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Parental working time patterns and children's socioemotional wellbeing: Comparing working parents in Finland, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands

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  • Rönkä, Anna
  • Malinen, Kaisa
  • Metsäpelto, Riitta-Leena
  • Laakso, Marja-Leena
  • Sevón, Eija
  • Verhoef-van Dorp, Melissa

Abstract

This cross-national study examined the connections between parental working time patterns (i.e., regular day work vs. nonstandard working hours) and children's socio-emotional wellbeing defined in terms of internalizing and externalizing problems and prosocial behavior. We also examined how the total number of hours worked, changes in work schedules, working overtime at short notice, and having an influence over one's work schedules were linked with children's wellbeing. Data were collected by a web survey from Finnish (n=358), Dutch (n=200) and British (n=267) parents with children aged 3 to 12years. The results showed, that in all three countries parents working nonstandard hours reported more internalizing problems among their children compared to parents in regular day work. In addition, parents whose work included overtime at short notice reported more internalizing problems among their children compared to parents who did not work overtime. Parental nonstandard working time was related to lowered prosocial behavior in children, as reported by parents, but only in the United Kingdom. Overall, the findings of this cross-national study indicated a universal, although weak association between nonstandard working hours and higher child internalizing problems. However, flexible arrangements both in working life and daycare services may help to promote children's socioemotional wellbeing — such as prosocial behaviors - in families where parents work nonstandard times.

Suggested Citation

  • Rönkä, Anna & Malinen, Kaisa & Metsäpelto, Riitta-Leena & Laakso, Marja-Leena & Sevón, Eija & Verhoef-van Dorp, Melissa, 2017. "Parental working time patterns and children's socioemotional wellbeing: Comparing working parents in Finland, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 133-141.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:76:y:2017:i:c:p:133-141
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2017.02.036
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Juha Hämäläinen & Pasi Matikainen, 2018. "Mechanisms and Pedagogical Counterforces of Young People’s Social Exclusion: Some Remarks on the Requisites of Social Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-28, June.
    3. Li, Xuefeng & Yang, Han & Wang, Hui & Jia, Jin, 2020. "Family socioeconomic status and home-based parental involvement: A mediation analysis of parental attitudes and expectations," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).
    4. Fábio Botelho Guedes & Ana Cerqueira & Susana Gaspar & Tania Gaspar & Carmen Moreno & Margarida Gaspar Matos, 2023. "Quality of Life and Well-Being of Adolescents in Portuguese Schools," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 16(4), pages 1381-1394, August.
    5. Han, Wen-Jui & Hart, Jake, 2022. "Precarious parental employment, economic hardship, and parenting and child happiness amidst a pandemic," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 133(C).
    6. Han, Bilin & Kim, Jinhee & Timmermans, Harry, 2023. "Work schedule arrangements in two-adult households with children," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 177(C).

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