Parental involvement in early education plays a crucial role in children's development and academic success. However, immigrant parents face additional challenges, particularly communication barriers. Intercultural sensitivity, a skill linked to positive intercultural interactions, may facilitate their engagement. This study examined the role of intercultural sensitivity in predicting immigrant parental involvement in early education in Chile. Using a sample of 347 immigrant parents, we assessed parental involvement, intercultural sensitivity, and perceived facilitators and barriers, alongside sociodemographic factors (gender, country of origin, religious practice, education, time in Chile, and child’s educational grade). Results from multinomial logistic regression indicated that higher intercultural sensitivity significantly predicted greater parental involvement. Parents with lower intercultural sensitivity were 67.6% more likely to report "almost never" participating. Religious practice and technical education (vs. university education) and having a child in kindergarten (vs. pre-kindergarten) were associated with lower involvement, while Venezuelan parents were less likely to report low participation compared to Haitian parents. Among facilitators, a positive climate among parents increased the likelihood of active participation, whereas having other immigrant families in school unexpectedly correlated with lower involvement. As for barriers, parents in schools without a special approach for migrant families were 4.85 times more likely to report low participation. Additionally, families who had spent less time in Chile also showed lower levels of parental involvement. These findings underscore the importance of fostering intercultural sensitivity in school communities to enhance parental engagement. Implications for educational policies promoting culturally responsive practices are discussed.

Authors:
Marian Bilbao, Universidad Alberto Hurtado, Chile
Florencia Guglielmetti, Universidad Gabriela Mistral, Chile
Maria-Jose Mera-Lemp, Universidad Viña del Mar, Chile
Gonzalo Maritnez-Zelaya, Universidad Viña del Mar, Chile

About the Presenter(s)
Dr. Marian Bilbao is currently an associated professor at the Universidad Alberto Hurtado, in Chile. In the present time, her interest is mostly focus on wellbeing of children and young people, and immigrant population.

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