Premium
Unsociable Work? Nonstandard Work Schedules, Family Relationships, and Children’s Well‐Being
Author(s) -
Strazdins Lyndall,
Clements Mark S.,
Korda Rosemary J.,
Broom Dorothy H.,
D’Souza Rennie M.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of marriage and family
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.578
H-Index - 159
eISSN - 1741-3737
pISSN - 0022-2445
DOI - 10.1111/j.1741-3737.2006.00260.x
Subject(s) - psychology , work (physics) , developmental psychology , affect (linguistics) , mechanical engineering , communication , engineering
Many children live in families where one or both parents work evenings, nights, or weekends. Do these work schedules affect family relationships or well‐being? Using cross‐sectional survey data from dual‐earner Canadian families ( N = 4,306) with children aged 2 – 11 years ( N = 6,156), we compared families where parents worked standard weekday times with those where parents worked nonstandard schedules. Parents working nonstandard schedules reported worse family functioning, more depressive symptoms, and less effective parenting. Their children were also more likely to have social and emotional difficulties, and these associations were partially mediated through family relationships and parent well‐being. For some families, work in the 24‐hour economy may strain the well‐being of parents and children.