Thought, Attitude and Action

Abstract

The purpose of this narrative study was to explore how an international PhD student-mother, who has a young child, negotiated and coped with the challenges to complete her studies during the COVID-19 pandemic. Multiple semi-structured interviews were adopted to collect narrative data. Anchored in a thematic analysis, qualitative data showed that the participant encountered such challenges as the skills of managing academic time and activities, difficulty in focusing on studying, worries about family conditions in Indonesia and financial needs. We concluded that physical, mental and spiritual strengths of an individual derived from family and community support play a pivotal role in thinking of, managing, and coping with various challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Young Muslim couples’ experiences when having the first child: A narrative inquiry

“…The narrative inquiry method pays attention to several components in its implementation, namely the experience of participants over time, in various places, including social interaction relationships, where these components must be studied simultaneously (Clandinin & Connelly, 2007). In other words, the narrative inquiry method holistically emphasizes the dimensions of space and time and the socio-cultural context that influences the complex and dynamic discourse of participant experience stories (Fridani et al, 2020).…”

“…The interview process provides certainty about confidentiality, anonymity, and emotional comfort in expressing participants' experiences by telling stories (L. Harvey, 2015). In the interview process, participants can withdraw without any ties and consequences (Fridani et al, 2020;T. Harvey et al, 2017).…”