Maternal exposure to work schedule unpredictability and child behavior
Daniel Schneider1, Kristen Harknett2
1Harvard Kennedy School and Department of Sociology Harvard University Cambridge Massachusetts USA.
Journal of Marriage and the Family
|July 25, 2022
Summary
Maternal exposure to unpredictable work schedules in the service sector is linked to increased child internalizing and externalizing behaviors. This job quality issue impacts children via economic insecurity, reduced parenting time, and maternal well-being.
Area of Science:
- Sociology
- Developmental Psychology
- Labor Economics
Background:
- Precarious work, common in the service sector, includes unpredictable schedules.
- These schedules negatively impact workers and may perpetuate intergenerational inequality.
- Child development can be affected by parental work conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To estimate the association between maternal exposure to unpredictable work schedules and child behavior.
- To identify mediators linking maternal work schedules to child outcomes.
- To investigate the impact of service sector job quality on children.
Main Methods:
- Utilized survey data from The Shift Project (2,613 mothers, 2017-2019).
- Examined mothers in the service sector with children (mean age 7.5).
- Employed mediation analysis to explore relationship pathways.
Main Results:
- Maternal unpredictable work schedules correlate with child internalizing and externalizing behaviors.
- Mediation analysis revealed key pathways: economic insecurity, reduced parenting time, and diminished maternal well-being.
- The most unpredictable schedules showed the strongest associations.
Conclusions:
- Work scheduling conditions significantly impact children's behavior and well-being.
- Job quality in the service sector has intergenerational consequences.
- Policy implications for worker protections and child development are suggested.
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