From Teen Parent to Student Parent: Lessons From Latina Mothers in Higher Education

• In Event: Moscone Center West Roundtable Session 6
  In Roundtable Session: Latinx Health and Families

Abstract

In 2016, there were over 200k births from teen mothers ages 15 to 19 in the United States (Martin et. al., 2018). Few teen parents graduate from high school and fewer pursue and obtain a post-secondary degree (Hoffman, 2006). It is important to understand the obstacles student parents, and Latina teen parents, in particular, experience in higher education and how they overcome these obstacles. The purpose of this study is to understand how Latina teen parents transition to parenthood and higher education, and the ways in which they experience and overcome challenges to academic success while pursuing post-secondary education. To do so, in depth interviews with eight Latina college students, who became mothers as teenagers, were conducted.

Authors

• Giselle Emilia Navarro-Cruz, California State Polytechnic University - Pomona

• Brianne Dávila, Cal Poly Pomona