Effects of Parental Work Conditions on Children’ School Achievement A Study of Dual- Earner Families in Malaysia

Resumen

The purpose of this study is to analyze relationships between parental (dual-earner
families) work conditions (work conditions, work hours, work tempo), parenting styles
(parenting styles and parental involvement), children’s task engagement behaviour and
school achievement. This study takes account the demographic changes in Malaysian
families as result of urbanization and industrial-economic based. The study was
conducted using survey method approach based on human ecology theory employed 200
dual earner families as sample. Using path model analysis, the study indicates number of
consistent relationships between demographic variables, parenting styles, children’s task
engagement behaviour and school achievement. Effects of mothers’ and fathers’ work
conditions, parenting styles on children’s behaviour and school achievement were about
similar. Overall, parental work conditions, parental authoritarianism, parental
authoritativeness, parental involvement, socioeconomic status (parental job status, salary,
parental education) had strong effects on children’s task engagement behaviour and
school achievement. Children’s task engagement behaviour also found to have strong
effect on children’s school achievement.