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Parental Involvement Across Middle and High School: Exploring Contributions of Individual and Neighborhood Characteristics

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Abstract

Parental involvement in education is crucial during adolescence when grades decline and youth autonomy increases. This study examined parental involvement trajectories from 7th to 11th grade and explored whether individual and neighborhood characteristics affected this change. European American and African American (66 %) families participated (N = 1377, primary caregivers: 92 % female; adolescents: 51 % male, initial age range: 11–14). Results showed that, over time, parents reduced home- and school-based involvement but consistently engaged in academic socialization. Individual and neighborhood characteristics contributed differentially to parental involvement trajectories. These findings suggest that parental investment in adolescents’ education persists during this critical developmental period, but individual and contextual differences impact the use of these strategies, which has implications for family-school partnerships and interventions.

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Acknowledgments

The authors’ work for this manuscript was not supported by any external funding. The MADICS study was supported by multiple sources. For more information on these data, please see Jacquelynne S. Eccles 1997, “MADICS Study of Adolescent Development in Multiple Contexts 1991–1998”, http://hdl.handle.net/1902.1/01066 UNF:5:uuV+GIHq+xtra75iHCPSPw==Murray Research Archive [Distributor] V2 [Version].

Authors’ Contributions

SB conceived of the study, participated in its design, conducted the statistical analysis, interpreted the findings, and drafted the manuscript. DPW conceived of the study, participated in its design, assisted with the statistical analysis and interpretation of the findings, and helped to draft and revise the manuscript. Both authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, The Pennsylvania State University, 223 Moore Building, University Park, PA, 16803, USA

    Sakshi Bhargava

  2. Department of Psychology, The Pennsylvania State University, 217 Moore Building, University Park, PA, 16803, USA

    Dawn P. Witherspoon

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  1. Sakshi Bhargava
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Correspondence to Sakshi Bhargava or Dawn P. Witherspoon.

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Appendix

Appendix

See Tables 3 and 4.

Table 3 Means and standard deviations of parental involvement strategies by respondent’s race and youth’s gender
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Table 4 Neighborhood structure and social dynamics of African American and European American parents at 7th grade
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Bhargava, S., Witherspoon, D.P. Parental Involvement Across Middle and High School: Exploring Contributions of Individual and Neighborhood Characteristics. J Youth Adolescence 44, 1702–1719 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-015-0334-9

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