The Role of Parents’ Educational Values, Expectations and Behavior in Shaping Occupational Aspirations, Expectations and Educational Attainment among Adolescents in Mekelle City, Ethiopia

Abstract

This study examined the link between parental process variables and adolescents’ occupational aspirations/expectations and educational attainment. A total of 322 individuals (N = 64 11^th graders, N = 55 12^th graders, N = 98 of their fathers, N = 105 of their mothers) completed multiple quantitative measures assessing parents’ educational values, expectations and parenting behaviours, and adolescents' occupational aspirations/expectations. Statistically significant positive relationships between fathers' educational values and adolescents' educational aspirations, values, and academic attainment were observed. Fathers' educational expectations predicted both adolescents' educational aspirations/expectations and educational attainment. Higher-income and higher educational levels of mothers and higher occupational status of fathers were the primary predictors of adolescents' occupational expectations. The results highlight the importance of parents’ process variables and their educational and work background for the development of occupational aspirations/expectations and educational attainments in adolescents. This suggests that greater attention should be paid to the role of parents as potential socializers of achievement-related values of adolescents and the differential roles that mothers and fathers seem to play when designing career choice interventions for adolescents in the study context.