"We don't know these answers; we don't know where to go": The First-Generation College Student Parents' Experience

Abstract

The current study explores the experiences of Parents of First-Generation College Students (PFG). Parents’ experiences are examined through semi-structured, one-on-one interviews (n =10), and were analyzed using a grounded-theory-based approach. Three themes emerged across the ten participants’ experiences- Parent Expectations, Parent Knowledge, and Parent Needs. The popular ideas amongst participants’ individual experiences came together to form these themes. Additional concepts, such as Letting Go and Distance, were discussed in further detail as well, highlighting participant narratives in the process. Results are discussed in terms of their integration with previous research and theory, and implications and directions for future research are also explored.