Nevertheless, She Persisted: An Examination of the Lived Experiences of Single Mother College Students and the Factors that Drive Motivation and Persistence

Author

Amy N. Migura, University of the Incarnate WordFollow

Date of Degree

12-2025

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Program

Education

Advisor

Norman St. Clair

Advisor

M. Alison Buck

Advisor

Nicole Guerrero Treviño

Abstract

How single-mother college students find the motivation to persist toward achieving their college degrees is an underexplored phenomenon in the current literature. This qualitative study used an interpretive phenomenological analysis approach to explore the lived experiences of single-mother college students and the things that motivate them to persist. Participants described their personal challenges counteracted by the ways in which they were able to persevere. Findings of this study identified both a positive and negative component of the factors that impacted their motivation to persist, along with providing a closer look at the way the participants set and achieved goals.

Recommended Citation

Migura, Amy N., "Nevertheless, She Persisted: An Examination of the Lived Experiences of Single Mother College Students and the Factors that Drive Motivation and Persistence" (2025). Theses & Dissertations. 477.
https://athenaeum.uiw.edu/uiw_etds/477