Parental Absence, Family Environment, and Adolescents' School Performance

Evidence from the Three Southernmost Provinces of Thailand

Dados Bibliográficos

ID2999010
AutoresAree Jampaklay (0000-0002-1294-5226, Corresponding author. Institute for Population and Social Research, Mahidol University, Phutthamonthon, Nakhon Pathom 73170, Thailand ().), Aksarapak Lucktong (0000-0002-0975-8438, Panyapiwat Institute of Management), Patama Vapattanawong (0000-0003-1967-4278, Institute for Population and Social Research, Mahidol University, Phutthamonthon, Nakhon Pathom 73170, Thailand ().), K Tangchonlatip (0000-0002-5672-2219, Institute for Population and Social Research, Mahidol University, Phutthamonthon, Nakhon Pathom 73170, Thailand ().), Kasama Yakoh (Institute for Population and Social Research, Mahidol University, Phutthamonthon, Nakhon Pathom 73170, Thailand ().), A Chamratrithirong (0000-0001-5094-8770, Mahidol University), Aphichat Chamrathrithirong (Institute for Population and Social Research, Mahidol University, Phutthamonthon, Nakhon Pathom 73170, Thailand ().), Kathleen Ford (0000-0003-0822-6779, University of Michigan)
Ano2025
Data de publicação2025-04-23
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessNão
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoJournal of Comparative Family Studies (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0047-2328 • E-ISSN: 1929-9850
EditoraUniversity of Toronto Press Inc. (UTPress) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.3138/jcfs-068-2023
OpenAlexW4409798147
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas2
Referências citadas59

The impact of parental absence on children remains inconclusive and needs more contextualized research. This analysis examines the impact of parental absence on adolescents' school performance and whether the impact can be explained by the family environment. The outcome is measured using adolescents' assessment of their school performance compared with their classmates. The parent-adolescent living arrangement is classified as the adolescents living with both parents, with only the mother, and without the mother. We measure family environment using the family function (APGAR), parental/carer monitoring, and the parent-adolescent relationship. We used data from a household survey conducted in 2021 in Thailand's three southernmost provinces where migration of young people to Malaysia is common. The sample includes 358 adolescents aged 13-17 years old and currently in school. Findings show significant negative though indirect impacts of maternal absence on the adolescents' school performance. Also, the significant impact of maternal absence is mediated by the family environment, particularly family function. Significant evidence of the effect of family environment on adolescents' academic outcome, net of the parent-adolescent living arrangements particularly parent/carer monitoring, is highlighted

Developmental psychology · Geography · Population · Socioeconomic status · Socioeconomics · Sociology · Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development · Demography · Early Childhood Education and Development · Poverty, Education, and Child Welfare · Psychology