Predictors of Parent Involvement in Their Adolescents’ Education: The Role of School Outreach and Parents’ Motivational Beliefs

• In Event: Family Practices and Family Involvement Praxis

Abstract

Despite the well-establish link between parents’ involvement and positive child outcomes, we know considerably less about the factors that determine how involved parents become in their adolescents’ schooling, particularly within lower SES families. Drawing on the Hoover-Dempsey and Sandler’s model, this study investigated the role of school outreach efforts and parent motivation beliefs in promoting their involvement. We found that school outreach efforts and parent motivation had significant associations with parent involvement respectively and jointly. Notably, parent motivation was mediated the link between school outreach and parent involvement. Family SES worked as a moderator on the relationship. In particular, creation of welcoming school environment was the most critical school outreach factor to promote low-SES parent’s motivation to involvement.

Authors

• Sira Park, UC Berkeley

• Susan D. Holloway, University of California - Berkeley