Challenge of Graduate Student Mothers

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to gain insight into the perspectives of female graduate students (N = 469) regarding motherhood. We sought to understand the qualitative reasons that would increase or decrease participant likelihood of choosing to have a biological child during graduate school. Slightly over half (50.32%; n = 236) of our participants indicated no (0%) interest in having a child during graduate school, 12.15% (n = 57) stated 100% interest in having a child, and 5.5% (n = 26) reported that they currently had one or more children. Participant responses yielded five emerging themes of concern: Finances, travel, child care, academic progress, and academic consequences (i.e., program, faculty, peers). It is important for students, institutions of higher education, and mental health providers to be aware of and responsive to these concerns to ensure that the educational trajectory and opportunities of female graduate students are not impeded.

Keywords

Female graduate students mothers biological child

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