Journal article
"I Like to Try My Hardest to Keep My Small Family Together": Housing as a Key Resource for Academic Success of Pregnant and Parenting College-Aged Students
Health promotion practice, Vol.22(4), pp.469-474
12/21/2020
DOI: 10.1177/1524839920981957
PMID: 33345621
Abstract
Pregnant and/or parenting students (PPS) face unique challenges to attending college. The prevalence of housing insecurity may be higher among college PPS. Adding to the limited research in this area, our study explores how housing could be a barrier to attending and maintaining academic success in college for PPS. We partnered with a Midwestern community college (CC) to conduct the study, which consisted of (1) an environmental scan of in-state collegiate housing programs available to PPS, (2) an online survey among PPS attending the partner CC, and (3) key informant interviews with providers at agencies serving PPS and high school PPS planning to attend college. Eight of the 18 institutions we identified from our environmental scan offered family housing. Populations most often addressed were married students (56%), families (39%), and single parents (28%). Out of 22 responses from our online survey, about a third of PPS disagreed or strongly disagreed that they felt satisfied with housing support provided by the partnering CC and that housing options offered were family friendly. PPS perceived affordability, proximity to campus and to their children's school, on-site day care, and amenities as important aspects of housing. Key informant participants (
= 9 interviews) described social support, PPS-specific housing, and access to services as important to college attendance. Community college efforts to meet the needs of PPS must consider the unique barriers PPS face to finding affordable and stable housing. Collaborating with local agencies that offer services for PPS is one approach to ensuring their academic success.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- "I Like to Try My Hardest to Keep My Small Family Together": Housing as a Key Resource for Academic Success of Pregnant and Parenting College-Aged Students
- Creators
- Christine M Kava - University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USALena E Thompson - University of Iowa College of Public Health, Iowa City, IA, USATracy Vo - Columbia University, New York City, NY, USADarlas Shockley - Indian Hills Community College, Ottumwa, IA, USAJennifer Sabourin - Indian Hills Community College, Ottumwa, IA, USARima A Afifi - University of Iowa College of Public Health, Iowa City, IA, USA
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Health promotion practice, Vol.22(4), pp.469-474
- DOI
- 10.1177/1524839920981957
- PMID
- 33345621
- NLM abbreviation
- Health Promot Pract
- ISSN
- 1524-8399
- eISSN
- 1552-6372
- Publisher
- United States
- Grant note
- DOI: 10.13039/100000016, name: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, award: 1 SP1AH000043-01-00
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 12/21/2020
- Academic Unit
- Injury Prevention Research Center; Community and Behavioral Health
- Record Identifier
- 9984066350102771
Metrics
18 Record Views