Parental Involvement With Their Working Teens

• Published in: Journal of adolescent health Vol. 49; no. 1; pp. 84 - 86
• Main Authors: Runyan, Carol W., M.P.H., Ph.D, Vladutiu, Catherine J., M.P.H, Schulman, Michael D., Ph.D, Rauscher, Kimberly J., M.A., Sc.D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01-07-2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adolescents; Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Children; Developmental psychology; Employment; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hazard; Hazards; Humans; Industrial safety; Interviews as Topic; Male; Middle Aged; Occupational Health; Occupational Injury; Parent; Parent-Child Relations; Parental participation; Parents; Pediatrics; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Safety; Working conditions; Occupational Injury; Parent; Hazard; Adolescent; Human; Parental behavior; Personal commitment; Sex; Parent child relation; Job search; Occupational accident; Social interaction; Family environment
• ISSN: 1054-139X; 1879-1972
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2010.09.024

Abstract Adolescents work in varied environments and are exposed to hazards. Parents of these working adolescents have an opportunity to help them select jobs and address worker safety issues with employers. The present study conducted telephonic interviews among a national sample of 922 working adolescents along with one parent of each to examine the involvement of parents in their children's employment and safety issues. Over 70% of parents were found who helped their children identify job opportunities, consider questions about work hours or tasks, fill out job applications, prepare for interviews, or handle difficult safety issues. Parents suggested stronger actions in response to hypothetical situations than when confronted with real problems. Mean level of parental involvement did not vary by the number of hazards reported by teen workers. Parents were involved in helping their teens with work. Further research should explore how to enhance parental effectiveness by making work safe for teens.