Parental Influence on Adolescent Academic Outcomes: Socio- Economic and Relational Aspects of Family Context Kathy L. Bell, UNCG Katie Jodl, University of Michigan Deborah Land, University of Virginia
Parents’ Influence Socio-economic factors (e.g., Hauser & Featherman, 1977) Parenting style ( Steinberg, Dornbusch, and colleages) –Moderation of peer influence (Mounts & Steinberg, 1995) Quality of Parental Relationships
Research Questions Is the quality of maternal relationships related to: –adolescents’ perceptions of their academic engagement? –objective measures of adolescents’ academic performance? Concurrently and longitudinally Do peer relationships have the same or different influences?
Sample 69 male teens, 61 female teens Mean age (SD =.73) 58% European American, 41% African American, 1 % other 49% living in mother-headed single-parent households Median family income: $25,000 Median mothers’ education: some training beyond high school
Relationships Current parental relationships: Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment (Armsden & Greenberg, 1989) Close friendships: Peer reports on the close friendship scale of the Adolescent Self- Perception Profile (Harter, 1985)
Perceptions Satisfaction with school: Quality of School Life Scale (Epstein & McPartland, 1978) Academic self-concept: Adolescent Self- Perception Profile (Harter, 1985)
Academic Performance Grades: From schools School risk: Self-reported dropouts, expulsions, and suspensions.
Time 1 Demographics _____________________________________ GPARisk Family Income.47***-.25** (n) Mothers’ Education.48***-.15# (n) _____________________________________ note. *** p <.001. ** p <.01. # p <.10.
Time 1 Relationships _____________________________________ Maternal Relationships Perceptions Attitudes r(115) =.27** Academic S-Cr(125) =.16# Friendship GPAr(103) =.24* ___________________________________ note. ** p <.01. * p <.05. # p <.10.
Time 1 Grades -- Adjusted R 2 =.29*** –family income, mothers’ education level, ethnicity, close friendship School Risk -- Adjusted R 2 =.09** –adolescents’ gender, family income, mothers’ education level, ethnicity _____________________________________ note. *** p <.001. ** p <.01.
Stability _____________________________________ Perceptions r n Attitudes.49***116 Academic S-C.56***120 Academic performance Grades.52***85 School risk.41***116 _____________________________________ note. *** p <.001.
Change to Time 2 Grades: academic self-concept F (2,78) = adjusted R 2 =.33*** School Risk: satisfaction with school F (2,108) = adjusted R 2 =.18***
Question 1 Concurrently -- Is the quality of maternal relationships related to: – adolescents’ perceptions of their academic engagement? YES –objective measures of adolescents’ academic performance? NOT DIRECTLY
Question 2 Longitudinally -- Is the quality of maternal relationships related to: – adolescents’ perceptions of their academic engagement? TREND –objective measures of adolescents’ academic performance? NOT DIRECTLY
Question 3 Do peer relationships have the same or different influences? DIFFERENT
Conclusions Quality of Maternal Relationships Sample Characteristics Multiple Aspects of Academic Experience