Are there educational and psychological benefits from parental school involvement for early adolescents? Evidence from the China Educational Panel Survey(CEPS)

This study focuses on adolescents in China and examines the educational and psychological effects of parental participation in school meetings. Applying propensity score stratification and hierarchical linear modeling, this study shows a positive impact of parental participation (versus non-participation) on students' cognitive scores and psychological well-being. While advantaged parents are more likely to attend the meetings, parental participation may have added rewards for students with lower pre-test achievement and at schools with lower-SES parents. This finding is in line with earlier research, suggesting that the children who would benefit most from parental involvement are those who are least likely to receive it. Such findings reveal the unique barriers faced by disadvantaged families, highlighting the imperative of policies or programs to identify strategies to increase participation. Moreover, despite the positive influence, the small effect size on students' outcomes indicates the necessity of considering the characteristics of early adolescent development and unique family dynamics during adolescence to promote developmentally appropriate and effective parental involvement.