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By
Robert Crosnoe
Teens from economically
disadvantaged homes are more likely to go to college if their parents'
attitudes about their chances of enrollment are positive.
While teenagers from
poor families are less likely overall to go to college versus those
from higher income backgrounds, the study finds that the optimism
or pessimism of their parents, particularly their mothers, makes
a substantial difference in whether they enroll or not.
In the study of over
350 families, researchers found that poor parents in general were
less likely to believe their children would ever attend college,
and therefore provided less motivation to their children regarding
that potential. This was especially true for girls, who parents
may consider even more disadvantaged due to their sex, and non-African
Americans.
African Americans have
a profound belief in the educational system as a route to success,
so they don't view poverty with the same level of risk as non-African
Americans.
Overall, according to
the study, poor parents who believed in their children's potential
for college despite their economic situation - who instilled in
them a sense of positively looking forward to the future -- seem
to provide them a verifiable and significant advantage.
Journal
of Marriage and Family 2002;64:690-702
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