An Examination of Parental Variables, Ecological Factors, and the Academic Achievement of African American Male Students

Abstract

The achievement gap between African American males and their peers has been documented in the literature. This research study examined the influence of parenting styles, parental variables, and ecological factors on the academic achievement of African American males. The sample was taken from two high schools in the northeast section of the United States and 153 African American male students between grades eleven and twelve participated in this study. The results of this study showed no significant relationship between parenting styles and the academic achievement. In addition, father's level of monitoring academic activities, mother expectations, and the number of parents in the home are significantly related to parenting styles. Moreover, results showed father's education level and two-parent homes are a positive predictor of grade point average while father expectations is a negative predictor of grade point average.