Home-Learning During COVID-19

The Psychological Adjustment of Minority and Majority Adolescents

authored by
Madalina-Alexandra Paizan, Alison E. F. Benbow, Lara Aumann, Peter F. Titzmann
Abstract

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and the resulting infringements of day-to-day life have affected families through school closures and home-learning. Yet, little research investigated howadolescents and their families could be supported during this time. Our two-wave study had threeaims. First, we examined life satisfaction and academic self-efficacy trajectories among ethnic minorityand majority adolescents. Second, we considered the role of the home learning environment (learningconditions and parental involvement) in explaining ethnic status group differences. Third, we studiedpandemic-related familial factors that contributed to positive home learning environments. The samplecomprised 121 ethnic minority (Mage = 14.04; SD = 1.25; 53% female) and 105 ethnic majority adolescents(Mage = 14.36; SD = 1.25; 59% female) in Germany. Results of repeated measures analyses of covariances(ANCOVAs) showed distinct trajectories in adolescents’ adjustment (Time × Ethnic status group interaction:η

2

p=.02 for academic self-efficacy and η

2

p =.03 for life satisfaction). Whereas ethnic minorityadolescents reported stable academic self-efficacy and a decrease in life satisfaction, ethnic majorityadolescents reported stable life satisfaction and an increase in academic self-efficacy. Accounting forlearning conditions reduced the differences between minority and majority adolescents to nonsignificance.Parental involvement did not explain these differences, although it was itself important for adjustmentoutcomes in both groups. Hierarchical regression analyses showed that good student–teacher communication,a positive family climate and fathers’ short-time work contributed to the home learning environment.Findings highlight the decisive role of the family context during home-learning and the importance oflearning conditions in overcoming educational disparities

Organisation(s)
Institute of Psychology
Type
Article
Journal
School Psychology
Volume
37
Pages
75-84
No. of pages
10
ISSN
2578-4218
Publication date
01.2022
Publication status
Published
Peer reviewed
Yes
ASJC Scopus subject areas
Education, Developmental and Educational Psychology
Electronic version(s)
https://doi.org/10.1037/spq0000489 (Access: Closed)