Does age matter? : parental employment status influence on psychological well-being : findings from the national study of Portuguese schoolchildren

Abstract

Portugal is facing an unprecedented economic recession and the highest unemployment rate ever recorded in the country (18%). Employment is a fundamental component of well-being and the main source of income for most people. When job loss hits home, families struggle with psychosocial stress which may influence the healthy development of adolescents. This paper aims to explore age-related differences of aspects of psychological wellbeing linked with parental employment status on a sample of 5050 Portuguese adolescents with a mean age of 14 years old (SD=1.85). We analysed data from the Portuguese Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study (HBSC/WHO) and performed qui-square tests and linear regression models regarding different parental employment status, controlling for gender and age. Results indicate that parental employment status is associated with psychological well-being of the adolescents and the effects differ with age and parent gender. Having both parents non-employed negatively influences low mood and irritability or bad temper of middle age adolescents (mean age 14). Secondly, having a non-employed father is statistically associated with low mood of younger and middle aged adolescents (mean age 12 and 14), and self-rated irritability or bad temper in all age cohorts (mean ages 12, 14 and 16 years old). Thirdly, having a non-employed mother was associated with low mood and irritability or bad temper in mid-adolescents. In conclusion the link between parental employment status and psychological well-being of adolescents varies with age and parental gender. Mid-age adolescents have higher rates of negative psychological wellbeing linked with parental non-employment.