Abstract
Previous research has demonstrated the effect of parental influence and expectations on student occupational and educational aspirations. However, most of these studies were conducted prior to 1970; since that time there have been considerable changes in sex roles, the home, and school institutions. The sample for the present study consisted of the 28,240 seniors in 1980 who participated in the High School and Beyond study. Multiple regression analyses revealed that the effects of perceived influence on their children's post-high school plans followed the traditional same-sex role model, whereas the effects of perceived parental expectations did not. Thus, in predicting the future directions of a child, both in terms of occupation and education, the same-sexed parent has a stronger influence on career plans, whereas the opposite-sexed parent has higher expectations.
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