Family Support in the Context of Socioeconomic Discrimination and Future Expectations among Dutch VET Students

Abstract

Dutch adolescents express significant concerns about their future, including education, employment, and equitable opportunities (Ministerie van Volksgezondheid, 2022). Addressing these concerns is crucial to foster positive future expectations and reduce risk behaviour (Cerqueira et al., 2022; Kim & Kim, 2020; Prince et al., 2016). This study investigates the impact of discrimination due to socioeconomic status (SES) on the future expectations of Vocational Education and Training (VET) students, and the influence of family support on this relationship. Data from the YOUth Got Talent project in the Netherlands was used, with a total sample of N=1102 adolescents (M age = 17.38). A multiple linear regression was conducted to examine the relationship between perceived discrimination due to SES and future expectations, as well as the moderating effect of family support. Results support hypothesis 1, revealing that higher levels of perceived discrimination due to SES are associated with decreased positive future expectations. Contrary to hypothesis 2, family support did not moderate this relationship significantly. These results contribute to the broader understanding on the impact of discrimination on youth development and advocate for policies regarding social equality and inclusion. Additionally, the findings of this study highlight the importance of addressing discrimination in the Dutch society to foster positive future expectations among adolescents. Future research should explore the interactions in an intersectionality framework, containing various forms of discrimination and studying their individual and combined effects on future expectations. Overall, this study highlights the importance of studying socio-economic discrimination and its implications for future outcomes and opportunities.