REASONS FOR DISCONTINUING STUDY - THE CASE OF MATURE AGE FEMALE STUDENTS WITH CHILDREN

The research investigated reasons for leaving study amongst a sample o f 118 mature age female students with children who had been enrolled a t one of three eastern Australian universities. Analysis of questionna ire data revealed three major types of motive for attrition. Firstly, a strong socio-economic class influence was found. Women whose own and /or whose husbands' social class indicators were low tended to leave s tudy because of a combination of lack of support from family for the m other's study, lack of money, weight of domestic responsibility and la ck of knowledge or skills expected at university. Secondly, women who had been enrolled in non-traditional subjects (economics/business/law) were relatively over-represented amongst the discontinuing students a nd were particularly likely to cite lack of academic support or staff hostility as a reason for leaving. Thirdly, reasons for leaving study were found to be connected to student's age, suggesting a life style i nterpretation. Younger women with younger children were likely to leav e because of family, financial or child care related reasons. Older wo men were more likely to leave because of practical difficulties or cou rse dissatisfaction.