View in EDS

Riding a Rollercoaster with the Jugglers: Exploring the Experiences of Student-Mothers Undertaking Online and On-Campus Degree Programmes

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Riding a Rollercoaster with the Jugglers: Exploring the Experiences of Student-Mothers Undertaking Online and On-Campus Degree Programmes
Language: English
Authors: Kay Owen (ORCID 0000-0002-0370-9408), Jenny Boldrin (ORCID 0009-0006-7083-1493)
Source: Cambridge Journal of Education. 2026 56(2):133-154.
Availability: Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 22
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Universities, College Students, Mothers, In Person Learning, Electronic Learning, Nontraditional Students, Student Attitudes, Student College Relationship, Student Experience, Social Support Groups, Barriers, Hidden Curriculum
Geographic Terms: United Kingdom
DOI: 10.1080/0305764X.2026.2630895
ISSN: 0305-764X
1469-3577
Abstract: Despite the increasing number of mature students in higher education, neither the sector nor the literature adequately considers how their responsibilities and cultural positioning may impact integration and performance. This exploratory study considers the lived experience and oppression valance of student-mothers at a UK university. Findings highlight that many have negligible support and undertake childcare, household maintenance and income generation in addition to their academic work. These conflicting demands create role-incongruity and infeasible logistical demands. Drawing upon social dominance theory, it is argued that the inequalities faced by student-mothers are reflective of neoliberal, capitalist and patriarchal ideals that undervalue women, augmented by sociostructural and institutional sciolism. The authors conclude that higher education institutions could improve student experience, retention and outcomes by recognising and addressing the hierarchy-attenuating position of student-mothers and acknowledge that the cultural construction of 'motherhood' has been used to legitimise student-mothers' restricted access to support and resources.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1500805
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
Header DbId: eric
DbLabel: ERIC
An: EJ1500805
AccessLevel: 3
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Riding a Rollercoaster with the Jugglers: Exploring the Experiences of Student-Mothers Undertaking Online and On-Campus Degree Programmes
– Name: Language
  Label: Language
  Group: Lang
  Data: English
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kay+Owen%22">Kay Owen</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0370-9408">0000-0002-0370-9408</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jenny+Boldrin%22">Jenny Boldrin</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0006-7083-1493">0009-0006-7083-1493</externalLink>)
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Cambridge+Journal+of+Education%22"><i>Cambridge Journal of Education</i></searchLink>. 2026 56(2):133-154.
– Name: Avail
  Label: Availability
  Group: Avail
  Data: Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
– Name: PeerReviewed
  Label: Peer Reviewed
  Group: SrcInfo
  Data: Y
– Name: Pages
  Label: Page Count
  Group: Src
  Data: 22
– Name: DatePubCY
  Label: Publication Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2026
– Name: TypeDocument
  Label: Document Type
  Group: TypDoc
  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
– Name: Audience
  Label: Education Level
  Group: Audnce
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Postsecondary+Education%22">Postsecondary Education</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Descriptors
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Universities%22">Universities</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+Students%22">College Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mothers%22">Mothers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22In+Person+Learning%22">In Person Learning</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Electronic+Learning%22">Electronic Learning</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Nontraditional+Students%22">Nontraditional Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Attitudes%22">Student Attitudes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+College+Relationship%22">Student College Relationship</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Experience%22">Student Experience</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+Support+Groups%22">Social Support Groups</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Barriers%22">Barriers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Hidden+Curriculum%22">Hidden Curriculum</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22United+Kingdom%22">United Kingdom</searchLink>
– Name: DOI
  Label: DOI
  Group: ID
  Data: 10.1080/0305764X.2026.2630895
– Name: ISSN
  Label: ISSN
  Group: ISSN
  Data: 0305-764X<br />1469-3577
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Despite the increasing number of mature students in higher education, neither the sector nor the literature adequately considers how their responsibilities and cultural positioning may impact integration and performance. This exploratory study considers the lived experience and oppression valance of student-mothers at a UK university. Findings highlight that many have negligible support and undertake childcare, household maintenance and income generation in addition to their academic work. These conflicting demands create role-incongruity and infeasible logistical demands. Drawing upon social dominance theory, it is argued that the inequalities faced by student-mothers are reflective of neoliberal, capitalist and patriarchal ideals that undervalue women, augmented by sociostructural and institutional sciolism. The authors conclude that higher education institutions could improve student experience, retention and outcomes by recognising and addressing the hierarchy-attenuating position of student-mothers and acknowledge that the cultural construction of 'motherhood' has been used to legitimise student-mothers' restricted access to support and resources.
– Name: AbstractInfo
  Label: Abstractor
  Group: Ab
  Data: As Provided
– Name: DateEntry
  Label: Entry Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2026
– Name: AN
  Label: Accession Number
  Group: ID
  Data: EJ1500805
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=EJ1500805
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1080/0305764X.2026.2630895
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 22
        StartPage: 133
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Universities
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: College Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Mothers
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: In Person Learning
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Electronic Learning
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Nontraditional Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Student Attitudes
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Student College Relationship
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Student Experience
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Social Support Groups
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Barriers
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Hidden Curriculum
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: United Kingdom
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Riding a Rollercoaster with the Jugglers: Exploring the Experiences of Student-Mothers Undertaking Online and On-Campus Degree Programmes
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Kay Owen
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Jenny Boldrin
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 01
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 0305-764X
            – Type: issn-electronic
              Value: 1469-3577
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 56
            – Type: issue
              Value: 2
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Cambridge Journal of Education
              Type: main
ResultId 1