Parental Involvement and Racial Socialization as Protective Factors for Aspirations and Achievement Among Low-Income, Black Adolescents

This study explored the nature of parental involvement and racial socialization as potential protective factors for aspiration construction and achievement among low-income, Black adolescents. Qualitative data were used to assess the relationship between parental involvement, racial socialization, specificity of aspirations, and level of achievement. Additionally, racial identity was considered qualitatively and quantitatively as a potential mechanism through which racial socialization relates to adolescent aspirations and achievement. Participants were 26 student-parent dyads recruited from a low-income, urban fringe high school. All participants took part in semi-structured one-on-one interviews, and adolescents also completed The Multi-ethnic Identity Measure. Findings indicate that some differences exist in types of parental behavior, racial socialization, and aspects of racial identity between high and low achieving students. A relationship between adolescents' ability to construct aspirations and achievement was also evident. Implications of findings are discussed, in terms of how best to support aspirations and achievement of high-risk adolescents