Household- and school-level parental education and academic self-concept development in elementary school

Abstract

This longitudinal study examined the main effect associations and cross-level interactions of household- and school-level parental education on academic self-concept (ASC) development from fourth to sixth grade of elementary school. Furthermore, the mediating roles of child- and school-level academic achievement (AA) in these associations were examined. Children (N = 679, ages 10–12) from 18 elementary schools were followed annually. ASC levels were relatively high and stable from fourth to sixth grade. Results showed that lower household-level parental education was indirectly associated with lower child-level ASC through lower child-level AA. Lower school-level AA and tentatively higher school-level ASC scores were found in lower parental education schools compared to higher parental education schools. School-level AA was not associated with school-level ASC. Furthermore, results showed initial support that, in terms of ASC, children of lower-educated parents may benefit slightly more from attending lower parental education schools than attending higher parental education schools.