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ABSTRACT
An emerging body of evidence shows that parents’ non-standard work schedules have a detrimental effect on children's well-being. However, only a limited number of studies have investigated mediating factors that underpin this association. Likewise, only a few studies have examined the impact of fathers’ non-standard work schedules on children's well-being. Based on data from the Families in Germany Study (FiD), this study aimed to address these research gaps. The sample consists of parents and their children at ages 7–8 and 9–10 (n = 838 child observations in dual-earner families). The data were collected in the years 2010–2013. Non-standard work hours were defined as working in evenings and or at night (every day, several times a week, or changing as shifts). Children's social and emotional well-being was measured with the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). The findings show that both mothers’ and fathers’ evening and night work schedules are linked to an increase in children's externalizing and internalizing behavior and that this association is partially mediated by mothers’ and fathers’ harsh and strict parenting, with a stronger mediation effect for fathers parenting.
RESUMEN
Un conjunto de nueva evidencia sugiere que los horarios laborales no-estándar de los padres tienen un efecto perjudicial en el bienestar de los niños. No obstante, solamente un número limitado de estudios han investigado los factores intervinientes que sustentan esta asociación. Asimismo, son escasos los estudios que examinan el impacto de los horarios laborales no-estándar de los padres en el bienestar de los niños. Basada en datos del estudio ‘Familias en Alemania’ (FiD, por sus siglas en alemán), esta investigación tiene el objetivo de abordar estas brechas de investigación. La muestra consiste en padres y sus hijos entre 7–8 y 9–10 años de edad (n = 838 observaciones de niños en familias con doble fuente de ingresos). Los datos fueron recopilados durante los años 2010–2013. Las horas de trabajo no-estándar se definen como horas trabajadas por las tardes o por la noche (diariamente, varias veces a la semana o alternando en turnos). El bienestar social y emocional de los niños se midió con el Cuestionario de Fortalezas y Dificultades (SDQ, por sus siglas en inglés). Los resultados muestran que los horarios de trabajo vespertino y nocturno tanto de las madres como de los padres, están vinculados a un aumento en el comportamiento externalizado e internalizado de los niños, y que esta asociación está parcialmente mediada por la crianza severa y estricta por parte de las madres y los padres, teniendo la crianza paterna un efecto de mediación más fuerte.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
Notes on contributors
Dr. Till Kaiser is a researcher at the Department of Psychology, Ruhr-Universität Bochum. His research interests include work and family research, research in social stratification and mobility, personality and subjective well-being.
Jianghong Li, Ph.D., is a senior researcher at the WZB Social Science Center Berlin, Germany. Her current research focuses on the impact of parental employment status, work hours, work schedule, and job characteristics on children’s health and development. She has published widely in leading international peer-reviewed journals on child health and development.
Matthias Pollmann-Schult is a Professor of Social Research Methods at the University of Magdeburg. His research interests include the impact of parenthood on fathers’ employment, the association between parenthood and life satisfaction, and the effect of non-standard work on family well-being. His research has been published in European Sociological Review, Journal of Marriage and Family, and Journal of Family Issues, among other journals.