The Effect of Classmates' Maternal College Attainment on Volunteering in Young Adulthood

Abstract

Objective In this study, I explore whether and how attending class with students who have a college-educated mother generates positive spillovers to classmates' volunteering behavior in young adulthood. Methods Using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health), I employ a quasi-experimental research design that exploits variation in student composition across grade cohorts within schools. Results This study finds that the proportion of classmates with college-educated mothers has a positive impact on the likelihood of students' engagement in volunteering in young adulthood. Exposure to a higher proportion of classmates with college-educated mothers increases adolescents' future volunteering, in part, by directly transmitting civic values and providing civic opportunities and indirectly increasing "dominant status" attainment in young adulthood. Conclusion This study suggests that the spillover effects of having peers with highly educated mothers go beyond educational outcomes and influence volunteering behavior that persists into adulthood.