Decomposition of gender, self-esteem, social support and family support differentials among university students

Parental education disparities can be directly linked to the environment in which children grow up and attain education. This study focuses on the influence of parental education on university students’ social support and self-esteem. Three thousand five hundred and twelve first-year students in a public university in Malaysia participated in the study. Results of ordinary least squares (OLS) and Probit regression showed direct relationship of the variables. Malaysian–Chinese and Malaysian–Indian students, especially female students of the two mentioned categories whose parents had no tertiary education had significantly lower self-esteem. Technology and engineering students with parents who had no tertiary education received significantly lower family support compared to arts and applied arts students. These results highlight how family background can have a profound impact on children’s educational performances. The implication of this study can be useful for future intervention programs targeting first-generation university students.