Student Mothers: Experiences of Young Mothers Studying at University

Ifunanya Lilian Nnadi; Ayşe Özada Nazım

Student Mothers: Experiences of Young Mothers Studying at University

Öz

This study investigates the challenges faced by young mothers in pursuing higher education, examines their coping strategies for balancing motherhood and academic responsibilities, and explores available support systems. In order to accomplish the study's goals and objectives, a qualitative research design was employed. Snowball sampling was used to select women over 18 years old enrolled in a university in North Cyprus having at least one child and speaking English. Semistructured interviews, lasting 30-50 minutes were carried out with study participants. The interviews were transcribed, coded into themes and sub-themes, and then analysed thematically. The study results revealed that student mothers bear a heavy burden of motherhood responsibilities, leading to significant emotional stress and a negative impact on their mental well-being. The mothers also encounter challenges in finding sufficient support systems, such as lactation rooms and childcare services. To overcome these obstacles, the respondents emphasize the importance of effective time management to balance their academic studies with caring for their children. The respondents report that having a support system from family members and colleagues is valuable for coping with the challenges of motherhood and education. Therefore, addressing the challenges faced by student mothers requires a holistic approach that recognizes the intersectionality of their roles.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Kaynakça

Adams, R. V. & Blair, E. (2019). Impact of time management behaviors on undergraduate engineering students’ performance, SAGE Open, 9(1), 215824401882450.
Adu-Yeboah, C. (2015). Mature women students’ experiences of social and academic support in higher education: A systematic review.
Alhajjuj, K. K. (2016). Learning to manage: How Saudi female doctoral students in education manage academic and motherhood roles in US universities (Doctoral dissertation, University of Kansas).
Charmaz, K. & Belgrave, L., (2012). Qualitative interviewing and grounded theory analysis. In J.F. Gubrium et al. (Eds.), The SAGE handbook of interview research: The complexity of the craft, 347-365.
Dokes, K. (2020). The Challenges Graduate Student Mothers Face and the Strategies They Use to Overcome and Persist (Doctoral dissertation, Saint Louis University).
Dunwoodie, K., Macaulay, L., & Newman, A. (2023). Qualitative interviewing in the field of work and organisational psychology: Benefits, challenges and guidelines for researchers and reviewers. Applied Psychology, 72(2), 863-889.
Estes, D. (2011). Managing the studentparent dilemma: mothers and fathers in higher education, Symbolic Interaction, 34(2), 198-219.
Findling, Y., Barnoy, S., & Itzhaki, M. (2023). Burden of treatment, emotion work and parental burnout of mothers to children with or without special needs: A pilot study. Current Psychology, 42(22), 19273-19285.

Gaganis, A., Gelz, M., Setyabule, I. & To, A. (2021). Understanding the experiences of graduate students with children at UBC: A campus planning and policy assessment. Social Ecological Economic Development Studies (SEEDS) Sustainability Program, 1-48. Retrieved from https://open.library.ubc.ca/soa/cIRcle/collections/undergraduateresearch/18861/items/1.0398380
Hillier, K. M. (2020). Experiences of maternal guilt and intensive mothering ideologies in graduate student mothers, faculty, and sessional instructors, Journal of Mother Studies, 5.
Hillier, K. M. (2021). Academia and motherhood: a narrative inquiry of ontario academic mothers’ experiences in university graduate programs, Journal of Family Issues, 44(6), 1597-1621.
Hillier, K. M. (2023). Academia and motherhood: A narrative inquiry of Ontario academic mothers’ experiences in university graduate pro-grams, Journal of Family Issues, 44(6), 1597-1621.
Hoban, E. & Liamputtong, P. (2013). Cambodian migrant women's postpartum experiences in Victoria, Australia, Midwifery, 29(7), 772-778.
Hwang, W. Y., Choi, S. Y., & An, H. J. (2022). Concept analysis of transition to motherhood: a methodological study. Korean journal of women health nursing, 28(1), 8.
Ibrahem, R. A. L., & Abdel Raouf, S. Y. (2022). Commitment to COVID-19 Protective Measures in Schools and among School Children, Egypt. The Egyptian Journal of Hospital Medicine, 89(1), 4332-4339.
Jiménez, H., & Oliva, N. (2017). Latina student mothers’ trenzas de identidades in the community college. Association of Mexican American Educators Journal, 11(2), 111-132.
Kasymova, S., Place, J. M. S., Billings, D. L. & Aldape, J. D. (2021). Impacts of the COVID‐19 pandemic on the productivity of academics who mother, Gender, Work and Organization, 28, 419-433.
Kisanga, S.E., Matiba, F.M. (2023). Coping strategies student-mothers employ in pursuing higher education studies in Tanzania: A qualitative study. Curr Psychol 42, 4143-4154.
Kulp, A. M. (2020). Parenting on the path to the professoriate: A focus on graduate student mothers, Research in Higher Education, 61, 408-429.
Liung, S., Marchira, C., Supriyanto, I., Agusno, M., Soewadi, S., & Sumarni, S. (2019). Association of religious coping use with psychological well-being of mother of mentally retarded children, Journal of Community Empowerment for Health, 2(2), 181.
Madinah, N., Michael, B. & Rose, N. (2021). The husbands’ support: the experiences of off- campus married Muslim student mothers in private and religious institutions of higher learning in Uganda-a case of Islam-ic university in Uganda (iuiu), World Journal of Educational Research, 8(2), 69.
Mahabir, B., Swain, S., Hernandez, J. & Cheung, H. K. (2023). Changing times, changing resources: Starting a family as a graduate student, In-dustrial and Organizational Psychology, 16(2), 242-247.
Meilani, N., Barasa, S. O., & Setiyawati, N. (2020). Factors influencing Adolescent Attitudes towards HIV/AIDS Prevention in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
Meyer, T., Bergmark, R., Zatz, M., Sardesaı, M., Litvack, J., & Acosta, A. (2019). Barriers pushed aside: insights on career and family success from women leaders in academic otolaryngology, Otolaryngology, 161(2), 257-264.
Minello, A., Martucci, S. & Manzo, L. K. (2021). The pandemic and the academic mothers: present hardships and future perspectives, European Societies, 23(sup1), 82-S94.
Mirick, R. G., & Wladkowski, S. P. (2020). Women’s experiences with parenting during doctoral education: Impact on career trajectory. International Journal of Doctoral Studies, 15, 89: 89-110.
Moghadam, Z. B., Khiaban, M. O., & Salsali, M. (2017). Motherhood challenges and well-being along with the studentship role among Iranian women: A qualitative study, International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-Being, 12(1), 1335168.
Mottarella, K. E., Fritzsche, B. A., Whitten, S. N., & Bedsole, D. (2009). Exploration of “good mother” stereotypes in the college environment. Sex Roles, 60, 223-231.
Munyua, M. J., Were, D. & Amunga, J. (2022). Influence of student motherhood on academic performance in public universities in western Kenya, East African Journal of Arts and Social Sciences, 5(2), 108-117.
Navarro-Cruz, G. E., Dávila, B. A. & Kouyoumdjian, C. (2021). From teen parent to student parent: Latina mothers’ persistence in higher education, Journal of Hispanic Higher Education, 20(4), 466-480.
Daniel, R. O., & Madugu, D. L. (2023). Balancing motherhood and academic pursuits: Challenges and opportunities for nigerian women, Wukari International Studies Journal, 7(1), 25.
Phiri, T., Nyamaruze, P. & Akintola, O. (2021). Stress and coping among unmarried pregnant university students in South Africa, BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 21(1).
Prikhidko, A. & Haynes, C. (2018). Balancing graduate school and mothering: Is there a choice?, International Journal of Doctoral Studies, 13.
Sicam, E., Umawid, M., Colot, J., Dagdag, J. & Handrianto, C. (2021). Phenomenology of parenting while schooling among Filipino college student mothers in the province, Kolokium Jurnal Pendidikan Luar Sekolah, 9(2), 83-97.
SmithBattle, L. (2007). “I wanna have a good future”: Teen mothers' rise in educational aspirations, competing demands, and limited school support, Youth & Society, 38(3), 348-371.
Vaismoradi, M., Turunen, H., & Bondas, T. (2013). Content analysis and thematic analysis: Implications for conducting a qualitative descriptive study, Nursing & Health Sciences, 15(3), 398-405.
Woodley, X. M. & Lockard, M. (2016). Womanism and snowball sampling: Engaging marginalized populations in holistic research, The Qualitative Report, 21(2), 321-329.

Ayrıntılar

Birincil Dil

İngilizce

Konular

Kadın Araştırmaları

Bölüm

Araştırma Makalesi

Yazarlar

Ifunanya Lilian Nnadi ^*
0009-0004-0807-3682
Kuzey Kıbrıs Türk Cumhuriyeti

Ayşe Özada Nazım
0000-0003-4863-3168
Kuzey Kıbrıs Türk Cumhuriyeti

Erken Görünüm Tarihi

27 Şubat 2025

Yayımlanma Tarihi

27 Şubat 2025

Gönderilme Tarihi

4 Temmuz 2024

Kabul Tarihi

6 Ocak 2025

Yayımlandığı Sayı

Yıl 2024 Cilt: 25 Sayı: 2

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA69JC89MM

Kaynak Göster

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Nnadi, I. L., & Özada Nazım, A. (2025). Student Mothers: Experiences of Young Mothers Studying at University. Kadın/Woman 2000, 25(2), 63-82. https://izlik.org/JA69JC89MM

AMA

1.Nnadi IL, Özada Nazım A. Student Mothers: Experiences of Young Mothers Studying at University. JWS. 2025;25(2):63-82. https://izlik.org/JA69JC89MM

Chicago

Nnadi, Ifunanya Lilian, ve Ayşe Özada Nazım. 2025. “Student Mothers: Experiences of Young Mothers Studying at University”. Kadın/Woman 2000 25 (2): 63-82. https://izlik.org/JA69JC89MM.

EndNote

Nnadi IL, Özada Nazım A (01 Şubat 2025) Student Mothers: Experiences of Young Mothers Studying at University. Kadın/Woman 2000 25 2 63–82.

IEEE

[1]I. L. Nnadi ve A. Özada Nazım, “Student Mothers: Experiences of Young Mothers Studying at University”, JWS, c. 25, sy 2, ss. 63–82, Şub. 2025, [çevrimiçi]. Erişim adresi: https://izlik.org/JA69JC89MM

ISNAD

Nnadi, Ifunanya Lilian - Özada Nazım, Ayşe. “Student Mothers: Experiences of Young Mothers Studying at University”. Kadın/Woman 2000 25/2 (01 Şubat 2025): 63-82. https://izlik.org/JA69JC89MM.

JAMA

1.Nnadi IL, Özada Nazım A. Student Mothers: Experiences of Young Mothers Studying at University. JWS. 2025;25:63–82.

MLA

Nnadi, Ifunanya Lilian, ve Ayşe Özada Nazım. “Student Mothers: Experiences of Young Mothers Studying at University”. Kadın/Woman 2000, c. 25, sy 2, Şubat 2025, ss. 63-82, https://izlik.org/JA69JC89MM.

Vancouver

1.Ifunanya Lilian Nnadi, Ayşe Özada Nazım. Student Mothers: Experiences of Young Mothers Studying at University. JWS [Internet]. 01 Şubat 2025;25(2):63-82. Erişim adresi: https://izlik.org/JA69JC89MM