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Perceived family economic hardship and student engagement among junior high schoolers in Ghana

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  • Ansong, David
  • Okumu, Moses
  • Hamilton, Eric R.
  • Chowa, Gina A.
  • Eisensmith, Sarah R.

Abstract

Research has shown that several factors influence student engagement, but little is known about the predictive role of family economic hardships on student engagement, particularly in the sub-Saharan African context. This study used data from junior high school students in Ghana to examine the association between perceived family economic hardship and students' classroom engagement, and the intervening role of future intentions. The structural equation modeling results indicate that perceived economic hardship is associated with behavioral engagement in school in two ways. The first is the direct positive link from perceived economic hardship to engagement (i.e., the motivational pathway). The second is a more nuanced channel whereby perceived economic difficulties are negatively associated with students' participation in academic work, but only through the inconsistent mediating (suppression) role of students' future intentions (i.e., the demoralizing pathway). The nuanced psychological and behavioral outcomes suggest the need for programs that cultivate educational resilience among young people.

Suggested Citation

  • Ansong, David & Okumu, Moses & Hamilton, Eric R. & Chowa, Gina A. & Eisensmith, Sarah R., 2018. "Perceived family economic hardship and student engagement among junior high schoolers in Ghana," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 9-18.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:85:y:2018:i:c:p:9-18
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2017.11.008
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Chowa, Gina A.N. & Masa, Rainier D. & Ramos, Yalitza & Ansong, David, 2015. "How do student and school characteristics influence youth academic achievement in Ghana? A hierarchical linear modeling of Ghana YouthSave baseline data," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 129-140.
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    6. Jelena Pokimica & Isaac Addai & Baffour Takyi, 2012. "Religion and Subjective Well-Being in Ghana," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 106(1), pages 61-79, March.
    7. Isaac Addai & Chris Opoku-Agyeman & Sarah Amanfu, 2014. "Exploring Predictors of Subjective Well-Being in Ghana: A Micro-Level Study," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 15(4), pages 869-890, August.
    8. Ansong, David & Okumu, Moses & Bowen, Gary L. & Walker, Anne M. & Eisensmith, Sarah R., 2017. "The role of parent, classmate, and teacher support in student engagement: Evidence from Ghana," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 51-58.
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    10. Frank Arku & Glen Filson & James Shute, 2008. "An Empirical Approach to the Study of Well-being Among Rural Men and Women in Ghana," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 88(2), pages 365-387, September.
    11. Ansong, David & Wu, Shiyou & Chowa, Gina A.N., 2015. "The role of child and parent savings in promoting expectations for university education among middle school students in Ghana: A propensity score analysis," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 265-273.
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    Cited by:

    1. David Ansong & Gina Chowa & Rainier Masa & Mathieu Despard & Michael Sherraden & Shiyou Wu & Isaac Osei-Akoto, 2019. "Effects of Youth Savings Accounts on School Attendance and Academic Performance: Evidence from a Youth Savings Experiment," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 40(2), pages 269-281, June.
    2. Jiang, Chaoxin & Shi, Jiaming, 2024. "Money or Time? The association between parental investment, school engagement and adolescent behavioral problem," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 157(C).

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