Negative parent interaction and the student affairs professional

UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Sandra A. Rouse (Creator)
Institution
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/
Advisor
Deborah Taub

Abstract: Many students of the Millennial generation have parents who are very involved in their lives. The parents who are involved are continuing their involvement into higher education. While positive interactions with parents exist, there are times when student affairs professionals find themselves involved in a situation that becomes negative. The negative interactions with parents tend to have more of an impact on the professional because they take more time and energy. This study used interviews and a questionnaire to further explore the issue of negative parent interaction. It examined the prevalence and severity of negative parent interactions and the student affairs professional's response to this issue. The results of this study found that parent contact with student affairs professionals was prevalent on today's college campuses. It also found that many student affairs professionals have had a negative parent interaction, particularly those who are Deans of Students/Vice Presidents of Student Affairs and those who work in Housing and Residence Life. This study found negative parent interactions ranged from receiving mean-spirited correspondence to physical assault and were found to be precipitated by a number of factors. These factors included Federal policies, campus policies/procedures, and student conduct issues. The study also found that student affairs professionals experienced stress, frustration and related issues based on these negative interactions. However, the data clearly indicated that student affairs professionals have developed strategies to cope with negative parent interaction. In addition, the data of this study indicated that student affairs professionals are satisfied with the support they received from their institutions when negative parent interactions occurred. Recommendations for research in the areas of the impact of parent involvement on student development, student perceptions, the student affairs profession, and best practices are presented.

Additional Information

Publication
Dissertation
Language: English
Date: 2009
Keywords
Parent, Student Affairs
Subjects
Education, Higher $x Parent participation.
Student affairs services.
Student affairs administrators $x Job stress.
Student affairs administrators $x Job satisfaction.

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