Contexts, relationship quality, and family value socialization: The case of parent-school ideological fit in Israel

Parent-school ideological fit is studied as the context of parent-child relationships and socialization. It was hypothesized that parents' choice of school environments that promote values consistent with parents' values is related to a better parent-child relationship and facilitates socialization. Participants were 589 Israeli families with religious, traditional, and nonreligious parents, whose adolescent children attended either religious or nonreligious schools. Most parents chose high-fit contexts - That is, schools that fit their own values. Parents in high-fit contexts exhibited relatively higher levels of value consistency, but lower levels of value discussion with their children. Value conflict with parents was lower in high-fit contexts, and the relationship with the father, but not with the mother, was warmer and closer. Accuracy of perception and acceptance of parental values, and parent-child value congruence were higher in high fit contexts, an effect partially mediated by relationship characteristics. The relevance of fit for family relationships, socialization, and school adaptation is discussed.