In whom we trust: Factors that influence university student parents' willingness to seek parenting and child development information

This paper explores the sources of parenting help and child growth and development information for parents who are also college students. Student parents' levels of hope in relationship to their likelihood to accept help and information from a variety of sources is also examined. The characteristics student parents find important in a source of parenting help and child growth and development information is explored. Student parents were neither likely nor unlikely to accept parenting help or child growth and behavior information from someone other than their trusted source. Student parents also reported that they would be likely to accept this kind of information from someone with a university degree in a child development related field. Student parents were most likely to turn to their own parents when in need of help or information on child rearing. Student parents report that the most important characteristics they look for in a source of parenting help and child growth and behavior information is that the information provider has parenting experience and that he or she has a university degree in a child development related field.