Troubled in school: does maternal involvement matter for adolescents?

Jonathan Norris () and Martijn van Hasselt
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Jonathan Norris: Department of Economics, University of Strathclyde

No 1906, Working Papers from University of Strathclyde Business School, Department of Economics

Abstract: We estimate the causal effect of mother’s involvement on the amount of trouble an adolescent experiences in school. We use multiple measures of school-trouble and factor analysis to construct a composite and then link this composite with non-cognitive skills. Our measure of mother’s involvement encompasses discussing school-related matters and providing help with school projects. Using an instrumental variable constructed from a suitably chosen peer group, our main finding is that an increase in maternal involvement leads to a significant decrease in school trouble. We find this result to be robust across a large number of sensitivity tests designed to account for possible selection effects, shocks at the peer group level, and further potential violations of the exclusion restriction. Additionally, we present evidence suggesting that the effect of maternal involvement may operate through its effect on adolescents’ college aspirations, mental health, and the perception of parental warmth.

Keywords: non-cognitive skills; maternal involvement (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C26 I31 J13 J31 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 64 pages
Date: 2019-06
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-ure
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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