Parental role in the occupational performance of university students

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the gendered experience in the occupational roles assumed by university students and its impact on academic performance in Puerto Montt, Chile. Using a feminist perspective, a qualitative phenomenological approach, and a multiple case study, we interviewed three mother and three father university students. The findings indicate that the sense of efficacy influences the occupational performance of female students, who internalize and prioritize motherhood, impacting their occupational balance and access to leisure or free time. Female students engage in enjoyable occupations with their children, while their male peers report participating in recreational activities individually, separate from their role as fathers. Although limited, the case study raises significant qualitative concerns about protocols to support the academic well-being of university parents, particularly mothers and fathers residing in geographically isolated island territories.