The goal of this dissertation was to provide a description of the experience of four college women on welfare who experienced domestic violence. The research problem focused on the challenges these women faced during their college experience and the effects that poverty and domestic violence had on their academic success and eventual self-sufficiency.
This study utilized a qualitative research design, with a case study approach, involving the following data collection methods: interview, narrative, observation, and document review. The theoretical underpinnings of the study included college attrition, motivation, and expectancy theories. Constructs from these theories were used to analyze the data.
Previous research has not effectively investigated the experience of college students, who are both domestic violence survivors and welfare recipients, as they struggle to achieve academic success and persist within college environments. As such, this study, which focused on such college students, has value to students, teachers, clinicians, educational institutions, and social service agencies.
The participants described a multitude of concerns: (a) the well-being of their children; (b) health challenges; (c) poor academic preparedness; (d) limited work experience; (e) difficulties with finding affordable housing, childcare, food, and medical care; (f) continued harassment and violence from abusers; (g) unresponsive police; (h) difficulty balancing the demands of work, school, and family; and (i) problems with motivation and expectation. The participants reported that the welfare department pressured them to obtain full-time employment before completion of training, provided insufficient information and referral to support services, and impeded access to Family Violence Option benefits. Other concerns included the lack of early educational goal identification by the participants, under-utilization of college support services, and marginal social integration on the campus.
The research findings signal the importance of the following: (a) social support, (b) college services, (c) empowerment activities, (d) parenting workshops, (e) college liaison activities with the welfare department to advocate for student needs, and (f) viable instructional programs linking these individuals to self-sufficiency and life success. The study offers suggestions for program development at community colleges and social service agencies.