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The lived experience of student mothers

University of British Columbia

This study explored what it is like to be a student and a mother at the same time by using a phenomenological approach to identify and describe the processes by which seven undergraduate student mothers make meaning out of their everyday lived experience. As part of a larger study on stress and coping, each woman was interviewed and the interviews analyzed for common themes and meanings. A follow-up interview served to confirm or clarify the summary of each initial interview. The themes that emerged from this study are that student mothers' lived experience (a) involves having to face conflicting demands, (b) leads to feelings of guilt and inadequacy, (c) induces helplessness and frustration, (d) fosters alienation and disconnection, (e) contributes to self ­neglect, (f) encompasses anger, resentment, and questioning of the status quo, (g) facilitates re-definition of self as mother, self as student, the role of family and friends, and/or the role of the university, and (h) either strengthens or weakens the woman. These results add to the understanding of this particular student population, and offer recommendations for counselling agencies and policy makers alike.

Thesis/Dissertation

application/pdf

2009-05-21

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http://hdl.handle.net/2429/8052

Counselling Psychology

University of British Columbia

UBCV

DSpace