The Effects of Degree Type, the Integration Process, and External Factors on Degree Completion for Mothers in College: A Comparison Study of Single Mother and Married Mother College Students

Literaturnachweis - Detailanzeige

Trefferliste

Autor/in	McLaughlin, Alicia Nicole
Titel	The Effects of Degree Type, the Integration Process, and External Factors on Degree Completion for Mothers in College: A Comparison Study of Single Mother and Married Mother College Students
Quelle	(2009), (99 Seiten) PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit Ph.D. Dissertation, The Florida State University
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Monographie
ISBN	978-1-1095-1219-9
Schlagwörter	Hochschulschrift; Dissertation; College Students; Financial Problems; Mothers; Educational Attainment; Academic Degrees; Graduation; College Graduates; Womens Education; Marital Status; One Parent Family; Adjustment (to Environment); Social Integration + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Thesis; Dissertations; Academic thesis; Collegestudent; Mother; Mutter; Bildungsabschluss; Bildungsgut; Degree; Degrees; Academic level graduation; Akademischer Grad; Hochschulabschluss; Abschluss; Graduierung; Hochschulabsolvent; Hochschulabsolventin; 'Women''s education'; Frauenbildung; Familienstand; Single parent family; Ein-Eltern-Familie; Soziale Integration
Abstract	The National Center for Education Statistics reports that single mother college students are nearly three times as likely to drop out of college during their first year of study compared to single females without children. Qualitative studies on single mothers indicate that financial problems and demands of parenthood are reasons that precipitate voluntary withdrawal from college. These studies also indicate that being able to academically and socially integrate into the collegiate atmosphere increases the chance of completing a degree. Considering the various obstacles facing single mothers, it becomes important to examine why some single mothers graduate from college while others leave without degrees. Therefore, the focus of this study was to examine how potential factors impacted degree completion for single mothers. To understand the magnitude of how potential factors impacted degree completion, comparisons with married mothers were performed. Although vast amounts of higher education research have been conducted on degree completion, little attention has been given exclusively to student-mothers attending college, particularly those who are single. This study utilized data provided in the Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study (BPS:96/01--restricted level) employing logistic regression to investigate the influence of the integration process (academic integration and social integration), degree type (certificate, associate, and bachelor), and pertinent external factors (age of child, financial difficulties, and family difficulties) on degree completion for single and married mothers as separate groups. Findings revealed that the proposed model of degree completion operated similarly for single and married mothers. This study validated concepts from Tinto's (1993) model of institutional departure for single and married mothers. With the exception of having a child under the age of five, degree type, the integration process, and external factors predicted degree completion as hypothesized. Results from this study contributed to the knowledge base by being the first to examine factors that affected degree completion on nationally representative samples of student-mother undergraduates. Results from this study could inform educational administrators and educational policy makers about the on-campus and off-campus experiences of single mothers so that better educational and advocacy decisions can be enacted. Implications from the information founded in this study could not only benefit single mothers but also, for the 73% of nontraditional students attending postsecondary institutions in America. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.] (As Provided).
Anmerkungen	ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway, P.O. Box 1346, Ann Arbor, MI 48106. Tel: 800-521-0600; Web site: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10