Family Structure Stability and Transitions' Relationship With Parental Involvement and Educational Outcomes

• In Event: Inequality and Family Life: Effects on Learning and Life Chances

Abstract

Researchers studying family structure have found that children who live with two married, biological parents, on average, have better educational outcomes than children living in alternate family structures in part due to resources, stressors, and selectivity. We argue that the impact of family structure is attenuated by transitions in and out of family structures that may decrease parental involvement which, in turn, affects child academic outcomes. Using waves 1 to 5 of the Growing Up in Australia: Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC) data, we examine the relationship of family stability and transitions from birth to age 8/9 years on parental involvement and educational outcomes adjusted for resource, stressor, and selectivity covariates.

Authors

• Shana L. Pribesh, Old Dominion University

• Yuanyuan Yue, Old Dominion University

• Kathy Morgan, Old Dominion University

• Mikaela J. Dufur, Brigham Young University

• Kristie J. Rowley, Brigham Young University

• Jonathan Jarvis