NCJ Number
127145
Journal
Youth and Society Volume: 22 Issue: 2 Dated: (December 1990) Pages: 225-240
Date Published
1990
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This study examines the effects of work experiences on younger and older male and female adolescents using data from a national longitudinal study. The focus is on the consequences of investment in work for indicators of adolescents' achievement, well-being, and satisfaction.
Abstract
The sample consisted of two waves of children; blacks and families who had experienced marital dissolution were oversampled. Data were collected from children, parents, and teachers in interviews and from questionnaires in 1976 and 1981. The descriptive analyses indicate that most young people of all ages work in some capacity outside their homes. Boys are more likely to be employed than girls, and more boys are likely to hold jobs defined as formal work. In five of the seven possible outcomes measuring achievement, well-being, and satisfaction, there was no evidence that employment had any effect. However, employment did impact on boys' satisfaction more than on girls', particularly among younger adolescents. The findings also revealed that older female adolescents have their satisfaction diminished by employment, significantly so when work hours are above the median amount. The other major finding is that younger boys who are employed a high number of hours per week are perceived by teachers as presenting fewer behavior problems; employment had no effect on younger girls or on the older children as a whole. 3 tables, 1 note, 1 appendix, and 20 references