A qualitative study of racial minority single mothers' work experiences

There are approximately 12 million single parent-headed families in the United States (U.S.), 80% of which are headed by single mothers (United States Census Bureau, 2017). Research suggests that single mothers experience more vocational difficulties than married or partnered mothers (Weitoft, Haglund, & Rosén, 2000), especially working single mothers. This study explored the work experiences of racial minority working single mothers at lower-middle income level using a consensual qualitative research method (Hill et al., 2005). Six primary domains emerged from the data: (a) job/education decision-making, (b) challenges, (c) characteristics of self, (d) resources, (e) coping, and (f) suggestions. We present the practical implications of the study to increase vocational mobility, inform practitioners, and promote greater overall wellness for this marginalized group at various system levels. Suggestions for future research with racial minority working single mothers and limitations of the current study are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).