Rural parentsʹ messages to their adolescent sons and daughters to leave their home communities

The perceptions of 354 seventh and eleventh graders regarding the frequency and nature of their rural parentsʹ messages to them and their closest-in-age sibling to leave their home communities after high school were explored. Survey data showed that almost half (54%) perceived that their parents encouraged them and/or their closest-in-age sibling to leave the area and about 19% of that group reported that their parentsʹ messages to leave were inconsistent between them and their closest sibling. Parentsʹ messages did not differ by youthsʹ sex or age. Consistency of parentsʹ messages between siblings was associated with youthsʹ well-being, family relationship experiences, and future residential preferences. Semi-structured interviews with a subsample of seventh graders and their mothers highlighted parentsʹ and youthsʹ perspectives on parentsʹ messages. This work highlights the familial processes associated with youth future planning and extends the current work on parentsʹ differential treatment of siblings.