Beyond parenting practices: Extended kinship support and the academic adjustment of African-American and European-American teens

• Published in: Journal of adolescence (London, England.) England.), 2006-10, Vol.29 (5), p.813-828
• Main Authors: Pallock, Linda L., Lamborn, Susie D.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Academic Achievement; Academic adjustment; Achievement; Adolescent; Adolescent Attitudes; Adolescent Behavior - psychology; Adolescents; African American Students; African Americans; African Americans - psychology; Biological and medical sciences; Child Rearing; Demography; Developmental psychology; Education; Ethnic families; Ethnic Groups; European Continental Ancestry Group - psychology; Family - psychology; Family Relationship; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Grade 10; Grade 9; Humans; Kinship; Kinship Networks; Male; Minority students; Parent Child Relations; Parent Student Relationship; Parent-Child relationships; Parenting; Parenting practices: Extended kinship; Parenting Styles; Parents & parenting; Perceptions; Personal relationships; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Social Adjustment; Social Control; Social Support; Student Adjustment; Surveys and Questionnaires; Teacher Student Relationship; Teenagers; Values; White Students; Work Ethic; Work Orientations
• ISSN: 0140-1971; 1095-9254
• DOI: 10.1016/j.adolescence.2005.12.003

This study examined adolescents’ perceptions of parenting practices and extended kinship support in relation to academic adjustment for 104 African American and 60 European American 9th and 10th graders (14 and 15 year olds). For African-American teens, parental acceptance was associated with school values, teacher bonding, and work orientation. Higher levels of behavioral control and lower levels of psychological control were associated with a stronger work orientation. After accounting for the demographic variables and the three parenting practices, higher levels of extended kinship support related to stronger school values, higher teacher bonding, and a stronger work orientation. For European-American teens, parental acceptance related to academic adjustment, including stronger school values, higher teacher bonding, and a stronger work orientation. European-American adolescents with stronger extended kinship networks reported higher teacher bonding and a stronger work orientation. Results indicate the importance of extended kinship support for both African-American and European-American adolescents.