Parental Absence, Family Environment, and Adolescents’ School Performance: Evidence from the Three Southernmost Provinces of Thailand1

Abstract

The impact of parental absence on children remains inconclusive and needs more contextualized research. This analysis examines the impact of parental absence on adolescents’ school performance and whether the impact can be explained by the family environment. The outcome is measured using adolescents’ assessment of their school performance compared with their classmates. The parent-adolescent living arrangement is classified as the adolescents living with both parents, with only the mother, and without the mother. We measure family environment using the family function (APGAR), parental/carer monitoring, and the parent-adolescent relationship. We used data from a household survey conducted in 2021 in Thailand’s three southernmost provinces where migration of young people to Malaysia is common. The sample includes 358 adolescents aged 13–17 years old and currently in school. Findings show significant negative though indirect impacts of maternal absence on the adolescents’ school performance. Also, the significant impact of maternal absence is mediated by the family environment, particularly family function. Significant evidence of the effect of family environment on adolescents’ academic outcome, net of the parent-adolescent living arrangements particularly parent/carer monitoring, is highlighted.