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Shift Work and Child Behavioral Outcomes

Wen-Jui Han1

  • 1Columbia University New York, USA.

Work, Employment & Society : a Journal of the British Sociological Association
|September 28, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Maternal shift work is linked to increased behavioral problems in children aged 4-10. This association is strongest in single-mother or low-income families and when mothers work full-time in service occupations.

Area of Science:

  • Child Psychology
  • Sociology of Work
  • Family Studies

Background:

  • Maternal employment is a significant factor in child development.
  • Understanding the impact of non-standard work schedules on children is crucial.
  • Previous research has not fully explored the nuances of maternal shift work.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between maternal shift work and child behavioral outcomes.
  • To identify specific subgroups of children most affected by maternal shift work.
  • To analyze the influence of family structure, income, and maternal occupation on this relationship.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth-Child Supplement, a large U.S. dataset.
  • Employed regression analyses to examine associations between maternal work patterns and child behavior.
  • Focused on children aged 4 to 10 years.

Main Results:

  • Maternal shift work was associated with a higher prevalence of child behavioral problems.
  • The strongest associations were observed in single-mother households, low-income families, and for children whose mothers worked full-time in cashier or service roles on non-day shifts.

Conclusions:

  • Maternal shift work poses potential risks to child behavioral development.
  • Vulnerable subgroups, including those in single-mother or low-income families, require targeted support.
  • Further research is needed to explore causal mechanisms and effective interventions.

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