The lived experience of undergraduate student parents: roles compatibility challenge.

OBJECTIVES: To reveal the meanings attributed by university students to their experience of becoming a mother/father during their studies. METHODS: A phenomenological study was conducted with students at a private Chilean University. Sixteen students from different undergraduate careers (eight women and eight men) participated in in-depth interviews, which were recorded. A phenomenological analysis of the data that followed the Streubert method was carried out, ensuring rigor by the criteria established by Guba and Lincoln during the research process. The ethical aspects were addressed through the process of informed consent, confidentiality and methodological rigor. RESULTS: The phenomenon of becoming a mother/father during the university studies was revealed through four central themes: Emotions in conflict; Internal mobilization to address the situation; Position oneself in a new role; and Need for support. The central contribution of the study is the revelation of the transformation process towards the integrated role of father/mother-student. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides qualitative evidence that contributes to a comprehensive understanding of the experience of becoming a mother/father during the university studies; concluding that this life experience is presented as a process of role compatibility, which is necessary to support. For this, it is necessary to make visible the role of parents/students in university policies, with the aim of providing concrete support during this process of parallel transition in the lives of young people.

La experiencia de estudiantes universitarios que son madres/padres: desafíos en la compatibilidad de roles / A experiência vivida por estudantes universitários que são mães/pais: desafios na compatibilidade dos papéis / The lived experience of undergraduate student parents: roles compatibility challenge

Objective. To reveal the meanings attributed by university students to their experience of becoming a mother/father during their studies. Methods. A phenomenological study was conducted with students at a private Chilean University. Sixteen students from different undergraduate careers (eight women and eight men) participated in in-depth interviews, which were recorded. A phenomenological analysis of the data that followed the Streubert method was carried out, ensuring rigor by the criteria established by Guba and Lincoln during the research process. The ethical aspects were addressed through the process of informed consent, confidentiality and methodological rigor. Results. The phenomenon of becoming a mother/father during the university studies was revealed through four central themes: Emotions in conflict; Internal mobilization to address the situation; Position oneself in a new role; and Need for support. The central contribution of the study is the revelation of the transformation process towards the integrated role of father/mother-student. Conclusion. This study provides qualitative evidence that contributes to a comprehensive understanding of the experience of becoming a mother/father during the university studies; concluding that this life experience is presented as a process of role compatibility, which is necessary to support. For this, it is necessary to make visible the role of parents/students in university policies, with the aim of providing concrete support during this process of parallel transition in the lives of young people. (AU)

La experiencia de estudiantes universitarios que son madres/padres: desafíos en la compatibilidad de roles Objetivo. Develar los significados atribuidos por estudiantes universitarios a su experiencia de convertirse en madre/padre durante sus estudios. Métodos. Se realizó un estudio fenomenológico en una universidad privada chilena. Dieciséis estudiantes de diferentes carreras de pregrado (ocho mujeres y ocho hombres) participaron en entrevistas en profundidad las cuales se grabaron. Se realizó un análisis fenomenológico de los datos que siguió el método de Streubert, cuidando el rigor de la investigación mediante el cumplimiento de los criterios establecidos por Guba y Lincoln durante el proceso de investigación. Resultados. El fenómeno de convertirse en madre/padre durante la etapa universitaria se develó a través de cuatro temas centrales: Emociones en conflicto; Movilización interna para abordar la situación; Posicionarse en un nuevo rol; y Necesidad de apoyo. La contribución central del estudio es la revelación del proceso de transformación hacia el rol integrado de padre/madre-alumno. Conclusión. Este estudio proporciona evidencia cualitativa que contribuye a una comprensión integral de la experiencia de convertirse en madre/padre durante la etapa universitaria. Como conclusión, esta experiencia de vida se presenta como un proceso de compatibilidad de roles, que es necesario apoyar. Para ello se requiere visibilizar el papel de los padres/madres estudiantes en las políticas universitarias con el objetivo de proporcionar un apoyo concreto durante este proceso de transición paralelo en la vida de los jóvenes.(AU)

A experiência vivida por estudantes universitários que são mães/pais: desafios na compatibilidade dos papéis Objetivo. Revelar os significados atribuídos por estudantes universitários à sua experiência de tornar-se em mãe/pai durante seus estudos. Métodos. Se realizou um estudo fenomenológico com estudantes numa Universidade particular chilena. Dezesseis estudantes de diferentes cursos de graduação (oito mulheres e oito homens) participaram em entrevistas em profundidade as quais foram gravadas. Se realizou uma análise fenomenológico dos dados que seguiu o método de Streubert, cautelando o rigor da investigação por meio do cumprimento dos critérios estabelecidos por Guba e Lincoln durante o processo de investigação. Resultados. O fenômeno de tornar-se em mãe/pai durante a etapa universitária se revelou através de quatro assuntos centrais: Emoções em conflito; Mobilização interna para abordar a situação; Posicionar-se num novo papel; e Necessidade de apoio. A contribuição central do estudo é a revelação do processo de transformação para o papel integrado de pai/mãe-aluno. Conclusão. Este estudo proporciona evidência qualitativa que contribui a uma compreensão integral da experiência de tornar-se em mãe/pai durante a etapa universitária; concluindo que esta experiência de vida se apresenta como um processo de compatibilidade de papéis, que é necessário apoiar. Para isto se requere visibilizar o papel dos pais/mães alunos nas políticas universitárias, com o objetivo de proporcionar um apoio concreto durante este processo de transição paralelo na vida dos jovens. (AU)