (2021). Academic achievement and chal-lenging behavior: Longitudinal evidence of a reciprocal relationship. Behavioral Disorders, 46(4), 195–206. https://doi.org/10.1177/0198742920927253
Gregory, A., Clawson, K., Davis, A., & Gerewitz, J. (2021). Restorative practices to trans-form teacher–student relationships and achieve equity in school discipline. Edu-cational Psychologist, 56(2), 79–92. https://doi.org/10.1080/00461520.2021.1886980
Gregory, A., Hafen, C. A., Ruzek, E., & Mikami, A. Y. (2021). Closing the racial discipline gap in classrooms by changing teacher practice. School Psychology Review, 50(1), 76–89. https://doi.org/10.1080/2372966X.2020.1854824
Hafen, C. A., Allen, J. P., Gregory, A., Mikami, A. Y., Hamre, B. K., & Pianta, R. C. (2022). Student engagement and classroom man-agement: The role of teacher–student re-lationships. Journal of Applied Develop-mental Psychology, 78, 101360. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appdev.2021.101360
Hirn, R. G. (2018). Student problem behavior and its impact on teacher instruction. Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Dis-orders, 26(3), 195–204.
Horner, R. H., Sugai, G., Freeman, J., & Simon-sen, B. (2021). A systems approach to scaling up school-wide positive behavior-al interventions and supports. Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions, 23(4), 221–232. https://doi.org/10.1177/10983007211004866
Juvonen, J., & Graham, S. (2021). Bullying in schools: The power of bullies and the plight of victims. Annual Review of Psy-chology, 72(1), 159–185. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-psych-010419-050750
Kazak, E., & Koyuncu, V. (2021). Undesired Learner Behaviors, the Effects of These Behaviors, and Teachers’ Coping Meth-ods. Journal of Education and Learning Studies, 3(2), 45–53.
Korpershoek, H., Canrinus, E. T., Fokkens-Bruinsma, M., & de Boer, H. (2020). The relationships between school belonging and students’ motivational, social-emotional, behavioural, and academic outcomes in secondary education: A me-ta-analytic review. Research Papers in Education, 35(6), 641–680. https://doi.org/10.1080/02671522.2019.1615116
de Leeuw, R. (2018). Children with emotional and behavioral difficulties: A social per-spective. European Journal of Education-al Psychology, 11(1), 29–40.
La Salle, T. P. (2018). Student behavior and school climate: Linking assessment to in-tervention. Psychology in the Schools, 55(3), 312–324.
Li, J., & Lerner, R. M. (2021). Interrelations of behavioral engagement, attention, and academic achievement in adolescence. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 50(7), 1327–1342. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-021-01448-3
Li, Y., Lerner, R. M., & Lerner, J. V. (2021). In-teractions between teacher support and student behavioral problems: Implica-tions for classroom engagement. Journal of School Psychology, 85, 40–55. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsp.2020.12.003
Liu, Y., Finn, A. S., & McCarty, M. (2022). Atten-tional engagement in classrooms: Cogni-tive and behavioral correlates. Learning and Instruction, 77, 101511. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.learninstruc.2021.101511
López-González, L., Fernández-Batanero, J. M., & García-Martínez, I. (2022). The impact of disruptive behavior on the teaching–learning process: Teachers’ perceptions. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(3), 1342. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19031342
López-González, M. Á., Tourón, J., & Martín, A. (2022). Teacher–student communication and student engagement: A systematic review. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 879050. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.879050
Madigan, D. J., & Kim, L. E. (2021). Towards an understanding of teacher attrition: A me-ta-analysis of burnout, job satisfaction, and teachers’ intentions to quit. Teaching and Teacher Education, 105, 103425. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2021.103425
Maldonado-Carreño, C., & Votruba-Drzal, E. 2020). Teacher–student relationships and the development of academic and behav-ioral skills during early elementary school. Journal of Educational Psycholo-gy, 112(4), 745–760. https://doi.org/10.1037/edu0000385
Mardiyah, M. (2019). Behavioral issues in the classroom: Impacts on teaching effec-tiveness. International Journal of Educa-tional Management, 33(2), 204–215.
Meyer, A., Rose, D. H., & Gordon, D. (2022). Universal design for learning: Theory and practice (2nd ed.). CAST.
Miller, C. F., Cappella, E., & Reinke, W. M. (2022). Teacher modeling of prosocial behavior and classroom climate. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 79, 101382. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appdev.2022.101382
Modecki, K. L., Minchin, J., & Guerra, N. G. (2022). School-based violence and bully-ing prevention: Current challenges and future directions. Journal of School Vio-lence, 21(3), 223–238. https://doi.org/10.1080/15388220.2021.2002722
Nowicki, E., Brown, J., & Dare, L. (2018). Peer relationships and behavioral difficulties in school settings. Canadian Journal of School Psychology, 33(1), 20–35.
OECD. (2021). Teachers’ well-being: A frame-work for policy and practice. OECD Pub-lishing. https://doi.org/10.1787/4d4676b6-en
Oester, A., & Oester, R. (2022). Common dis-ruptive behaviors in classrooms: Patterns and teacher responses. Journal of Educa-tional Research and Practice, 12(4), 77–89.
Okonofua, J. A., Walton, G. M., & Eberhardt, J. L. (2022). A scalable empathic-mindset intervention reduces group disparities in school suspensions. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 119(7), e2116781119. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2116781119
Oliver, R. M., Wehby, J. H., & Reschly, D. J. (2021). Teacher classroom management practices: Effects on disruptive or aggres-sive student behavior. Journal of Emo-tional and Behavioral Disorders, 29(1), 3–14. https://doi.org/10.1177/1063426620927652
Pajarillo, E., & Ballesil, M. (2022). Managing classroom behavior in Philippine public schools: Teachers' experiences and strat-egies. Philippine Journal of Education, 95(1), 45–60.
Pas, E. T., & Bradshaw, C. P. (2022). Building a positive school climate through multi-tiered systems of support. Behavioral Disorders, 47(4), 255–266. https://doi.org/10.1177/01987429211040810
Pas, E. T., Waasdorp, T. E., & Bradshaw, C. P. (2022). Linking classroom behavior prob-lems to academic outcomes: The role of teacher and peer support. School Psy-chology Review, 51(2), 145–159. https://doi.org/10.1080/2372966X.2021.1894823
Pianta, R. C., Hamre, B. K., & Allen, J. P. (2022). Teacher–student relationships and en-gagement: Conceptualizing, measuring, and improving classroom processes. School Psychology Review, 51(1), 37–51. https://doi.org/10.1080/2372966X.2021.1886135
Ravizza, S. M., Uitvlugt, M. G., & Fenn, K. M. (2020). Logged in and zoned out: How laptop internet use impacts classroom learning. Computers & Education, 144, 103709. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2019.103709
Reinke, W. M., Herman, K. C., & Stormont, M. (2022). Classroom-level positive behavior supports in schools: Building a frame-work for prevention. School Psychology Review, 51(1), 65–77. https://doi.org/10.1080/2372966X.2021.1951178
Roeser, R. W., Schonert-Reichl, K. A., & Jha, A. (2022). Mindfulness training and teach-ers’ professional development: Emerging evidence and future directions. Child De-velopment Perspectives, 16(3), 164–171. https://doi.org/10.1111/cdep.12464
Roorda, D. L., Zee, M., & Koomen, H. M. Y. (2021). The influence of affective teach-er–student relationships on students’ school engagement and achievement: A meta-analytic approach. Review of Edu-cational Research, 91(3), 338–376. https://doi.org/10.3102/0034654321992795
Sakellariou, T., & Tsiara, E. (2023). Low-level disruptive behavior in schools: Teachers’ perspectives and strategies. Frontiers in Education, 8, 1139280. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2023.1139280
Sarmiento, L. T. (2020). Behavioral concerns and management strategies among public school teachers in the Philippines. Asian Journal of Education and Social Studies, 10(3), 1–9.
Schnaubert, L., & Bodemer, D. (2021). Media multitasking in educational contexts: A systematic review of students’ off-task behavior and learning. Educational Psy-chology Review, 33(3), 1107–1143. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10648-020-09587-z
Sheridan, S. M., Witte, A. L., Holmes, S. R., & Coutts, M. J. (2022). Family–school part-nerships and children’s social-emotional learning: A review of the evidence. School Psychology International, 43(3), 235–255. https://doi.org/10.1177/01430343211070763
Shochat, T., Cohen-Zion, M., & Tzischinsky, O. (2020). Functional consequences of inad-equate sleep in adolescents: A systematic review. Sleep Medicine Reviews, 54, 101352. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smrv.2019.101352
Simonsen, B., Freeman, J., Myers, D., & Sugai, G. (2022). Multi-tiered systems of support for behavior: Current status and future directions. Behavioral Disorders, 47(4), 229–240. https://doi.org/10.1177/01987429211059187
Simonsen, B., Freeman, J., & Everett, S. (2021). Classwide positive behavior interventions and supports: Effective practices for cre-ating a positive classroom climate. Teach-ing Exceptional Children, 53(5), 380–390. https://doi.org/10.1177/0040059921990653
Simón, C., & Alonso-Tapia, J. (2016). Teachers’ beliefs about classroom management and student behavior. Journal of Psychodidac-tics, 21(1), 17–36.
Skaalvik, E. M., & Skaalvik, S. (2021). Teacher burnout and engagement: The role of student behavior and motivational cli-mate. Teaching and Teacher Education, 97, 103213. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2020.103213
Sullivan, T. N., Farrell, A. D., & Kliewer, W. (2023). Longitudinal associations of peer victimization and aggression with aca-demic adjustment in adolescence. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 52(1), 45–59. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-022-01649-8
Sugai, G., Simonsen, B., Freeman, J., & La Salle, T. (2021). Positive behavioral interven-tions and supports: History, defining fea-tures, and misconceptions. PBIS Center Monograph. https://www.pbis.org/resource/pbis-history-defining-features-and-misconceptions
Sun, R. C. F., & Shek, D. T. L. (2012). Student Classroom Misbehavior: An Exploratory Study Based on Teachers’ Perceptions. The Scientific World Journal, 2012, Arti-cle ID 208907. https://doi.org/10.1100/2012/208907
Thornberg, R., & Wänström, L. (2022). Bully-ing in school: Prevalence, causes, conse-quences, and interventions. Child Indica-tors Research, 15(2), 503–526. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12187-021-09850-2
Tomlinson, C. A., & Murphy, M. (2021). Lead-ing for differentiation: Growing teachers who grow kids. ASCD.
Villanueva, M. L. O., & David, B. (2020). Behav-ioral Problems of Learners Observed by the Secondary Teachers in the Classroom as Basis for a Proposed Intervention Scheme. International Journal of Ad-vanced Research in Education and Socie-ty, 2(1), 20–29.
Voight, A., & Nation, M. (2022). Enhancing school climate through parent and com-munity engagement. Journal of School Health, 92(5), 463–471. https://doi.org/10.1111/josh.13179
Wang, Z., He, Y., & Xu, J. (2023). The cumula-tive effects of classroom disruptions on student motivation and engagement: Evi-dence from longitudinal classroom ob-servations. Teaching and Teacher Educa-tion, 126, 104039. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2023.104039
Yu, R., Sun, X., & Chen, H. (2023). Improving teacher–student interactions through so-cioemotional learning: Evidence from Chinese middle schools. Teaching and Teacher Education, 122, 103999. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2022.103999
Zakszeski, B. N., & Rutherford, L. R. (2023). Restorative practices and teacher–student relationships: A systematic re-view. Review of Educational Research, 93(1), 91–123. https://doi.org/10.3102/00346543221113785
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 SANTI MAGTALAS

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See the Effect of Open Access).














