The study delved into the profile of case-respondents who were involved and have filed for nullity of marriage based on the alleged presence of psychological incapacity in one of the couples. These cases were those attended to by the researcher and filed in different courts in Pangasinan from 1996 to 2004.


The study used the case study method of qualitative research. The primary source of data was the psychological report primarily on the petitioner and the defendant (case-respondents). Other sources of data were court documents like affidavits and personal interview by the researcher on the case-respondents and other significant people. Personality tests administered to the subjects were: 1) draw-a-person test, 2) sentence completion test, and 16 PF by Cattell. Mental ability test used was the Non-verbal and Verbal Tests (Acorn). Family APGAR by Smilkstein was used to assess for family function.


Problem No. 1 dealt with the profile of the case-respondents for psychological incapacity in terms of A) personal-demographic factors: 1) age, 2) gender, 3) educational attainment, 4) age when married, 5) number of children, 6) occupation, 7) period of togetherness, 8) courtship period, 9) place spent on childhood years, 10) family set-up, and, 11) family structure. It also tackled the B) psychological factors which included personality, mental ability and family function. Problem No.2 identified the common reasons/marital stressors for the breakdown in marriage. Problem No.3 zeroed in on the behavioral disorders diagnosed by the behavioral professional on the respondent or the petitioner as appropriate. Problem No. 4 considered the coping mechanism or adjustment mechanism done by the petitioner when marital stressors occurred.

The Filipino Family Physician, 2005 43 ( 4 ) pages 129-175