Did Online Courses Save Student Parents’ Studies During the Health Crisis?

During the COVID-19 pandemic, student parents were among the most affected by time constraints. With the closure of daycare centers, schools, and increased family responsibilities, balancing student and parental life became a major challenge. However, a recent study reveals that digital teaching formats played an unexpected role: they helped reduce dropout intentions among these students.

Asynchronous courses, such as pre-recorded videos or educational materials accessible at any time, provided valuable flexibility. Parents could organize their study time around their family obligations, without being constrained by fixed schedules. This freedom alleviated the stress related to lack of time and allowed for a better balance between private and academic life. The results show that the more courses incorporated these formats, the less parents considered dropping out of their studies.

Interactive formats, such as online lectures with live exchanges, also played a key role. For parents, the time available for socializing outside of classes is often limited. These moments of interaction during classes became essential for maintaining connections with other students and teachers. They promoted social integration, a determining factor in persevering with studies.

Contrary to expectations, this dynamic benefited both student mothers and fathers equally. Although mothers generally bear a heavier burden of childcare, the study did not reveal any significant difference in dropout intentions between genders. Digital formats thus helped student parents, regardless of gender, overcome the obstacles related to the pandemic.

These observations highlight the importance of diversifying teaching methods in higher education. Online courses, when well designed, do more than meet the needs of vulnerable students: they can also strengthen their motivation and sense of belonging to the academic community. The health crisis thus revealed that digital technology, often perceived as a constraint, can become a major asset for equal opportunity in education.

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Primary Source

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11618-026-01390-y

Title: A blessing in disguise? How digital teaching formats reduced dropout intentions among studying parents during the COVID-19 crisis

Journal: Zeitschrift für Erziehungswissenschaft

Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC

Authors: Anna Marczuk; Susanne Strauss; Lena M. Zimmer