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Contextual and socio‑demographic moderators of gendered parental involvement in children’s education: A comparative study of two rural communities in Bihar, India

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  • Yeboah, Gideon
  • Pandey, Puneeta

Abstract

This comparative study examines how gender, socio demographics, and local circumstances shape parental involvement in two rural Bihar communities using Epstein's six-dimension framework. A stratified sample of 400 parents (two villages, 200 per village) completed face to face surveys measuring all the six-dimensions of Epstein framework. Composite scores yielded acceptable reliability. Independent samples t-tests revealed large gender gaps in Learning at Home and Community Collaboration in Town 1, and significant Father Mother differences in Decision Making and Community Collaboration in Town 2. Multiple regressions indicated that Education and Gender were consistent predictors of Communicating, Volunteering, and Learning at Home. Theoretically, the study extends Epstein's dimensions by integrating it with a contextualized, grounded family-systems approach. Empirically, it shows that community context and parental education shape the gendered enactment of specific involvement dimension, revealing dimension-specific mechanisms of role negotiation. Policies that address local norms and resource constraints can foster more equitable family–school partnerships in rural South Asia.

Suggested Citation

  • Yeboah, Gideon & Pandey, Puneeta, 2026. "Contextual and socio‑demographic moderators of gendered parental involvement in children’s education: A comparative study of two rural communities in Bihar, India," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 121(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:injoed:v:121:y:2026:i:c:s0738059326000301
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ijedudev.2026.103520
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ching-Hsue Cheng & Yun-Chun Wang & Wei-Xiang Liu, 2019. "Exploring the Related Factors in Students’ Academic Achievement for the Sustainable Education of Rural Areas," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(21), pages 1-22, October.
    2. Kalpana Khanal & Ruchira Sen, 2020. "The Dowry Gift in South Asia: An Institution on the Intersection of Market and Patriarchy," Journal of Economic Issues, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 54(2), pages 356-362, April.
    3. Kristy Buzard & Laura K Gee & Olga Stoddard, 2025. "Who You Gonna Call? Gender Inequality in External Demands for Parental Involvement," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 140(4), pages 2805-2849.
    4. Sakshi & Sabina Bano, 2023. "Gender disparity in literacy in Uttar Pradesh: a spatial analysis," Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-12, December.
    5. Emily Smith-Greenaway, 2020. "Does Parents’ Union Instability Disrupt Intergenerational Advantage? An Analysis of Sub-Saharan Africa," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 57(2), pages 445-473, April.
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