Pathways to Resilience III: Beyond Nature vs. Nurture

Abstract #296
Reaching for the Stars: Investigating Educational Aspirations and Expectations within a Resilience Framework
Presenter: Laurie Chapin Co - Presenter: Daniella Zileski  
Abstract:
Early school-leaving, lack of educational attainment and inequalities in higher education are issues of concern for society. Inquiries into students’ educational aspirations and expectations may be the key to addressing these issues. Socioeconomic status is categorised as a risk, family resources are protective factors, and high aspirations and expectations are positive outcomes. The present research investigated the aspirations and expectations of 183 Australian secondary students aged 13-18. The Child and Youth Resilience Measure-28 (CYRM-28; Resilience Research Centre, 2008), was utilised for a culturally sensitive measure of parental support. University expectations were comparably lower than the university aspirations for students from of a lower socioeconomic status. This finding highlights an aspiration-expectation gap amongst these students. The lower socio-economic status students had greater aspirations and expectations for TAFE (technical education in Australia) and other studies. The higher socio-economic status students had greater aspirations and expectations for university. As was anticipated all the family variables and university aspirations were predicted by parental educational aspirations and expectations, and parental support. Significant predictors for university expectations were parental expectations and parental support. The implications of these findings for interventions and directions for further investigations are discussed.