This study examined how family structure moderates the relationship between social capital and educational outcomes for those in two-parent families. Social capital and family structure were measured when participants were 12-14 years old, and a variety of educational outcomes were examined from high school dropout and completion through postsecondary degree completion. Social capital was measured as parental monitoring, parent-child relationship quality, and parent-school involvement. Specifically, this study compared those in stepfamilies to those in intact two-parent families. It also examined differences between mutual biological children in blended stepfamilies and biological children in intact two-parent families, as well as mutual children in blended stepfamilies and stepchildren in blended stepfamilies. Results indicated that those in simple stepfather and blended stepfamilies had poorer educational outcomes overall compared to those in intact two-parent families. Having a higher quality parent-child relationship was associated with greater likelihood of completing a postsecondary degree, greater total years of school completed, and greater highest degree completed. Findings supporting the moderation hypothesis were few. Living in a blended stepfamily moderated the relationships between parent-child relationship quality and high school completion and parent-school involvement and completing a bachelor's degree or higher. In both instances, the relationship was stronger for those in intact two-parent families than those in blended stepfamilies. Among children living with both biological parents, mutual children in blended stepfamilies were less likely to complete a postsecondary degree and had a lower highest degree completed than those in intact two-parent families. No significant differences were found for the educational outcomes of mutual children and stepchildren living in blended stepfamilies. Implications for future research and policy are discussed. / A Dissertation submitted to the Department of Family and Child Sciences in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of
Philosophy. / Summer Semester, 2012. / June 13, 2012. / Family structure, high school dropout, parenting, postsecondary education, social capital, stepfamilies / Includes bibliographical references. / B. Kay Pasley, Professor Directing Dissertation; Kathryn Tillman, University Representative; Frank D. Fincham, Committee Member; Lenore McWey, Committee Member.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_182874 |
| Contributors | Garneau, Chelsea Lynn (authoraut), Pasley, B. Kay (professor directing dissertation), Tillman, Kathryn (university representative), Fincham, Frank D. (committee member), McWey, Lenore (committee member), Department of Family and Child Sciences (degree granting department), Florida State University (degree granting institution) |
| Publisher | Florida State University, Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Language | English, English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text, text |
| Format | 1 online resource, computer, application/pdf |
| Rights | This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s). The copyright in theses and dissertations completed at Florida State University is held by the students who author them. |
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