struggles of working students research paper

Balancing Work, School, and Personal Life among Graduate Students: a Positive Psychology Approach

• Published: 24 July 2018
• Volume 14 , pages 1265–1286, ( 2019 )

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• Jessica M. Nicklin 1 ,
• Emily J. Meachon 1 &
• Laurel A. McNall 2  

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Graduate students are faced with an array of responsibilities in their personal and professional lives, yet little research has explored how working students maintain a sense of well-being while managing work, school, and personal-life. Drawing on conservation of resources theory and work-family enrichment theory, we explored personal, psychological resources that increase enrichment and decrease conflict, and in turn decrease perceptions of stress. In a study of 231 employed graduate students, we found that mindfulness was negatively related to stress via perceptions of conflict and enrichment, whereas self-compassion, resilience, and recovery experience were negatively related to stress, but only through conflict, not enrichment. These findings suggest that graduate students who are able to be “in the moment” may experience higher levels of well-being, in part due to greater enrichment and lower conflict.

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Nicklin, J.M., Meachon, E.J. & McNall, L.A. Balancing Work, School, and Personal Life among Graduate Students: a Positive Psychology Approach. Applied Research Quality Life 14 , 1265–1286 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11482-018-9650-z

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Received : 02 August 2017

Accepted : 09 July 2018

Published : 24 July 2018

Issue Date : November 2019

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1007/s11482-018-9650-z

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This study sought to know and understand the opportunities and challenges of working students. Likewise, the study looked into the factors that prompted students to work and how they were affected by the job. The study used qualitative research specifically phenomenological approach in gathering the data. Interviews were conducted to substantiate the study. The informants were thirteen students who worked in off-campus and on-campus. The results of the study revealed that a working student is a person who works so he can finish his studies and help his parents. Basically, students worked for their tuition. Being a working student was becoming the best version of themselves. It was about sacrifice and most importantly, it was about dedication and proving to the world that poverty will never be a hindrance to fulfilling one's dreams. The " poverty is not a hindrance to education " theme was the crucial element of the informants' overwhelming experience. To conclude, there were some advantages that working while studying had brought to the working students. Although they encountered some difficulties, they seemed to manage both studying and working simultaneously. Working at the same time studying had positive and negative effects on the personal needs, self-esteem, and time management of working students. Indeed, colleges and universities may recognize and respond to the prevalence, characteristics, and implications of working for today's undergraduates.

Enrique B Picardal Jr

Abstract: This locates out about used to be intensively researched and studied through university college students working at Biliran Province State University a public university. Through a research-based strategy using questionnaires, non-public experiences of fifteen college students have been obtained. The findings of this examine an exhibit that these college students advantage from the accountability that comes with their twin roles as students and employees in many ways. However, they additionally did not go through emotional and bodily stress ensuing from fatigue, lack of sleep due to their work and locate out about experiences. Interestingly, these college students effectively labored through a range of coping mechanisms consisting of finding social aid and engaging in enjoyable and non-fiction entertainment things to do that negatively impact learning and work at the same time.

iJSRED Journal

This study focused on the investigation to know if the students' are experiencing the aspect of working while studying at Eastern Samar State University-Guiuan Campus. The study shows the perception of students on working while studying. Moreover, the study also indicates the reasons why they engage on working and the impacts of being employed to their academic performance. The study focused on the undergraduate students of Eastern Samar State University Guiuan Campus. The data obtained from the survey questionnaires were consolidated, organized and tabulated accordingly. They were analyzed, and interpreted utilizing suitable statistical tools. Based on the results of the study, the following recommendations were given: For the University, to improve provided services in order to help students (1) engage in working while studying, (2) help students to achieve the balance between working and academic performance. For the Faculty Members let the students encourage to participate and engage of different skills so that they may be able to have positive experiences on working for income. For the Future Researchers to conduct a similar study using other variables that are believed to have a similar topic, so that there will be comparison of the results.

Social, Humanities, and Educational Studies (SHEs): Conference Series

Aniek Hindrayani

The aim of the paper is to examine the consequences of students engaging in part-time employment during their studies. The research consisted of a Google form survey of all the student of Sebelas Maret University, on 2015 and 2016 who studies also doing part-time. The survey found that part-time employment, in common with many previous studies. It also found that some students were spending longer in their chosen employment than in time-tabled classes. A central finding was that unlike much previous research, it emerged here that students reported more positive than negative outcomes to improve the student skills, but effect to the learning achievement give the negative outcomes. The data shows that students continue to engage in part-time employment at a significant level and for some studying is almost a secondary activity. The paper is of value in seeking to clarify the nature of the consequences for students seeking to combine employment and studying. Furthermore the paper build...

Waheed Jang

This study focuses on the problems with many people working nowadays while they are studying and vice versa. Some of them are doing domain relevant jobs and some are doing unrelated jobs. In both cases, it is all amazing experience, but there are many problems that working students face. The purpose of this paper is to summarize some of these problems, and some solutions for these problems are suggested for these problems. The data for this research is collected by conducting surveys and interviews of working students of different ages and domain, analyzing their experiences regarding study and work. The way of approach is a deep analysis of their age, experience, the domain of work and study and their personal suggestions. This research can help all those students who are still studying and working and who will have to work and study together in future to tackle these problems to make their study life easy and more beneficial. This research is done on smaller scale, it can be done on a broader scale in future.

Jurnal Al-Hayat

Halim Purnomo

The current study explores the experiences of working students, especially in higher learning institutions in coping with the challenges of working while studying. It is expected that the suggestions and recommendations from the study can improve working students' experiences to be successful in both working and studying.This qualitative research which documentation and interview had been used in order to collect data on the experiences of working students at the International Islamic University Malaysia. Some working students were purposively chosen and interviewed to know the challenges they faced and how they overcome the problems.The findings of the current study show that the informants fully understood the concept of working while studying and considered it as a financial necessity and self-improvement. The informants exposed several challenges of working students such as time constraints and commitment to their studies. Despite the challenges, the informants considered working while studying as a motivation to further develop themselves and acquire necessary skills for better employment.This study is important as many college students are working while enrolled in higher education. They may experience time constraints managing the responsibilities of both student and worker. Thus, it is significant to understand their experiences that may affect the future of their academic studies.This study provides some implications and recommendations for working students to overcome the challenges. They include time management, commitment, discipline, and responsibility. Studi saat ini mengeksplorasi pengalaman mahasiswa yang bekerja, khususnya di perguruan tinggi dalam menghadapi tantangan bekerja sambil kuliah. Saran dan rekomendasi dari penelitian ini diharapkan dapat meningkatkan pengalaman kerja mahasiswa agar berhasil baik dalam bekerja maupun belajar. Penelitian kualitatif dengan dokumentasi dan wawancara ini digunakan untuk mengumpulkan data tentang pengalaman kerja mahasiswa di Internasional. Universitas Islam Malaysia. Beberapa mahasiswa yang bekerja sengaja dipilih dan diwawancara untuk mengetahui tantangan yang mereka hadapi dan bagaimana mereka mengatasi masalah tersebut. Temuan penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa informan memahami sepenuhnya konsep bekerja sambil belajar dan menganggapnya sebagai kebutuhan finansial dan peningkatan diri.. Para informan memaparkan beberapa tantangan mahasiswa yang bekerja seperti kendala waktu dan komitmen untuk belajar. Terlepas dari tantangan tersebut, para informan Working Students in Higher Education...-Tumin et al 80 menganggap bekerja sambil belajar sebagai motivasi untuk lebih mengembangkan diri dan memperoleh keterampilan yang diperlukan untuk pekerjaan yang lebih baik. Studi ini penting karena banyak mahasiswa yang bekerja selama mendaftar di pendidikan tinggi. Mereka mungkin mengalami kendala waktu dalam mengelola tanggung jawab siswa dan pekerja. Oleh karena itu, penting untuk memahami pengalaman mereka yang dapat mempengaruhi masa depan studi akademis mereka. Studi ini memberikan beberapa implikasi dan rekomendasi bagi mahasiswa yang bekerja untuk mengatasi tantangan tersebut. Itu termasuk manajemen waktu, komitmen, disiplin, dan tanggung jawab.

arina maftuhah

This study aims to investigate two components: (i) the general definition of part time job to college student, and (ii) the effect of part time job to college student in Walisongo State Islamic Semarang . In order to get the limitation of the study, the researcher decides scope of the study which is the general definition and effect of part time job to college student. The researcher investigates thirteen college students in Walisongo State Islamic Semarang . In terms of research design, the researcher designed this study as field study research. The structured interviews, the questionnaire, observation, and documentation are the data collection techniques. According to the result, I present two findings: (i) definition of part time to college student is an occupation only some of day or week where they accepted regular payment or get money, and (ii) three effects of part time job to college student in Walisongo State Islamic Semarang : (a) Positive, (b) Negative, and (c) both of them. According to the analysis, I show the result of effects of part time job: (i)The most many is positive effect as many as seven students, (ii)The most little is negative effect as many as a student and (iii)There are five students who have positive and negative effects. So college students in Walisongo State Islamic University Semarang who have part time job do not disturb or decrease their study and their daily activities.

Centre for Higher Education …

John Brennan

Joza Batool

This research is concerned about part-time student performance within higher educational institutions in Pakistan. Part-time students contain a significant share of the student population. In the perspective of working students as part-time studying, there are some significant factors that should be considered seriously to perform well. This research was examined to find the relationship of soft skills (motivation to learn, stress, time management) among part time-students’ performance in south Punjab of Pakistan. Primary data was collected from a sample of 140 part-time enrolled students. Correlation and regression analysis were tested in this research. The result showed that time management was the most significant factor of student performance. Same as stress has significant but negative correlation with student performance. The study concluded that these soft skills have significant importance with the part-time working student performance.

Using a mixed qualitative and quantitative method, this study explored the lived experiences and struggles of 22 on-campus working students of ISAT U-Miagao Campus. This study utilized a researcher-constructed questionnaire and interview in gathering information about their experiences and related variables. Frequency count, percentage, mean, and chi-square were used as statistical tools. Results revealed that financial problem was the main factor that motivated the students to work on-campus. They experienced varied feelings as happiness, sadness, annoyance, and worry. Despite work pressure, working students had good time management both for studies and work, with high self-esteem and good academic performance. The study concluded that participants' dual roles in the college as full time student and worker, do not seem to affect their self-esteem and academic performance, however, there is a need to consider helping these students, especially on their financial needs for them to finish their studies.

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Challenges Encountered By Working Students that Affect their Academic Performance

• Andrea Faye Coral
• Erica Dawn Atillo
• John Jericho Baldoviso
• Ruel Binigay Jr.
• Jesserel Bugtong
• Geovannie Bernales Jr.

A working student is a person who works and goes to school as a student at the same time. Being a working student needs considerable effort not only in his work but also in his studies. Being a working student is extremely hard because they need to give 100% of their attention when they are in school and give 100% of their strength when they work. This research used quantitative research and descriptive method to describe the characteristics of a population being studied. Survey questionnaires were administered to 50Grade 12 Performing Arts students who were chosen through purposive sampling. The survey questionnaire was constructed to determine the challenges encountered by the working students that affect their academic performance. The result of the study showed that in terms of working students, the weighted mean of the respondents was 3.7, which strongly agreed that the financial aspect is the major challenge encountered by working students that affect their academic performance. Meanwhile, the weighted means of the respondents was 3.1, which agreed that time management is a minor challenge encountered by working students that affect their academic performance. The weighted mean of the respondents was 3.25, which agreed that priorities are also a minor challenge encountered by working students that affects their academic performance. The researchers recommended the following in terms of time management. If you are a working student, then you should know how to manage your time. A working student should know how to spend his or her time equally between study and work., plan everything, and do plan strategies. In terms of priorities, there will be a moment that working students have to choose between work and school; working students should know what is more important to prioritize; even if you are tired, you have to push yourself and be determined regarding the things that you need to do. One should prioritize their goal to achieve their dreams. In terms of the financial aspect, working students should save more for future expenses, use their money on things that they need and not on things that they want, know how to budget their money, practice effective strategies to save money.

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3. problems students are facing at public k-12 schools.

We asked teachers about how students are doing at their school. Overall, many teachers hold negative views about students’ academic performance and behavior.

• 48% say the academic performance of most students at their school is fair or poor; a third say it’s good and only 17% say it’s excellent or very good.
• 49% say students’ behavior at their school is fair or poor; 35% say it’s good and 13% rate it as excellent or very good.

Teachers in elementary, middle and high schools give similar answers when asked about students’ academic performance. But when it comes to students’ behavior, elementary and middle school teachers are more likely than high school teachers to say it’s fair or poor (51% and 54%, respectively, vs. 43%).

Teachers from high-poverty schools are more likely than those in medium- and low-poverty schools to say the academic performance and behavior of most students at their school are fair or poor.

The differences between high- and low-poverty schools are particularly striking. Most teachers from high-poverty schools say the academic performance (73%) and behavior (64%) of most students at their school are fair or poor. Much smaller shares of teachers from low-poverty schools say the same (27% for academic performance and 37% for behavior).

In turn, teachers from low-poverty schools are far more likely than those from high-poverty schools to say the academic performance and behavior of most students at their school are excellent or very good.

Lasting impact of the COVID-19 pandemic

Among those who have been teaching for at least a year, about eight-in-ten teachers say the lasting impact of the pandemic on students’ behavior, academic performance and emotional well-being has been very or somewhat negative. This includes about a third or more saying that the lasting impact has been very negative in each area.

Shares ranging from 11% to 15% of teachers say the pandemic has had no lasting impact on these aspects of students’ lives, or that the impact has been neither positive nor negative. Only about 5% say that the pandemic has had a positive lasting impact on these things.

A smaller majority of teachers (55%) say the pandemic has had a negative impact on the way parents interact with teachers, with 18% saying its lasting impact has been very negative.

These results are mostly consistent across teachers of different grade levels and school poverty levels.

Major problems at school

When we asked teachers about a range of problems that may affect students who attend their school, the following issues top the list:

• Poverty (53% say this is a major problem at their school)
• Chronic absenteeism – that is, students missing a substantial number of school days (49%)
• Anxiety and depression (48%)

One-in-five say bullying is a major problem among students at their school. Smaller shares of teachers point to drug use (14%), school fights (12%), alcohol use (4%) and gangs (3%).

Differences by school level

Similar shares of teachers across grade levels say poverty is a major problem at their school, but other problems are more common in middle or high schools:

• 61% of high school teachers say chronic absenteeism is a major problem at their school, compared with 43% of elementary school teachers and 46% of middle school teachers.
• 69% of high school teachers and 57% of middle school teachers say anxiety and depression are a major problem, compared with 29% of elementary school teachers.
• 34% of middle school teachers say bullying is a major problem, compared with 13% of elementary school teachers and 21% of high school teachers.

Not surprisingly, drug use, school fights, alcohol use and gangs are more likely to be viewed as major problems by secondary school teachers than by those teaching in elementary schools.

Differences by poverty level

Teachers’ views on problems students face at their school also vary by school poverty level.

Majorities of teachers in high- and medium-poverty schools say chronic absenteeism is a major problem where they teach (66% and 58%, respectively). A much smaller share of teachers in low-poverty schools say this (34%).

Bullying, school fights and gangs are viewed as major problems by larger shares of teachers in high-poverty schools than in medium- and low-poverty schools.

When it comes to anxiety and depression, a slightly larger share of teachers in low-poverty schools (51%) than in high-poverty schools (44%) say these are a major problem among students where they teach.  

Discipline practices

About two-thirds of teachers (66%) say that the current discipline practices at their school are very or somewhat mild – including 27% who say they’re very mild. Only 2% say the discipline practices at their school are very or somewhat harsh, while 31% say they are neither harsh nor mild.

We also asked teachers about the amount of influence different groups have when it comes to determining discipline practices at their school.

• 67% say teachers themselves don’t have enough influence. Very few (2%) say teachers have too much influence, and 29% say their influence is about right.

• 31% of teachers say school administrators don’t have enough influence, 22% say they have too much, and 45% say their influence is about right.
• On balance, teachers are more likely to say parents, their state government and the local school board have too much influence rather than not enough influence in determining discipline practices at their school. Still, substantial shares say these groups have about the right amount of influence.

Teachers from low- and medium-poverty schools (46% each) are more likely than those in high-poverty schools (36%) to say parents have too much influence over discipline practices.

In turn, teachers from high-poverty schools (34%) are more likely than those from low- and medium-poverty schools (17% and 18%, respectively) to say that parents don’t have enough influence.

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Table of contents, ‘back to school’ means anytime from late july to after labor day, depending on where in the u.s. you live, among many u.s. children, reading for fun has become less common, federal data shows, most european students learn english in school, for u.s. teens today, summer means more schooling and less leisure time than in the past, about one-in-six u.s. teachers work second jobs – and not just in the summer, most popular.

About Pew Research Center Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. Pew Research Center does not take policy positions. It is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts .