Single Mom INITIATIVE The Economic Self-Reliance of Utah Single Moms Richard J. McClendon, Ph.D. Research Director BYU ESR Center

Single Mom INITIATIVE Research Agenda  2006  Literature Review  Learning Lab  Focus Groups  2007  Statewide Mail Survey Top Challenges Education Finances Emotional Health Child Care ?

Single Mom INITIATIVE Utah Single Mom Survey 2007

Single Mom INITIATIVE Methodology and Data Collection  Random sample of 65,000 phone numbers in Utah.  Hired 60 students who called from March to May, over 8000 hours.  97% of the phone numbers where called 5 to 7 times.  Screened for married and single moms with children (under age 18) living at home.  420 single moms agreed to receive a mail survey.  237 single moms responded (56%).

Single Mom INITIATIVE Sample Clusters

Single Mom INITIATIVE Sample Description N% Separated2511% Divorced14862% Single, Never Married 4720% Widowed177% Total237100%

Single Mom INITIATIVE Utah Single Moms Single Moms Households Married Mom Households Utah Households Poverty Rate 32%6%10% Net Worth $6,560$131,250$62,820 Home Ownership 44%90%75%

Single Mom INITIATIVE Research Question  What factors lead to the economic self-reliance for single moms in Utah?

Single Mom INITIATIVE ESR Defined... The ability of an individual or family to garner and hold surplus resources in excess of basic needs relative to socioeconomic context and geographic location. It provides protection in the face of economic shocks and fosters the development of human potential.

Single Mom INITIATIVE ESR Model: Four Types of Capital Group Based Resources Tangible Institutional Capital Social Capital Intangible Economic Capital Human Capital Individual Based Resources Government & Religious Assistance Support from Family & Friends   Income, Assets, Debt, & Savings Age, Education, & Well-being

Single Mom INITIATIVE Predicting the ESR of Utah Single Moms   Marital Status   Years as a Single Mom   Number of Children   Child with Disability   Parenting Attitude & Involvement   Child Custody   Child Support   Government Assistance   Housing   Child(s) Father’s Education & Well- Being Family of Procreation Education   Parent’s Education   Education Level   High School Grades   Computer Skills   When Returned to School   Belief When to Return to School   Age   Race   Religiosity   Job Satisfaction   Community Involvement Demographics   Physical Health   Overall Happiness   Depression   Self-Esteem   Self-Efficacy/Goal Well-Being   Total Income   Asset/Debt Ratio   Savings Practices   Standard of Living Endurance ESR   Parent’s Marital Status   Relationship with Parents & Siblings   Job Support from Family & Associates Family of Orientation

Single Mom INITIATIVE Predicting the ESR of Utah Single Moms (Bivariate)   Total Income   Asset/Debt Ratio   Savings Practices   Standard of Living Endurance ESR  Marital Status.21   Years as a Single Mom   Number of Children   Child with Disability  Parenting Involvement -.17  Parenting Attitude & Involvement -.17   Child Custody  Child Support.19  Government Assistance -.46  Housing -.62/-.41  Child(s)’ Father’s Education.33  Child(s)’ Father’s Education & Well- Being.33 Family of Procreation Education  Parent’s Education.18  Education Level.41   High School Grades   Computer Skills  When Returned to School -.17   Belief When to Return to School  Age.41  Race   Religiosity  Job Satisfaction.32  Community Involvement.29 Demographics  Physical Health.35  Overall Happiness.17  Depression -.23  Self-Esteem.41  Self-Efficacy/Goal.22 Well-Being  Parent’s Marital Status.21  Relationship with Parents & Siblings.21  Job Support from Family & Assos..36 Family of Orientation

Single Mom INITIATIVE Predicting the ESR of Utah Single Moms (Multivariate)   Total Income   Asset/Debt Ratio   Savings Practices   Standard of Living Endurance ESR  Marital Status.21   Years as a Single Mom   Number of Children   Child with Disability   Parenting Attitude & Involvement   Child Custody   Child Support  Government Assistance -.22  Housing -.39/-.36   Child(s)’ Father’s Education & Well- Being Family of Procreation Education   Parent’s Education  Education Level.12   High School Grades   Computer Skills  When Returned to School -.17   Belief When to Return to School  Age.28   Race   Religiosity   Job Satisfaction   Community Involvement Demographics   Physical Health   Overall Happiness   Depression  Self-Esteem.21   Self-Efficacy/Goal Well-Being   Parent’s Marital Status   Relationship with Parents & Siblings  Job Support from Family & Assos..32 Family of Orientation

Single Mom INITIATIVE Significant Correlations with Education Education  Marital Status   Years as a Single Mom   Number of Children   Child with Disability   Parent Attitude & Involvement   Child Custody   Child Support  Government Assistance -.17  Housing  Child(s)’ Father’s Education.44  Child(s)’ Father’s Education & Well- Being.44 Family of Procreation Education  Parent’s Education. Father.50 Mother.30  HS Grades.42  Computer Skills.17   When Returned to School   Belief When to Return to School  Age.34  Race  Religiosity.25  Job Satisfaction.21  Community Involvement.32 Demographics  Physical Health.17  Overall Happiness.14   Depression  Self-Esteem.27  Self-Efficacy/Goal.19 Well-Being  Parent’s Marital Status.16   Relationship with Parents & Siblings   Job Support from Family & Associates Family of Orientation

Single Mom INITIATIVE Results Summary Higher ESR Scores =  More Education  Earlier School Start  Job Support from Family & Friends  Older  Less Government Assistance  Own a Home  Stable Remarriage

Single Mom INITIATIVE Education and Total Income Total Income (N) High School Degree or Less 2.73* (50) Some College or Skills Training 3.09** (76) Skills or Trade Degree 2.56** (27) Associates degree 3.39 (29) Bachelor’s Degree 4.19 (40) Graduate or Professional Degree 5.93* (15) 1. Under $10, $10,000 to $19, $20,000 to $29, $30,000 to $39, $40,000 to $49, $50,000 to $74, $75,000 to $99, Over $100,000 Poverty Threshold by # of Children by # of Children1=$13,6902=$17,1703=$20,650

Single Mom INITIATIVE Education and Asset/Debt Index Asset/Debt Index High School Degree or Less 6.08* Some College or Skills Training 6.48* Skills or Trade Degree 6.63* Associates degree 6.79 Bachelor’s Degree 7.53 Graduate or Professional Degree Own Home 2. Own Vehicle 3. Own Business 4. Own Property 5. Own Investments 6. Have Checking Account 7. Have Savings Account 8. No Debt to Family/Friends 9. No Debt to Student Loans 10. No Past Due House Bills 11. No Past Due Medical Bills 12. No Balance on Credit Card

Single Mom INITIATIVE Education and Savings Practices Savings Practices High School Degree or Less 2.47 Some College or Skills Training 2.33* Skills or Trade Degree 2.38 Associates degree 2.62 Bachelor’s Degree 2.97 Graduate or Professional Degree Never 2. Rarely 3. Sometimes 4. Usually 5. Almost Always

Single Mom INITIATIVE Education and Standard of Living Endurance Standard of Living Endurance High School Degree or Less 2.69 Some College or Skills Training 2.46 Skills or Trade Degree 2.88 Associates degree 2.71 Bachelor’s Degree 3.03 Graduate or Professional Degree Less than a week 2. 2 or 3 weeks 3. About 1 month 4. 2 to 3 months 5. 3 to 6 months 6. More than 6 months

Single Mom INITIATIVE Educational Demographics among Utah Single Moms

Single Mom INITIATIVE What is the education level of Utah Single Moms?  High school degree/less (21%) (Married: 13%)  College or skill training (32%) (Married: 31%)  Skill or Associates degree (24%) (Married: 20%)  Bachelor’s degree (17%) (Married: 29%)  Graduate degree (6%) (Married: 16%)

Single Mom INITIATIVE When is the Best time to go back to school? (Top Responses) Mom’s Timing  Immediately upon becoming a single mom  “Depends on circumstances or situation”  “When it’s best for the mom” Children’s Timing  Elementary school

Single Mom INITIATIVE Computer Access and Skills   Own a Computer (84%) (Married: 97%)   Internet (88%) (Married: 95%)   (90%) (Married: 95%)   Microsoft Word (84%) (Married: 93%)   Microsoft Excel (63%) (Married: 63%)

Single Mom INITIATIVE How comfortable are you in using a computer to…  Access information about trades schools, colleges, and universities (88%) (Married: 95%)  Apply for college, financial aid, and scholarships (83%) (Married: 92%)  Take a course on-line (84%) (Married 90%)

Single Mom INITIATIVE College Attendance  Gone back to school since becoming a single mom (48%)  Currently attending school (29%)  Fulltime during the day (31%)  Part-time at night (24%)  Part-time during the day (17%)  Online courses (12%)  2½ years is the average time it takes to go back to school after becoming a single mom.

Single Mom INITIATIVE Reason & Motivation for Going back to School  Top reason: increase their income (67%).  Top reason for married moms: personal improvement (64%).  Family (36%) and Self (30%) are who motivates them to go back to school.

Single Mom INITIATIVE What is keeping you from going to school? (Responses Ranked) Rank% 1Not enough money61 2Not enough time54 3Children need me39 4Fear23 5Other: have a degree22 6Inadequate child care21 7Don’t know what to study21 8Have a job that I like17 9Application process is too overwhelming12 10Don’t like school11 Inadequate transportation8 12Already make enough money7 13Language barrier3

Single Mom INITIATIVE Attitude about College Campus Support  48% of single moms indicated they would join a single mom support group on campus if it was offered  70% said they would take advantage of an academic advisor who was specifically assigned to single mom students.

Single Mom INITIATIVE What supports does/did your school offer to moms? (Responses Ranked) Rank% 1Information about financial aid50 2Don’t know39 3 Academic advice in selecting appropriate classes and/or a major 32 4Help in registering for class31 5Information about available scholarships23 6 Assigned counselor for guidance upon returning to school 22 7 Information about childcare available on or near campus 21 8Orientation on returning to school17 9Information about available tutoring or study groups15 10Information about on-campus support group13 11Information about transportation to and from school12 Information about single mom support groups11 13Other: “none” “don’t remember any”5