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Cultural Capital and Risk Perception: The Mediating Effect of Family Digital Education Strategies on Offspring Opportunities

Yuduo Dai
International Journal of Social Science and Education Research, (2026), Vol.9, No.7, pp.85-91
Published: July 12, 2026
DOI: 10.6918/IJOSSER.202607_9(7).0011
PDF: Download Full Text PDF
Abstract

The popularization of digital technology has not eliminated educational inequality, and families are facing a digital "risk gap". This paper integrates Bourdieu's theory of cultural capital and Beck's perspective of risk society, and proposes a "family digital risk assessment strategy" as an intermediary mechanism connecting traditional cultural capital and children's educational opportunities. Based on the analysis of 805 student and 820 parent questionnaires, it is found that families with high cultural capital tend to adopt an "actuarial navigation" strategy, converting risks into educational benefits; while families with low cultural capital are trapped in "intuitive defense" or "passive laissez-faire" strategies, restricting their children's educational opportunities. The type of strategy plays a significant mediating role between cultural capital and educational opportunities. This study provides a new explanatory path for understanding the reproduction of educational inequality in the digital age.

Keywords: Cultural capital; risk society; digital divide; family education; mediating effect.
APA Citation: Yuduo Dai (2026). Cultural Capital and Risk Perception: The Mediating Effect of Family Digital Education Strategies on Offspring Opportunities. International Journal of Social Science and Education Research, 9(7), 85-91. https://doi.org/10.6918/IJOSSER.202607_9(7).0011

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