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Parental work schedules and adolescent risky behaviors
Wen-Jui Han1, Daniel P Miller, Jane Waldfogel
1School of Social Work, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA. wh41@columbia.edu
Developmental Psychology
|September 9, 2010
Summary
Mothers working night shifts are linked to adolescent risky behaviors through reduced parent-child time and home environment quality. However, other nonstandard schedules may decrease risky behaviors by increasing parental knowledge of children.
Area of Science:
- Sociology
- Developmental Psychology
- Criminology
Background:
- Parental work schedules are increasingly diverse, potentially impacting child development and behavior.
- Adolescent risky behaviors represent a significant public health concern with long-term consequences.
- Understanding the mechanisms linking parental employment to adolescent outcomes is crucial for intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the effects of maternal night work schedules on adolescent risky behaviors.
- To investigate the mediating roles of parent-child time and home environment quality.
- To explore variations in these effects based on other parental work schedules and demographic factors.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth-Child Supplement.
- Employed structural equation modeling to analyze relationships between parental work schedules and adolescent behaviors.
- Conducted subgroup analyses to identify specific populations at higher risk.
Main Results:
- Maternal night work was associated with less parent-child time and lower home environment quality, both linked to increased adolescent risky behaviors.
- Maternal evening work did not show similar negative associations.
- Other nonstandard maternal and paternal work schedules were linked to increased parental knowledge of child's whereabouts, reducing risky behaviors.
Conclusions:
- Maternal night work poses risks for adolescent behavior, particularly for vulnerable subgroups and during early childhood.
- The quality and quantity of parent-child interactions and the home environment are key mediators.
- Targeted support for families with mothers working night shifts may mitigate negative outcomes.
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