Parents' Role in Adolescents' Educational Expectations

Abstract

The present study examined the extent to which mothers' and fathers' expectations for their offspring's future education, their level of education, and adolescents' academic achievement predict adolescents' educational expectations. To investigate this, 230 adolescents were examined twice while they were in comprehensive school (in the 7th and 9th grades). Their parents also filled in questionnaires at the same time points. The results showed that high parental expectations concerning their offspring's future education predicted high educational expectations among adolescents and they became more similar in the 9th grade compared to 7th grade. Parents' high level of education predicted both mothers' and adolescents' high level of educational expectations in the 7th grade, which then contributed to adolescents' high expectations in 9th grade.

Keywords:

• academic achievement
• educational expectations
• educational aspirations
• level of education
• parental expectations
• parental aspirations

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Laura Rimkute

Laura Rimkute, Department of Psychology, University of Jyvaskyla

Riikka Hirvonen

Riikka Hirvonen, Department of Psychology, University of Jyvaskyla

Asko Tolvanen

Asko Tolvanen, Department of Psychology, University of Jyvaskyla

Kaisa Aunola

Kaisa Aunola, Department of Psychology, University of Jyvaskyla

Jari-Erik Nurmi

Jari-Erik Nurmi, Department of Psychology, University of Jyvaskyla.