This open access book examines how families and other social institutions interact to shape outcomes over the life course. It considers how to use research evidence to reduce social disadvantage through translation of evidence to support public policies and programs. The chapters focus on key life course stages such as early child development, adolescence, emerging adulthood, parenting, marriage, relationships and ageing, as well as examining experiences and outcomes for selected social groups such as Indigenous children, migrants and refugees, and gay, lesbian and bisexual groups. The book presents evidence using high-quality and recent data. With a focus on Australia, the volume provides new insights into how context shapes life course pathways and outcomes and a contrast to work that typically focuses on Europe and the United States. It will be of value to anyone interested in understanding how family background and life course pathways influence social disadvantage.
Author(s): Janeen Baxter, Jack Lam, Jenny Povey, Rennie Lee, Stephen R. Zubrick
Series: Life Course Research and Social Policies, 15
Publisher: Springer
Year: 2022
Language: English
Pages: 327
City: Cham
Acknowledgements
Contents
Chapter 1: Introduction
The Australian Context
Structure of the Book
References
Chapter 2: Families, Life Courses and the Intergenerational Transmission of Social Disadvantage in Australia
What Is a Life Course Approach?
What Is the Life Course and Why Should We Study It?
The Origins of the Life Course Perspective
Differing Definitions in the Life Course Literature
Paradigmatic Principles
Life Course Approaches and Intergenerational Inequality in Australia
Family Background and Intergenerational Inequality
Family Type
Parenting Time
Parent Employment
Transmission of Norms, Values, and Resources
Social Groups and Intergenerational Inequality
Indigenous Australians
Migrant Background Populations
Refugees
Single Parent Households
New Developments in Life Course Theory
References
Chapter 3: Early Years and Disadvantage: Matching Developmental Circumstances in Populations to Prevention and Intervention Opportunities
Measuring the Developmental Growth of Children Is Not Easy
Risks That Predict Low Language Performance Are Weak
Predicting the Children Who Will Need Help Will Miss Many Children
Moving from Individual Risks to Describing Developmental Circumstances
Children in Different Developmental Circumstances Have Different Rates of Growth
Developmental Circumstances Reduce Participation in Interventions
Intervention and Prevention Opportunities Matched to Places and Circumstances
Conclusion and Discussion
References
Chapter 4: Cultural Identity and Social and Emotional Wellbeing in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children
Cultural Identity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples
The Longitudinal Study of Indigenous Children
Key Variables
Covariates
Analyses and Results
Cultural Identity and Social and Emotional Wellbeing in Indigenous Children
Discussion
Conclusion
References
Chapter 5: Refugee Children in Australia: Wellbeing and Integration
Integration of Refugee Children in Australia
The Role of National Origin for Refugee Children’s Integration
Humanitarian Migrants in Australia
Iraqi Refugees and Immigrants
Iranian Refugees and Immigrants
Afghani Refugees and Immigrants
Middle East/North African (Egypt, Syria) Groups
Central Asian (Pakistan, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka) Group
The Role of Education in the Origin Country
Measuring Refugee Integration
Data and Methods
A Portrait of Refugee Children
The Importance of Home Environment
Gender and Refugee Children’s Integration and Wellbeing
Language Proficiency: Fluency and Literacy by Gender
Socioemotional Wellbeing by Gender
The Enduring Effects of National Origin and Children’s Outcomes
Premigration Experiences
English Language Proficiency by National Origin
Household Structure and Family Size by National Origin
Mental Health and Wellbeing by National Origin
How National Origin and Gender Matter for Refugee Children’s Outcomes
Discussion and Conclusion
Policy Recommendations
References
Chapter 6: Adolescence a Period of Vulnerability and Risk for Adverse Outcomes across the Life Course: The Role of Parent Engagement in Learning
Background
Early and Middle Adolescence
The Study
Self-Concept
Why Self-Concept Is Important for Student Outcomes
Parent Factors and Self-Concept
School Factors and Self-Concept
Mental Health
Why Mental Health Is Important for Student Outcomes
Parent Factors and Mental Health
School Factors and Mental Health
Educational Aspirations
Why Educational Aspirations Are Important for Student Outcomes
Parent Factors and Educational Aspirations
School Factors and Educational Aspirations
Late Adolescence
The Study
What Does Parent Engagement in Learning Look Like in Late Adolescence in Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Households During Remote Learning?
What Does Parent Engagement Look Like in Non-traditional Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Households During Remote Learning?
How Does Parent Engagement in Learning Contribute to or Mitigate School Related Stress During Remote Learning in Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Households?
What Were the Educational Aspirations and Expectations of Senior Students from Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Households During Remote Learning?
Conclusion
References
Chapter 7: Differences in Higher Education Access, Participation and Outcomes by Socioeconomic Background: A Life Course Perspective
Inequalities in Higher Education from a Life Course Perspective
Opportunity Pluralism and ‘Bottlenecks’ to Success
Life Course Theory and Opportunity Pluralism in Practice: A Conceptual Model of the Student Life Cycle
The Three Phases of the Student Life Cycle: Access, Participation, and Post-participation
Socio-Economic Status Differences in Higher Education Access, Participation, and Outcomes: Empirical Evidence for Australia
Access to Higher Education: Uneven Barriers to University Enrolment by Socio-Economic Background
Socio-Economic Background and Higher Education Participation: Contributions of Individual- and Area-Level Factors
Beyond Graduation: Long-Term Impacts of Socio-Economic Background on Students’ Post-Graduation Outcomes
Discussion and Conclusion
References
Chapter 8: Emerging Adulthood in Australia: How is this Stage Lived?
Emerging Adulthood
Defining Emerging Adulthood
Characteristics Associated with Receiving Support
Effects of Support
What Emerging Adults Do
Description of the Analysis Sample from the HILDA Survey
Parental Support in Adolescence and Emerging Adulthood
Characteristics, Activities, and Resources of Emerging Adults
Characteristics and Activities
Wealth, Debt, and Financial Wellbeing
Differential Experiences in Becoming Independent
Timing of Independence
Prevalence of Returning Home
Conclusion
References
Chapter 9: Labour Market Participation: Family and Work Challenges across the Life Course
Family-Work Challenges in Early Adulthood
The Effects of Parenthood on Labour Market Outcomes
Direct Effects of Parenthood on Labour Market Outcomes
The Role of Skills and Disadvantage
Effects of Policy
The Effect of Labour Market Circumstances on Family Formation
Family and Work Interactions at Other Life Stages
Early Life – The Impact of Parents
Mid-Life – Past Decisions Compound
Later in Life – New Caring Responsibilities Emerge
Policy Implications
References
Chapter 10: Marriage Matters. Or Does It?
Marriage as a Foundation or Capstone?
Who Marries and Who Cohabits?
Results
Who Marries and Who Cohabits in Australia? Evidence from HILDA
Is Partnership Status Associated with Variations in Social Disadvantage and Wellbeing?
Subjective Wellbeing
Economic Wellbeing
Is Marriage Selective or Protective?
Discussion
Conclusion
References
Chapter 11: Parenthood: Disrupting the Intergenerational Transmission of Social Disadvantage
Understanding Parenting
Parenting in Context
How Parenting Differs Across Levels of Social Disadvantage
Parental Interactions with Children
Time Spent with Children
Discipline Practices
Warmth and Support
Home Environments
Home Learning Environment
Structure and Routines
Interparental Conflict
Parental Stress and Wellbeing
Intergenerational Transmission of Parenting Practices
Parenting and the Community
Parenting Support Programs as a Solution for Addressing Intergenerational Transmission of Social Disadvantage
Implications for Policy
Directions for Future Research
Conclusion
References
Chapter 12: Intergenerational Processes of Disadvantage in the Lives of Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Australians: From Relationships with Parents to Parenting Expectations
Part 1: LGB People and Their Parents
Parent-Child Relationships During Adolescence
Parental Rejection of LGB Youth
What Does Parental Rejection Look Like?
The Impacts of Rejection on LGB Youth
Parent-Child Relationships at Other Ages
When Do Disparities in the Parent-Child Relationship Begin?
How Do Disparities in the Parent-Child Relationship Track Across Adulthood?
What Are the Implications for Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health?
Generating New Empirical Evidence for Australia
Results for Relationships with Parents Over Time
Results for Associations Between Relationships with Parents and Mental Health/Emotional Wellbeing
Summary of Findings from Part One
Part 2: LGB People’s Desires and Expectations for Parenthood
Barriers to Parenthood
The Importance of Support from Own Parents
Associations Between Parenting Desires, Expectations, and Mental Health
New Analyses for Australia
Results for Parenting Desires and Expectations
Results for the Role of Relationships with Own Parents
Results for Associations Between Aspiration-Expectation Mismatches and Mental Health
Summary of Findings from Part Two
Discussion
The Way Forward
Conclusion
References
Chapter 13: Ageing and Loneliness: A Life Course and Cumulative Disadvantage Approach
Literature Review
The Life Course Perspective and Mechanisms Linking Life Course Disadvantage and Later-Life Loneliness
Data and Methods
Results
History of Familial Support
Formation of Social Networks
Relocation and Migration
Widowhood and Separation
Conclusion
References
Chapter 14: Influencing Social Policy on Families through Research in Australia
History and Context—Social Policy Research on Families and Disadvantage
Community, Place and Family
Australian Social Policy and ‘the Family’
How Has/Should Research Influence/d Social Policy on Families and Disadvantage?
How Can Effective Research-Policy-Practice Translation Work?
How Has Research Influenced Social Policy and Life Course Approach to Understanding Families and Disadvantage?
Conclusion: Future Opportunities and Challenges
References
Chapter 15: Emerging Directions and New Challenges
Disadvantage Across Developmental Stage, Institutions and Populations
Emerging Directions
Final Thoughts
References
Index
