PARENTING AND COLLEGE ENROLLMENT: THE EFFECTS OF PARENTING STYLE AND PRACTICES ON COLLEGE ENROLLMENT FOR BLACK, WHITE AND HISPANIC CHILDREN FROM DIFFERENT ECONOMIC AND FAMILY CONTEXTS

Abstract

This study used logistic regression to analyze the effects of parenting style and practices on college enrollment for 2116 Hispanic, Black and White respondents from differing economic and family contexts. Using data from the young adult children of women of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979, five key findings related to parenting and college enrollment were identified. They include:

1) The effect of parenting practices on college enrollment is not influenced by the parenting style adopted by the parent

2) The authoritarian parenting style is a better predictor of college enrollment than the authoritative parenting style for Hispanic respondents

3) Higher parental involvement at home is associated with higher odds of college enrollment

4) Higher parental involvement at school is associated with higher odds of college enrollment only for White students from single-mother and dual-parent families

5) There is a negative interaction between being Black and higher parental involvement at school

The findings of this study contribute to the literature on parenting styles, parental involvement and college enrollment. The implications for practice and research are discussed.