Theoretical Perspectives on Parental Involvement in Children's ESL Learning: A Systematic Literature Review

This systematic literature review (SLR) aimed to explore the theoretical frameworks used to comprehend parental involvement in ESL children's learning. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, the review analysed relevant articles published within the last five years (2019-2023) by utilising the SCOPUS database for electronic data searching. The findings revealed that Vygotsky's sociocultural theory emerged as the most frequently employed framework. Moreover, several other theories such as Hoover-Dempsey and Sandler's model of parental involvement, Walker et al.'s model, Bourdieu's social class theory, asset-based framework, and Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory were also employed in some of the reviewed articles. On the other hand, some other studies did not use any theories and they drew upon relevant concepts related to parental involvement. The absence of explicit theoretical frameworks hindered the depth of understanding and interpretation of research findings, limiting the ability to provide comprehensive explanations and insights into parental involvement in ESL children's learning. The implications of the findings suggest that a strong theoretical foundation is crucial in understanding parental involvement in children's ESL learning. This understanding can inform the design and implementation of effective interventions and strategies to enhance parental involvement in ESL education, ultimately leading to improved outcomes for ESL children.