Parental Work Schedules and the Well-Being of Children and Families

Session Type: Paper Symposium

Abstract

As employment has become increasingly precarious, characterized by nonstandard, overtime, and unpredictable hours, there has been increasing concern about the implications of these work characteristics on children and families. Yet, our understanding of these potential consequences is limited. This symposium is comprised of three complementary papers on this topic, seeking to identify how precarious work characteristics are associated with child and family well-being across three contemporary samples, with particular attention to how these associations may vary by demographic characteristics of families. The discussant will provide a perspective that incorporates developmental science and policy to understand and interpret the findings.

The first paper utilizes daily work and well-being data collected via SMS text message on a large sample of hourly workers with young children in a northeastern city, finding that schedule disruptions are common and harmful to parents’ mental health. The second paper utilizes a sample of workers employed at Departments of Corrections and Transportation, finding links between schedule notice and control, frequent shifts, and days worked/month and parent-child relationships and reports of child behavioral, academic, and overweight risks, with evidence of moderation by family demographics. The third paper examines associations between mothers’ work schedules and children’s behavior in a nationally-representative, contemporary study of children, finding that nonstandard work schedules are associated with more child behavior problems, with these effects concentrated in middle-childhood and within more socioeconomically-advantaged families.

Together, these papers examine how precarious employment characteristics are associated with family and child outcomes and how these associations vary between families.

Sub Unit

• Social Policy

Chair

• Caitlin S Lombardi, University of Connecticut

Discussant

• Taryn W Morrissey, American University

Individual Presentations

• The Effects of Service-Industry Work Schedule Unpredictability on Families - Non-Presenting Author: Elizabeth Oltmans Ananat, Barnard College; Presenting Author: Anna Gassman-Pines, Duke Univeristy; Non-Presenting Author: John Fitz-Henley, Duke University

• Precarious Work Characteristics and Children’s Well-Being: Examining Mechanisms and Understanding Differences Between Families - Presenting Author: Caitlin S Lombardi, University of Connecticut; Non-Presenting Author: Alicia G. Dugan, University of Connecticut; Non-Presenting Author: Jennifer M. Cavallari, University of Connecticut

• Mothers’ Work Schedules and Child Behavior in Contemporary Families - Presenting Author: Alejandra Ros Pilarz, University of Wisconsin - Madison; Non-Presenting Author: Leah Awkward-Rich, University of Wisconsin - Madison