Mothers' Long-Term Employment Patterns and Child Cognitive Outcomes

• In Event: 381 - Section on the Sociology of the Family Refereed Roundtable Session and Business Meeting
  In Refereed Roundtable 60min: Table 13. Work-Family and Children: Session I

Abstract

Much research has investigated the association between maternal employment and child cognitive outcomes. Although many studies examined maternal employment at one point in time, mothers' employment hours may not be static. Using data from the NICHD Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development, we find that most mothers change employment hours throughout their children's early to late childhood years. College degrees are positively related to the number of waves mothers had reduced employment hours, whereas less than high school diploma is related to the number of changes and nonemployment, and high school degrees are related to the number of waves mothers worked full-time. The number of waves mothers had reduced employment hours was positively related to child cognitive outcomes at age 15 compared to the number of waves mothers worked full-time. The total number of changes in maternal employment hours is related to poorer child cognitive outcomes but explained by background characteristics.

Authors

• Kei Nomaguchi, Bowling Green State University

• Marshal Neal Fettro, Bowling Green State University