Parental Expectations During Adolescence and Children's Life Satisfaction in Adulthood

• In Event: 72.050 - Poster Session 17
  In Poster Session: 72.050-2 - Adolescent and Early Adulthood: Effects on Adult Adjustment

Abstract

This study examined whether parents’ educational expectations in adolescence are associated with children’s life satisfaction in adulthood. It also investigated children’s educational expectations, self-esteem, and educational attainment as mediators of the associations. Using the data from the Longitudinal Study of American Youth (N=2,289), results showed that the greater levels of parents’ expectations in adolescence were significantly related with their children’s satisfaction with their life after about two decades via children’s expectations, self-esteem, and educational attainment. Findings underscore the potential of parents playing a significant role in long-term outcomes in their children’s lives, and the importance of children’s expectations and self-esteem as developmental resources, and suggest that children are likely to benefit from support programs promoting higher expectations and positive self-esteem.

Authors

• Eunjoo Jung, Syracuse University

• Woosang Hwang, Syracuse University

• Yue Zhang, Syracuse University

• Ying Zhang, Syracuse University