Role of Family Dynamics in Online Learning Success

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Shraddha Patil

Independent Researcher

Maharashtra, India

Abstract
The acceleration of online learning—propelled by rapid technological innovation and catalyzed by global events such as the COVID‑19 pandemic—has profoundly reshaped educational landscapes. While interventions often concentrate on instructional design and learner characteristics, family dynamics play an equally pivotal yet underexamined role in determining student success in virtual environments. This study rigorously explores how elements of family structure (including single‑parent, dual‑working, and multigenerational households), parental involvement styles (monitoring, emotional support, and resource facilitation), the quality of the home learning environment (dedicated workspace, technological access, and established routines), and sibling relationships (collaboration, rivalry, and device sharing) collectively influence secondary‑level learners’ academic engagement, performance metrics, and psychological well‑being in fully online courses. Employing a convergent mixed‑methods design with quantitative data from 312 students and qualitative insights from 24 parent–student dyads, we triangulate survey responses, official grade records, and thematic interview analyses. Quantitative findings demonstrate that parental involvement and home environment quality account for approximately 40% of variance in both engagement and GPA, whereas sibling relationship quality exerts a smaller but still significant effect on engagement. Qualitative narratives illuminate mechanisms such as co‑constructed daily schedules, real‑time emotional scaffolding, peer tutoring among siblings, and adaptive strategies in resource‑constrained homes. Our conclusions underscore that cohesive, communicative, and resource‑rich family contexts act as essential enablers of online learning success. We offer concrete, family‑centered recommendations—ranging from educator–parent communication protocols to policy initiatives for equitable device access—with implications for future research on longitudinal family influences and culturally diverse settings.

Keywords
Online Learning, Family Dynamics, Parental Involvement, Home Learning Environment, Academic Engagement

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