LIVED EXPERIENCES OF COLLEGE STUDENT MOTHERS

IN MANAGING THEIR DUAL ROLES:

AN EXPLORATORY STUDY

Presented By: Block 3 Group 2

John Paul F. Casem Evelyn Carollo
John Elfer C. Catalan
Jamille Antonette C. Costales
Angeline F. Dasalla
Kimberly Pearl S. Discipulo
 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Since the pandemic began, there has been a rise in the number of girls who became
pregnant while enrolled in school, which is why the researchers believe that they
must take this action. In addition, even if they have children, all students should be
expected to keep up their studies. Mothers who attend college are, therefore, more
likely to leave because they cannot juggle their dual responsibilities. Although there
have been many empirical studies in this area, the focus is on the general challenges
students face in the numerous conventional colleges.
In 2010, the Philippine National Statistics Office found that more women were working
as professionals than men. Even a late pregnancy has not prevented several women
from completing their degrees and continuing their education. According to Hinton-
Smith (2012), women, particularly single mothers, think getting an education is
essential to giving their kids a better life and future.
Student mothers currently studying at Urdaneta City University cannot bring their
children due to the absence of facilities that may keep their children in the meantime.
They may be facing challenges and making adjustments to manage their dual roles.
 THEORETICAL/CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

This research is based on the feminist standpoint theory and the

feminist perspective used as theories fit in this study. The
feminist standpoint theory focuses on the knowledge gained
from women's common experiences and challenges (Wood,
2009). A feminist standpoint allowed for an understanding of
women's experiences, including the challenges in managing
their dual roles.
 PARADIGM OF THE STUDY
INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT
 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
This study aims 1. What is the profile of 2. What are the 3. What strategies did
to determine the the respondent in challenges they utilize to cope with
terms of: encountered by their dual roles?
lived
a. Age;
experiences of the respondents in 4. What intervention
b. civil status; roles?
college student managing their program may
c. religion;
mothers in d. year level; dual roles: propose to enhance
managing their e. monthly family a. physical; their time
dual roles at income; b. mental;
management
Urdaneta City f. no. of children; c. emotional;
g. employment status;
pertaining to dual
University. d. spiritual; and
h. academic program; roles?
Specifically, this e. social?
i. family status; and
seeks to answer j. hours spent at
the following: school?
RESEARCH DESIGN AND STRATEGY

The researchers shall conduct qualitative research that

utilizes a thematic analysis of the population's
characteristics and the study's objective approach as a
methodology to answer the research question. In
simpler terms, researchers use phenomenological
research designs to understand a phenomenon's
universal nature by exploring the views of those who
have experienced it.
POPULATION AND LOCALE OF
THE STUDY

The five (5) respondents are currently studying at

Urdaneta City University. They will be the specific
respondents of this study to gather needed data
regarding challenges encountered by student
mother.
 DATA GATHERING TOOL
The researchers will choose a survey with unstructured interview
questions to collect data to acquire a specific theme of the
participant's experience with their studies-related challenges. The
researchers arrive at these questions by preliminary search about
the topic. The researchers identify and note the research gaps
they want to address in their study. The researchers develop their
interview guide that, when answered, will guide the researchers in
achieving their research aims.
Written notes will be taken during all interviews, enabling the
researchers to track queue points to return to later in the
conference and for use during data analysis.
 DATA GATHERING PROCEDURE
The researchers will write a letter to the College of Health and
Sciences to seek approval for their study's conduct. Upon the
consent of the research instrument , the researchers shall obtain
compliance from the college student mothers at Urdaneta City
University to conduct and emphasize that the data collected shall
be strictly confidential. The researchers shall use a one-on-one
interview with the respondents,which will be voice recorded with
their consent and request the need time to interview. Finally, the
researchers will interpret the data from the respondents using
thematic analysis.
 TREATMENT OF DATA

To communicate the researcher's well-organized data, the

researchers will use narration. The researchers will organize the
respondents' interview questions and findings. The researchers
will identify codes from the respondents' data through thematic
analysis. A tool for categorization analysis and identifying
themes in data is thematic analysis. It is used when getting
acquainted with the data, performing preliminary coding, looking
for particular terms throughout the data, looking for themes, and
developing a report.
 RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
Researchers focus on the five (5) respondents’ lived experiences of
college student mothers in managing their dual roles and how they
coped with the challenges they encountered being a mother and
students.
For the respondents' anonymity, the researchers used five kinds of
flowers for their alias: Rose, Periwinkle, Tulip, Daisy, and Sunflower.
Most respondents ranged from 21 to 22 years old, were single, roman
catholic and all had one child. The academic program of the
researcher's respondent is one Bachelor of Science in Nursing, three
Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education, and one Bachelor of
Science in Pharmacy. They spend an average of 7–11 hours at school
daily. Most of the respondents are in their third year or fourth year.
Codes/Label Sub-themes Themes

● Exhaustion
● Body Pain
● Postpartum Weight Gain
● Loneliness ● Physical Distress
● Anger ● Generation of Mental
● Stress and Emotional Distress ● Challenges
● Irritability ● Spiritual Distress
● Spiritual crisis in relationship with ● Social Limitation
God
● Social discrimination
● Self-Isolation
● Recreational activity and exercise ● Physical Coping
● Relaxation strategies
● Spiritual Enhancement ● Strategies for coping with
● Attention Diversion in their child mental and emotional ● Coping Strategies
● Positive vibe distress
● Family time ● Strategies on coping with
● Socialization social challenges
Proposed Intervention Program to Address the Challenges Encountered by
the College Student Mothers in Managing their Dual Roles
To address the challenges encountered by the college student mother in
managing their dual roles, the researchers formulated the intervention
program Physical, Mental, Emotional, and Social Resilience Training for
College Student Mothers that would help manage their dual roles and for
future similar events.
Stress management, student support services, physical fitness exercises,
monitoring of mental and emotional health, Psychological treatment such as
counseling and therapy, and social resilience training will be highlighted in
the proposed intervention program for college student mothers in managing
their dual roles.
 CONCLUSIONS
Most responders were 21–22-year-old Roman Catholics, unmarried, and self-
employed. Student mothers were exhausted from studying for 7-11 hours, caring
for their children, and completing housework. The study also found that juggling
two jobs is a mental, emotional, and social hardship. The research found that
responders' multiple duties caused physical problems, including weariness,
bodily pain, and postpartum weight gain. Student moms experienced loneliness,
anger, stress, and irritation while managing their dual roles. The study also
found that student mothers struggle to make friends owing to social isolation
and prejudice. The research found that student mothers developed coping
strategies to manage their conflicting obligations. Most respondents answer
stretch, walk, and play with their children to deal with physical and emotional
distress. The researchers found that an intervention program might help college
student mothers balance their dual roles. College Student mothers need and may
use the intervention program to manage their dual roles.
 RECOMMENDATIONS
As the study progressed, the researchers recognized and understood the
challenges encountered by college student mothers in managing their dual
roles. Based on the salient findings and conclusions, the researchers
suggest that future researchers, who are interested in looking into the
study's result, look for a more specific selection of participants,
considering their civil status (married or separated), that may lead to
exciting comparison from the present study. It also recommends
interviewing family members, teachers, classmates, friends, and other
people with whom the participants interact. Answers from them can help
future researchers fully grasp the lived experiences of college student
mothers on how they manage their dual roles.
THANK YOU

Urdaneta City, University