Aspirations toward higher education: a longitudinal study among alumni of public care in Israel

This longitudinal study tests a model that predicts aspirations toward higher education (AtHE) among alumni of public care in Israel based on their personal resources (self-esteem, readiness for independent living, and perceptions of their future), the support they receive from their mothers and peers, and their perception of the impact of military service. Using hierarchical regression analyses, we tested the incremental contribution of these variables to their AtHE. The sample comprised 202 alumni of care settings in Israel interviewed on leaving the care system, when they were 18 years old, and 4 years later. Higher AtHE scores were found among women and young people with a better perception of their educational achievements in high school. Additionally, high educational self-efficacy was associated with more AtHE. Finally, a positive impact of military service predicted greater AtHE. Implications for practice and policy are discussed.