Nontraditional Students: Challenges and Supports in Higher Education Among Students That Are Parents

• In Event: Poster Session 1
  In Poster Session: Division G Section 2 Poster Session

Abstract

Although 3.9 million students in college are parents, colleges are not prepared to accommodate these students (Miller, Gault, & Thorman, 2011). The goal of this study was to identify the challenges and support college students who are parent experience while in college. Our analysis found that college students that are parents tend to report lower depressive symptoms than non-parents. Moreover, parents identify financial stability, family support, and child care resources as challenges and sources of support to their academic success. Colleges must increase support for college students who are parents in order to enhance these students academic success.

Authors

• Giselle Emilia Navarro, Claremont University - Claremont Graduate University

• Alma D. Bonifacio, California State University - Los Angeles

• Charles Ledesma, California State University - Los Angeles

• Claudia Kouyoumdjian, California State University, Los Angeles

• Bianca Guzman, California State University - Los Angeles