The relationship between cultural retention among selected Hmong parents and the academic achievement of their children
Author(s):
Vang, Ka
Format:
Thesis
Degree granted:
Ed.D.
Publisher:
Ann Arbor : University of San Francisco, 1998.
Pages:
106
Language:
English
Abstract:
This research is a correlational study among three groups of Hmong parents who have stayed in the U.S. for 1 to 5 years, 6 to 10 years, and more than 10 years and their children's academic achievement. Using a survey questionnaire, 45 Hmong parents, who each has a child attending a high school in the Sacramento area, were randomly selected to participate in the study. The content of the questionnaire included cultural elements such as religious practices, art, customs and traditions, socialization and kinship, childrearing practices, education, language, and economy. The parents' cultural retention was examined and compared with their children's grade point average. The study reveals that cultural retention among the three groups of Hmong parents differed significantly. A strong correlation (r2 = .81) was found between the parents' cultural retention and the length of residence. This means that Hmong parents who have been in the U.S. for a longer period of time tend to decrease their practice of the Hmong culture. Two other variables such as parents' educational background and the age of the parents do not seem to affect the degree of cultural retention. When examining Hmong parents' cultural retention and their children's academic achievement, a moderate correlation (r2 = .35) was found between these two variables. Students of Hmong parents who retain more of the Hmong culture appear to achieve higher academically than those students whose parents retain less of the Hmong culture. Other variables: parents' educational background, age of the parents, and the length of residence were also examined. The analysis also indicates a weak correlation between these variables and students' academic achievement. In conclusion, Hmong parents who have lived in the U.S. longer appear to practice less of the Hmong culture when compared to Hmong parents who have been in the U.S. a shorter time. Retaining and practicing the Hmong culture by Hmong parents seem to have some positive impact on their children's academic achievement. The study indicates that there is a moderate correlation between cultural retention and students' academic achievement.