Do Family-Related Factors Influence Children’s Outcome?

In the UK, the pass rate of A level examination remained almost stable at the percentage of 26.7% during the period (2010-2015)1, while different characteristics of household, such as region of residence, parents’ marital status and employment-related factors may have led to children’s different outcome on attaining any A-level qualifications. To understand which and how household-related factors may influence children’s outcome, this paper reviews theories which may interpret possible mechanisms behind children’s outcomes.

Data was sorted from the 18th wave of BHPS2, which was then analyzed base on logistic regression models. It was found that children living in the London area, parents’ marriage, paternal unemployment, household’s moving for the incentive of a higher income and a harmonious relationship with neighbours are likely to result in a higher possibility on children’s attainment of A-level qualifications; however, the existence of sibling(s) and maternal unemployment are more likely to have a negative but insignificant effect on children’s attainment of A-level qualifications. No effects were found for parental type of work and household’s acceptance of welfare as income support.

These results support the use of theories on altruism (Becker, 1981; Kerr et al., 2004), family behavior (Chevalier, 2004), human capital model (Leibowitz, 1974; Becker and Tomes, 1994), role model and family stress (Haveman et al., 1991), and the results can also explain the possible causality of the ‘London effect’. Current results also suggest that further research should emphasize paternal employment status and the relationship with different regions in the UK. This would help with the determinants on policies aiming at the enhancement of children’s outcome and development.