The single-mother college student population has quietly grown to over two million undergraduate students over the last two decades, but most of them will not attain a degree. What has been missing is a better understanding of the lived experiences of successfully persisting single-mother college students as told by the women themselves. This phenomenological case study interviewed 11 students from a regional university in the southwestern portion of the United States. Four themes emerged as expressed by the participants themselves: "Just because you have a baby doesn't mean your life is over" (Rebekah); "In the middle of a test, my kid throws up" (Sarah); "They're building me to be independent" (Anna Maria); and "I'm really doing this" (Juno). Their synthesized lived experiences were expressed through the simile of a seasoned gymnast. Overall, they shared adeptness at resource management and problem solving, strategically using support while building resiliency and self-efficacy. This study of successfully persisting single-mother college students can aid institutions in improving their support mechanisms for these students.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:unt.edu/info:ark/67531/metadc1873681 |
| Date | 12 1900 |
| Creators | Kelly, Michelle |
| Contributors | Harbour, Clifford P, Bush, V. Barbara, Tran-Parsons, Uyen, Adams, Joshua |
| Publisher | University of North Texas |
| Source Sets | University of North Texas |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis or Dissertation |
| Format | vi, 230 pages, Text |
| Rights | Public, Kelly, Michelle, Copyright, Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise noted. All rights Reserved. |
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