Young Mothers' Experiences in Education

This research aimed to gather the views of five young mothers, aged sixteen to nineteen years old, who were accessing compulsory education within a Midlands Local Authority.

Data was collected via semi-structured interviews, conducted over the ‘Google Meet’ platform, due to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions regarding meeting face-to-face. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was used to interpret the data, as this method offers a qualitative way of analysing lived experiences, whilst taking into account the influence of the researcher.

The results of the research provide an insight into the experiences of young mothers in compulsory education, through the superordinate themes which emerged from their interviews: Adjusting to New Life, Return to Education, Transforming the Self and Emotional Impact of Pregnancy.

The implications for educational psychologists, educational institutions and other professional agencies, can be understood through listening to the voices of these young mothers, in order to gain an understanding of both their individual and shared experiences.