Learning to Parent Again: An Investigation of the Role of Adult Education in the Phenomenon of

150 Pages·2017·1.72 MB·English

The University of Southern Mississippi
The Aquila Digital Community
Dissertations
Spring 5-1-2013
Learning to Parent Again: An Investigation of the
Role of Adult Education in the Phenomenon of
Grandparents Raising Grandchildren
Deborah Annette Stover
University of Southern Mississippi
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Recommended Citation
Stover, Deborah Annette, "Learning to Parent Again: An Investigation of the Role of Adult Education in the Phenomenon of
Grandparents Raising Grandchildren" (2013).Dissertations. 592.
https://aquila.usm.edu/dissertations/592
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The University of Southern Mississippi

LEARNING TO PARENT AGAIN: AN INVESTIGATION OF THE ROLE
OF ADULT EDUCATION IN THE PHENOMENON OF
GRANDPARENTS RAISING GRANDCHILDREN

by
Deborah Annette Stover

Abstract of a Dissertation
Submitted to the Graduate School
of The University of Southern Mississippi
in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements
for the Degree of Doctor of Education

May 2013
ABSTRACT
LEARNING TO PARENT AGAIN: AN INVESTIGATION OF THE ROLE
OF ADULT EDUCATION IN THE PHENOMENON OF
GRANDPARENTS RAISING GRANDCHILDREN
by Deborah Annette Stover
May 2013
This study examined the readiness for self-direct learning of parenting
grandmothers. The researcher investigated whether parental self-efficacy beliefs and
addiction beliefs were significantly correlated to parenting grandmothers’ readiness for
self-directed learning as measured by the Oddi Continuing Learning Instrument. Parental
self-efficacy beliefs were investigated using the Parental Self-Efficacy Scale. Using the
Addiction Belief Instrument, the researcher investigated the overall correlation of
addiction belief to readiness for self-directed learning. The research also investigated
whether the following beliefs significantly correlated to parenting grandmothers’
readiness for self-directed: people with substance abuse disorders are unable to control
their using and are responsible for their actions, addiction is a chronic disease, addiction
is genetically based, and addiction is a sign of moral weakness. Twenty-seven parenting
grandmothers were recruited for the study.
In this study, the findings indicated a significant correlation between parental
efficacy beliefs and readiness for self-directed learning. The findings indicated a
significant correlation between the addiction belief of people who abuse drugs and
alcohol have the inability to control their use and readiness for self-directed learning.
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The findings also indicated a significant correlation between the addiction belief of
people who abuse drugs and alcohol are responsible for their actions and readiness for
self-directed learning.
The findings of the study indicated no significant correlation between the belief of
addiction is a chronic and readiness for self-directed learning, no significant correlation
between the belief of addiction is genetically based and readiness for self-directed
learning, and no significant correlation between the belief of addiction is a sign of moral
weakness and readiness for self-directed learning. However, further research with a
larger sample needs to be conducted before the findings of this study can be verified.
Future adult education research that focuses on of the learning needs and learning
systems of parenting grandparents through a variety of theoretical frames needs to be
conducted.

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COPYRIGHT BY
DEBORAH ANNETTE STOVER
2013
The University of Southern Mississippi

LEARNING TO PARENT AGAIN: AN INVESTIGATION OF THE ROLE
OF ADULT EDUCATION IN THE PHENOMENON OF
GRANDPARENTS RAISING GRANDCHILDREN

by
Deborah Annette Stover

A Dissertation
Submitted to the Graduate School
of The University of Southern Mississippi
in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements
for the Degree of Doctor of Education
Approved:

Lilian H. Hill
Director

Kyna Shelley

__T_h_o_m_a_s_ _J._ L__ip_s_c_o_m_b_ __________________

__Je_a_n_n_e_ _G_i_ll_e_sp_i_e_ _____________________

__S_u_s_an_ _A_._ S_i_l_ta_n_e_n_ ____________________
Dean of the Graduate School

May 2013
DEDICATION
With gratitude and much love, this work is dedicated to the memories of my
loving parents, Mack and Alice Griffin Stover.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I give thanks to God for my committee members, Dr. Lilian H. Hill, Dr. Kyna
Shelley, Dr. Thomas J. Lipscomb, and Dr. Jeanne Gillespie. Thanks for all your words of
encouragement, kindheartedness, and guidance given in the pursuit of this degree.
Thanks especially to an awesome adult educator, Dr. John Rachal, who continually
inspired me to reach for excellence.
Special thanks to an extraordinary friend, Claudia Bivins, for helping me to stay
focused and for being a wind behind my sail. To my classmates in the doctoral program,
Wendy Jean Sonstrom and Melissa Sue Wright, thank you for walking this journey with
me, for all your support, and the days of laughter we shared.
Thanks to my family, especially my children, for believing in me and for making
sacrifices so that I could reach this goal.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABSTRACT.……………………………………………………………………….…......ii

DEDICATION………………..…………………………………………………………..iv

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS………………………………………………………….……..v

LIST OF TABLES……………………...………………………………………………viii

CHAPTER

I. INTRODUCTION……………………………………………………...…1
Background
Statement of the Problem
Definition of Terms
Limitations
Delimitations
Assumptions
Justification and Importance of the Study

II. LITERATURE REVIEW…………………………......………..……..…14
Feminist Theory
Adult Education Learning Theory
Self-Directed Learning
Parenting Grandmothers
Summary
III. METHODOLOGY……………….………………………..………...…..45
Overview
Research Design
Data Analysis

IV. RESULTS…….…………………………………………………….…....55
Overview
Descriptive Data
Descriptive Statistics
Data Analysis
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V. DISCUSSION…………….…………………….………………...……...80
Purpose and Procedures
Summary of Findings
Conclusions and Discussion
Limitations of the Study
Recommendations for Future Research
Conclusion

APPENDIXES…………………………………………………………………………...96

REFERENCES…………………………………………………………………………117

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