The Effects of Parental Divorce and U.S. Migration on Children’s Educational Transitions in Mexico

• In Event: 116 - Section on Children and Youth Paper Session. Family and Relationship Stability and Its Effects on Children & Youth

Abstract

In Mexico, parent-child separation can stem from parental divorce or separation or international migration. This study investigates the effects of parental divorce or separation and U.S. migration on Mexican children’s odds of completing five school transitions (i.e. graduating primary, entering lower secondary, graduating lower secondary, entering upper secondary, and graduating upper secondary). Using longitudinal data from three waves of the Mexican Family Life Survey (MxFLS 2002, 2005-2006, 2009-2012), I estimate five education transition models from a sample of 5,694 children, 5-15 years-old, whose parents were married or cohabiting and living in the same household in 2002 (MxFLS-1). Results suggest that parental migration to the U.S. is more disruptive to children’s education at earlier education transitions. At later stages, however, parental divorce or separation negatively affects children’s educational transitions and these effects are significant. This study contributes to the literature on family structure, international migration, and education by documenting the differential effects of parental divorce or separation and parental U.S. migration on children’s school transitions.

Author

• Carla Salazar Gonzalez, University of California, Los Angeles