Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0
Author-Name: Jonathan Norris
Author-Name-First: Jonathan
Author-Name-Last: Norris
Author-Email: jonathan.norris@strath.ac.uk
Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Economics, University of Strathclyde
Author-Name: Martijn  van Hasselt
Author-Name-First: Martijn 
Author-Name-Last: van Hasselt
Author-Email: mnvanhas@uncg.edu
Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Economics, University of North Carolina, Greensboro
Title: Troubled in school:  does maternal involvement matter for adolescents?
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.

Length: 64 pages
Creation-Date: 2019-06
Revision-Date: 
Publication-Status: Published
File-URL: https://www.strath.ac.uk/media/1newwebsite/departmentsubject/economics/research/researchdiscussionpapers/19-06.pdf.pagespeed.ce.Xz6DM1Aziv.pdf
File-Format: Application/pdf
Number: 1906
Classification-JEL: C26, I31, J13, J31
Keywords: non-cognitive  skills, maternal involvement
Handle: RePEc:str:wpaper:1906