Does Parental Academic Socialization Mitigate or Exacerbate Family Background Disadvantages? Predicting Problem Behaviors in Migrant and Local Adolescents

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Friday 7:45 am - Gold 1
  In Roundtable Session: Non-academic Outcomes and Student Well-being: The Importance of Schools and Communities

Abstract

This study investigates how parental academic socialization shapes adolescents’ problem behaviors, with attention to family socioeconomic status (SES) and migration status. Drawing on longitudinal data from 5,893 students in China, we examine the roles of academic supervision, emotional communication, and educational expectations in predicting internal and external problem behaviors. Multilevel regression models reveal that academic socialization generally reduces behavioral problems, with stronger protective effects for adolescents from low-SES or migrant backgrounds. However, the same parenting practices can be less effective—or even counterproductive—for advantaged youth. Findings suggest that academic socialization serves both compensatory and stratifying functions depending on context. This study highlights the importance of structurally informed, migration-sensitive interventions to support adolescent behavioral health.

Authors

• Wei Wu, Peking University

• Yanan Zhang, Renmin University of China