Family Socioeconomic Status and Youth leadership Potential: Serial Mediating Effects of Parental Rearing Behaviors and Youth Self-esteem

To understand the origins of “the seeds of leadership”, the present study explored the relationship between family socioeconomic status (SES) and youth leadership potential. Specifically, we proposed and tested a path model illustrating the mediating effects of parental rearing behaviors and youth self-esteem on the link between family SES and youth leadership potential. Middle school students (N=692) from the seventh to ninth grades completed measures of family SES, parental rearing behaviors, self-esteem, and youth leadership potential. The results fully supported the proposed serial mediation model. Family SES was indirectly related to youth leadership potential via two kinds of parental rearing behaviors (emotional warmth and rejection) followed by youth self-esteem. The serial mediation model obtained in this study sheds light on understanding the origins of leadership potential and benefits the design of youth leadership interventions.