Effects of Parental Involvement on Experiences of Discrimination and Bullying

ABSTRACT

This study investigated the relationship between parental involvement and their children being picked on or bullied and being discriminated against based on their race during their elementary and secondary school years. The influence of parental involvement on academic achievement during that period was also examined. Specific aspects of parental involvement and an overall parental involvement variable were examined. Two different samples were examined. The first sample was made up of 139 college students, and the second sample consisted of 102 seventh to 12th grade students. Analysis of variance and logistic regression analysis were used. The results indicated that higher levels of parental involvement were associated with higher academic achievement among their children. However, the remainder of the analyses showed mixed results with the effects of parental involvement emerging as more robust with the college sample than for the 7th to 12th grade sample. Overall, it does appear that parental involvement is somewhat related to a lower incidence of children being picked on and discriminated against. The significance of these results is discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Achievement
• bullying
• discrimination
• family
• parental expectations
• parental involvement

Notes

∗∗p < .01; ∗∗∗p < .001; NA = not available.

∗p < .05; ∗∗p < .01; ∗∗∗p < .001; NA = not available.

^a Statistical significance determined on this basis of mean number for this race when compared with all other races combined.

∗p < .05; ∗∗p < .01.