The contribution of parental and societal conditional regard to adjustment of high school dropouts

This study examined the contribution of parental conditional regard (PCR) and societal conditional
regard (SCR) – divided into positive and negative regard – to high school dropouts' adjustment
(i.e., well-being, loneliness, and future orientation) along the different stages of the
dropout process. Specifically, the current study focused on dropouts from a traditional community,
where dropping out was accompanied by various social repercussions. The study, conducted
in Israel among Ultraorthodox Jewish males, included 261 participants, ages 14–21 (M = 17,
SD = 1.17), who were at different stages in the dropout process. Structural equation modeling
indicated a negative contribution of parental conditional negative regard to adjustment, while
societal conditional positive regard made a positive contribution to adjustment. Moreover,
dropouts indicated higher parental and societal conditional regard than students at other stages
of the dropout process. Findings highlight the importance of SCR and PCR in understanding the
adjustment of dropouts in traditional communities