The Burden of Expectations: Exploring the Influence of Cultural and Socioeconomic Factors on Parental Pressure, Academic Achievement, and Suicidal Ideation
Keywords:
Parental Expectations, Perceived Academic Performance, Suicidal Behaviors, Socioeconomic Status, Cultural Expectations, Adolescent Mental Health, Academic Stress, Moderation Analysis, Coping Mechanisms, Emotional Resilience.Abstract
This research investigates the link between parental expectations, perceived academic success, and suicidal behaviors among adolescents, along with the moderating effects of socioeconomic status (SES) and cultural norms regarding academic achievement. A total of sixty participants were evaluated using the Suicide Behaviours Questionnaire-Revised (SBQ-R), Perceived Academic Performance Scale (PAPS), and Perceived Parental Expectations Scale (PPES). The analysis of the data was conducted through Pearson's correlation, linear regression, and moderation analysis utilizing Jamovi.
The findings indicated that there was no significant relationship between perceived academic performance and perceived parental expectations (r = 0.231, p = 0.076), nor between perceived academic achievement and suicidal behaviors (r = 0.027, p = 0.841). A linear regression analysis indicated that parental expectations were not a significant predictor of suicidal behaviors (β = -0.0229, p = 0.409, R² = 0.0118). Additionally, moderation analysis revealed that neither socioeconomic status (β = -0.0210, p = 0.736) nor cultural expectations (β = -0.0307, p = 0.491) significantly influenced the relationship between parental expectations and suicidal behaviors.
These results indicate that adolescent suicidal behaviors may be more significantly affected by various psychological and social elements, such as relationships with peers, emotional strength, and coping strategies, rather than solely by perceived expectations from parents. Future studies should aim for extended research with larger and more diverse participant groups and explore additional factors that might affect the mental health of teenagers. Programs that offer parental support, along with counseling services in schools and mental health awareness initiatives, can all contribute to fostering a learning environment that encourages both academic achievement and psychological health.
