Single Mothers of Young Children and Continuing Education

Single Mothers of Young Children and Continuing Education by Jackiethsha Fluellen MA, Prairie View A&M University, 2009 BS, University of Phoenix,  Education and Adult Learning Walden University October 2016  The number of households headed by single mothers living in poverty exceeds that of all other categories of poverty stricken households, and poverty impacts the children negatively in various ways. When single mothers choose not to continue their education, they lessen their chances of finding higher paying jobs and raising their families out of poverty. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to better understand why some single mothers decided to continue into higher education. The study considered the decisions of 6 single mothers of young children in Montgomery County, Texas, and the obstacles they overcame while completing their education. The women were recruited from a co parenting workshop using snowball sampling. The inclusion criteria included single mothers of children ages 0 10 years old and who obtained a degree or specialized certificate. The conceptual framework was based on Bandura's concept of self efficacy and Carspecken's critical theory. Interviews were used with the 6 women to collect data that were then transcribed, compared, coded, and thematically analyzed. Emergent themes included overcoming obstacles, receiving help from others, acting as their children's role models, dealing with the impact of the father's absence, and receiving motivation from their own parents. The social significance of this research is that it illuminates the problem of poverty among single female headed households and increases the understanding of why some single mothers decide to continue into higher education.The number of households headed by single mothers living in poverty exceeds that of all other categories of poverty stricken households, and poverty impacts the children negatively in various ways. When single mothers choose not to continue their education, they lessen their chances of finding higher paying jobs and raising their families out of poverty. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to better understand why some single mothers decided to continue into higher education. The study considered the decisions of 6 single mothers of young children in Montgomery County, Texas, and the obstacles they overcame while completing their education. The women were recruited from a co parenting workshop using snowball sampling. The inclusion criteria included single mothers of children ages 0 10 years old and who obtained a degree or specialized certificate. The conceptual framework was based on Bandura's concept of self efficacy and Carspecken's critical theory. Interviews were used with the 6 women to collect data that were then transcribed, compared, coded, and thematically analyzed. Emergent themes included overcoming obstacles, receiving help from others, acting as their children's role models, dealing with the impact of the father's absence, and receiving motivation from their own parents. The social significance of this research is that it illuminates the problem of poverty among single female headed households and increases the understanding of why some single mothers decide to continue into higher education. Single Mothers of Young Children and Continuing Education by Jackiethsha Fluellen MA, Prairie View A&M University, 2009 BS, University of Phoenix,  Education and Adult Learning Walden University October 2016 Dedication I would like to dedicate this work to all single mothers with young children. Work hard and sacrifice now to set a positive path for the family's future. Acknowledgments First, I must praise God for guiding me through this incredible journey. I would also like to give thanks to my mother and father, Pamela Murphy and Gary Richardson, for their encouraging words and to my grandmother, Edith Elaine Petties, for her assistance with my children during this path in my life. You all have been so helpful. I would also like to give thanks to my family and friends, Wilbur Fluellen, Tressie Fluellen, Amber Murphy, Christina Lockett Jones, Shantrice Holly, Carmeshia Edwards, and Sisily Rainey. They are always encouraging and keep me grounded with sound advice.