Father-Child lived experiences: The influence of single father parenting on college students academic self-efficacy

[In proceedings, 3rd Regional Student Research Colloquium]

Abstract

Single fathers raising college students represented a unique and understudied demographic within parenting and higher  education. This study explored the lived experiences of single fathers raising college student children and investigated  how parenting styles impacted their academic self-efficacy. The research objectives were to understand the challenges  faced by single fathers, to examine the impact of parenting styles on academic self-efficacy, and to explore the academic  experiences of college students under single-father parenting. The study adopted a phenomenological approach, involving  in-depth interviews, and thematic analysis was utilized to analyze the data from four single-parent fathers with their  respective children. The study found that single fathers encountered various challenges, including social stigma and  difficulty connecting with their children. However, they also demonstrated resilience and provided moral support to their  children, influencing their academic self-efficacy positively. Parenting styles, ranging from authoritative to uninvolved,  significantly impacted students' academic self-efficacy, with some benefiting from autonomy while others struggled with  the lack of emotional support. The study underscored the diversity of experiences among college students raised by single  fathers and the importance of supportive parenting styles in fostering academic success. Recommendations were provided  for single fathers, college students, family and friends, the community, and future researchers to promote understanding,  empathy, and support for single-father households.