IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/bcp/journl/v9y2025issue-9p6543-6558.html

A Phenomenological Study on the Lived Experiences of Student-Mothers in Higher Education Institution

Author

Listed:
  • Jefferson B. Torres

    (Misamis University Ozamiz City, Misamis Occidental, Philippines)

  • Princess Sarah N. Balan

    (Misamis University Ozamiz City, Misamis Occidental, Philippines)

  • Mhie B. Daniel

    (Misamis University Ozamiz City, Misamis Occidental, Philippines)

  • Venus S. Velasco

    (Misamis University Ozamiz City, Misamis Occidental, Philippines)

  • Maria Kristina Vicente

    (Misamis University Ozamiz City, Misamis Occidental, Philippines)

Abstract

Juggling motherhood and academic responsibilities in higher education presents a significant challenge for many women. Student-mothers, in particular, face unique difficulties in balancing their roles as caregivers and learners, often with limited time, resources, and institutional support. This study explored the lived experiences of twelve student-mothers enrolled in a higher education institution, with a specific focus on the challenges they encounter, the coping strategies they employ, and their aspirations for the future. Using a qualitative phenomenological approach, semi-structured interviews were conducted to gather in-depth narratives on their personal, academic, and social lives.The analysis revealed key themes: Shifted Identity, Time Constraints, Financial Burden, Organizational Strategies, Support Systems, Dreams and Aspirations, and Vision for Their Children. These themes reflect the complexity of navigating motherhood while pursuing educational goals. The study contributes to the growing discourse on inclusive educational practices and highlights the need for targeted support systems that recognize and address the unique realities of student-mothers.

Suggested Citation

  • Jefferson B. Torres & Princess Sarah N. Balan & Mhie B. Daniel & Venus S. Velasco & Maria Kristina Vicente, 2025. "A Phenomenological Study on the Lived Experiences of Student-Mothers in Higher Education Institution," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 9(9), pages 6543-6558, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:bcp:journl:v:9:y:2025:issue-9:p:6543-6558
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.rsisinternational.org/journals/ijriss/Digital-Library/volume-9-issue-9/6543-6558.pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://rsisinternational.org/journals/ijriss/articles/a-phenomenological-study-on-the-lived-experiences-of-student-mothers-in-higher-education-institution/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Joyce Kwakyewaa Dankyi & Lydia Aframea Dankyi, 2023. "Experiences of husbands of student mothers on a distance learning programme: A phenomenological enquiry," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 18(11), pages 1-14, November.
    2. Cyrus Osigan Arabejo & Roldan Magsacay Egay & Glaydel Uban Alferez & Arlen Gumanit Martin & Jovenal Ventic Dela Cruz Jr., 2025. "Parenting and academic experience: The dual roles of motherhood and student life," HO CHI MINH CITY OPEN UNIVERSITY JOURNAL OF SCIENCE - SOCIAL SCIENCES, HO CHI MINH CITY OPEN UNIVERSITY JOURNAL OF SCIENCE, HO CHI MINH CITY OPEN UNIVERSITY, vol. 15(5), pages 3-18.
    3. Kevin Simoes Loureiro & Alyssa Grecu & Frederick Moll & Andreas Hadjar, 2020. "Analyzing Drawings to Explore children’s Concepts of an Ideal School: Implications for the Improvement of children’s Well-Being at School," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 13(4), pages 1387-1411, August.
    4. Dorothea Bowyer & Milissa Deitz & Anne Jamison & Chloe E. Taylor & Erika Gyengesi & Jaime Ross & Hollie Hammond & Anita Eseosa Ogbeide & Tinashe Dune, 2022. "Academic mothers, professional identity and COVID‐19: Feminist reflections on career cycles, progression and practice," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(1), pages 309-341, January.
    5. Batsheva Guy & Brittany Arthur, 2020. "Academic motherhood during COVID‐19: Navigating our dual roles as educators and mothers," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 27(5), pages 887-899, September.
    6. Moyer, Jonathan D. & Hedden, Steve, 2020. "Are we on the right path to achieve the sustainable development goals?," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 127(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Ragia H. Hassan & Crystal Machado, 2025. "Fears Unmasked: International Doctoral Student Mothers’ Academic Stressors and Coping Strategies During the Pandemic," SAGE Open, , vol. 15(4), pages 21582440251, November.
    2. Anna Maria Górska & Karolina Kulicka & Zuzanna Staniszewska & Dorota Dobija, 2021. "Deepening inequalities: What did COVID‐19 reveal about the gendered nature of academic work?," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(4), pages 1546-1561, July.
    3. Leonie Paul & Juha Väätänen & Hardik Bhimani & Anne‐Laure Mention, 2025. "Leading Regenerative Transformation: Cognitive Frame Characteristics Shaping Leaders' Approaches to Organizational Development," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 34(8), pages 10997-11023, December.
    4. Miquel Salvador & David Sancho, 2021. "The Role of Local Government in the Drive for Sustainable Development Public Policies. An Analytical Framework Based on Institutional Capacities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-17, May.
    5. Jonathan D. Moyer & Audrey Pirzadeh & Mohammod Irfan & José Solórzano & Barbara Stone & Yutang Xiong & Taylor Hanna & Barry B. Hughes, 2023. "How many people will live in poverty because of climate change? A macro-level projection analysis to 2070," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 176(10), pages 1-18, October.
    6. Vicente Javier Clemente-Suárez & Stephanie Rodriguez-Besteiro & Juan José Cabello-Eras & Alvaro Bustamante-Sanchez & Eduardo Navarro-Jiménez & Macarena Donoso-Gonzalez & Ana Isabel Beltrán-Velasco & J, 2022. "Sustainable Development Goals in the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Narrative Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-26, June.
    7. Taylor Hanna & Barry B. Hughes & Mohammod T. Irfan & David K. Bohl & José Solórzano & Babatunde Abidoye & Laurel Patterson & Jonathan D. Moyer, 2024. "Sustainable Development Goal Attainment in the Wake of COVID-19: Simulating an Ambitious Policy Push," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(8), pages 1-17, April.
    8. Gonçalo Rodrigues Brás & Ana Isabel Lillebø & Helena Vieira, 2025. "Holding Sustainability Promises in Politics: Trends in Ecosystem and Resource Management in Electoral Party Manifestos," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-38, July.
    9. Jonathan D Moyer & Willem Verhagen & Brendan Mapes & David K Bohl & Yutang Xiong & Vivian Yang & Kaylin McNeil & José Solórzano & Mohammod Irfan & Cade Carter & Barry B Hughes, 2022. "How many people is the COVID-19 pandemic pushing into poverty? A long-term forecast to 2050 with alternative scenarios," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 17(7), pages 1-21, July.
    10. Yurii Dreval & Svitlana Zaika & Rastislav Tešovič & Martin Patoprstý, 2025. "The activities of the International Labour Organization in the context of achieving the sustainable development goals," Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Issues, VsI Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Center, vol. 12(3), pages 304-314, March.
    11. Thereza Raquel Sales de Aguiar & Shamima Haque & Keith A. Bender, 2022. "Athena SWAN gender equality plans and the gendered impact of COVID‐19," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(2), pages 591-608, March.
    12. Xin Xie & Shabnam Khan & Saqib Rehman & Shumaila Naz & Syed Arslan Haider & Umar Nawaz Kayani, 2024. "Ameliorating sustainable business performance through green constructs: a case of manufacturing industry," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 26(9), pages 22655-22687, September.
    13. Yuanhui Wang & Changqing Song & Peichao Gao, 2024. "Quantification of systemic importance of SDGs in Asian‐African countries: A network hierarchy analysis," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 32(4), pages 3133-3146, August.
    14. Ranjan Kumar Dash & Deepa Jitendra Gupta & Tarun Khandelwal, 2024. "Revisited the role of foreign aid in capital formation: experience of South Asian countries," Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-12, December.
    15. Sorana-Alexandra Constantinescu & Maria-Henriete Pozsar, 2022. "Was This Supposed to Be on the Test? Academic Leadership, Gender and the COVID-19 Pandemic in Denmark, Hungary, Romania, and United Kingdom," Publications, MDPI, vol. 10(2), pages 1-13, April.
    16. Jahangir Hossain & Aida. F. A. Kadir & Ainain. N. Hanafi & Hussain Shareef & Tamer Khatib & Kyairul. A. Baharin & Mohamad. F. Sulaima, 2023. "A Review on Optimal Energy Management in Commercial Buildings," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(4), pages 1-40, February.
    17. Dorothea Bowyer & Milissa Deitz & Anne Jamison & Chloe E. Taylor & Erika Gyengesi & Jaime Ross & Hollie Hammond & Anita Eseosa Ogbeide & Tinashe Dune, 2022. "Academic mothers, professional identity and COVID‐19: Feminist reflections on career cycles, progression and practice," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(1), pages 309-341, January.
    18. Bongs Lainjo, 2024. "The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals," Journal of Sustainable Development, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 17(5), pages 1-30, September.
    19. Mehmet Mart & Ahmet Simsar & Gulden Uyanik, 2022. "The Playground Perception of Syrian Refugee Children," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 15(1), pages 349-372, February.
    20. Cyrill Walters & Linda Ronnie & Marieta du Plessis & Jonathan Jansen, 2023. "Academics in Lockdown: A Gendered Perspective on Self-Esteem in Academia during the COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-14, March.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:bcp:journl:v:9:y:2025:issue-9:p:6543-6558. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Dr. Pawan Verma (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://rsisinternational.org/journals/ijriss/ .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.