Educational Resiliency in Teen Mothers

• In Event: Roundtable Session 22
  In Roundtable Session: Gender, Social Justice, and the Intersections

Abstract

This qualitative study examined the factors contributing to teen mothers’ resiliency and discovered the different experiences and perceptions of teen mothers attending a variety of educational settings, including a young parent program, an alternative high school, and a traditional high school. Based on interview data from eight teen mothers who had earned a high school diploma in varying school environments, themes across the interviews were identified using open and then axial coding. The themes that emerged from the data included struggle, hope, support, perseverance, and transformation. The findings underscore the need for providing appropriate resources to teen mothers to enable them to continue their education and how teachers can serve as lifelines for these students to achieve success.

Authors

• Linnea Watson, Mesa County School District 51 - R5HS

• Linda R. Vogel, University of Northern Colorado