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Parenting Students and Indicators of Financial Stability, Health, and Academic Success: Findings from a Population-Based Sample of Public Urban University Students

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Abstract

Parenting students constitute a significant portion of the college population, with 22% of undergraduate students nationwide managing the dual responsibilities of parenthood and education. Single-parenting students face disproportionate challenges to achieving academic success. This study examines the health, financial, and academic aspects of parenting students attending a large, urban public university, specifically comparing single parents to their married or cohabiting counterparts and non-parenting students in New York City. We collected data from 2104 participants, including 142 single parents and 119 married or cohabiting parents, through a cross-sectional survey. Using adjusted regression models, we evaluated the associations between parenting status and financial, health, and academic factors. Our findings reveal that, in comparison to non-parents, single parents are significantly more likely to carry debt (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.81), rely on food assistance (aOR 5.03), and achieve slightly lower GPAs (β − 0.11). Single parents also work more hours (aOR 1.66) and have an increased likelihood of facing debt (aOR 2.66), housing difficulties (aOR 2.80), food insecurity (aOR 2.21), and lower GPAs (β − 0.22) compared to their married or cohabiting peers. The disaggregation of single and married or cohabiting parents reveals significant disparities, emphasizing the vulnerability of single-parenting students in higher education. Targeted interventions addressing issues like food security and housing are essential to support the academic success of single parents.

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Data Availability

The data generated and analyzed during this study are not publicly available due to the potential of breaching confidentiality.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Healthy CUNY Director, Nicholas Freudenberg and Healthy CUNY Deputy Director, Patricia Lamberson, for their oversight and management of the survey administration. The Healthy CUNY survey was supported by the National Cancer Institute through an award to Dr. Benjamin Neel at the New York University School of Medicine and awards to Nicholas Freudenberg at the CUNY School of Public Health by the United Hospital Fund, the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, CUNY Graduate School of Public Health & Health Policy, New York, NY, USA

    Jenna Sanborn

  2. Department of Community Health and Social Sciences, CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy, New York, NY, USA

    Meredith Manze

  3. Department of Pediatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA

    Dana Watnick

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  1. Jenna Sanborn
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Correspondence to Jenna Sanborn.

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Sanborn, J., Manze, M. & Watnick, D. Parenting Students and Indicators of Financial Stability, Health, and Academic Success: Findings from a Population-Based Sample of Public Urban University Students. J Urban Health 101, 371–382 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11524-024-00832-4

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