RESILIENCE AMONG STUDENT PARENTS IN COLLEGE: VOICES OF LATINA STUDENT MOTHERS

Abstract

There is a steady increase in the number of student parents in the United States. However, there is a dearth of studies focusing on the issues related to student parents. Utilizing the Integrative Model of Development, we examined the risk and promotive factors in the lives of eight Latina student mothers, ages between 22 to 29 years old, in navigating college success while raising children through the lens of intersectionality of identity (i.e., ethnicity, motherhood, and social class), which may position them at various levels of segregation, racism, and other forces of oppression. Additionally, we examined the juxtaposition of motherhood and college education from the lifespan perspective. The Latinx population is growing exponentially in the United States, more specifically in the state of California. While there are many studies undertaken on Latinx students on campus, fewer studies focused on Latina student mothers in higher institutions. Our study on Latina student mothers identified risk and protective factors while this group of college students navigate their education and motherhood. We make recommendations for higher institutions to support student parents on college campuses. Directions for future research are discussed.