Adolescents' Perceptions of Parents' Work and Adolescents' Work Values in Two-Earner Families

Abstract

Examined in this study were relations among adolescents `perceptions of parents' work conditions (e.g., work overload) and work-related affect (e.g., job satisfaction), adolescents' respect for parents' work, and adolescents' work values. Participants were 81 young adolescents and their mothers and fathers in two-earner families, all of whom took part in a longitudinal study in which questionnaire data were collected. Results were that on several measures, adolescents' and parents' reports of parents' work were related significantly Adolescents also had more respect for their mothers `and their fathers `work when they perceived their mothers and their fathers as having jobs that were less depersonalizing, less straining, and more satisfying. Adolescents' perceptions of fathers' work-related affect and work conditions interacted with their respect for fathers' work to predict selected work values of adolescents (e.g., the value of human-centered work). This study provided support for linkages between fathers' work and adolescents' work values.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Abramovitch, R. , & Johnson, L. C. (1992). Children's perceptions of parental work. Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science, 24, 319-332.

Aiken, L. S. , & West, S. G. (1991). Multiple regression: Testing and interpreting interactions. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.

Baltes, P. B. (1987). Theoretical propositions of life-span developmental psychology: On the dynamic between growth and decline. Developmental Psychology, 23, 611-626.

Blishen, B. R. , & McRoberts, H. A. (1976). A revised socio-economic index for occupations in Canada. Canadian Review of Sociology and Anthropology, 13, 71-79.

Bohen, H. H. , & Viveros-Long, A. (1981). Balancing jobs and family life: Do flexible work schedules help? Philadelphia, PA: Temple University Press.

Crouter, A. C. , MacDermid, S. M. , McHale, S. M. , & Perry-Jenkins, M. (1990). Parental monitoring and perceptions of children's school performance and conduct in dual-earner and single-earner families. Developmental Psychology, 26, 649-657.

Galambos, N. L. , & Almeida, D. M. (1994). The two-earner family as a context for adolescent development. In R. K. Silbereisen & E. Todt (Eds.), Adolescence in context: The interplay of family, school, peers, and work in adjustment (pp. 222-243). New York: Springer-Verlag.

Galambos, N. L. , & Maggs, J. L. (1991). Out-of-school care of young adolescents and self-reported behavior. Developmental Psychology, 27, 644-655.

Galambos, N. L. , Sears, H. A. , Almeida, D. M. , & Kolaric, G. C. (1995). Parents' work overload and problem behavior in young adolescents. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 5, 201-223.

10.

Galambos, N. L. , & Walters, B. J. (1992). Work hours, schedule inflexibility, and stress in dual-earner spouses. Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science, 24, 290-302.

11.

Kohn, M. L. (1969). Class and conformity: A study in values. Homewood, IL: Dorsey.

12.

Kohn, M. L. (1977). Class and conformity: A study in values (2nd ed.). Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

13.

Kohn, M. L. , & Schooler, C. (1983). Work and personality: An inquiry into the impact of social stratification. Norwood, NJ: Ablex.

14.

Lerner, J. V. , & Galambos, N. L. (Eds.). (1991). Employed mothers and their children. New York: Garland.

15.

Moorehouse, M. J. , & Sanders, P. E. (1992). Children's feelings of school competence and perceptions of parents' work in four socio-cultural contexts. Social Development, 1, 185-200.

16.

Mortimer, J. T. , & Finch, M. D. (Eds.). (1996). Adolescents, work, and family: An intergenerational developmental analysis. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

17.

Mortimer, J. T. , & Kumka, D. (1982, Winter). A further examination of the "occupational linkage hypothesis." The Sociological Quarterly, 23, 3-16.

18.

O'Neil, R. , & Greenberger, E. (1994). Patterns of commitment to work and parenting: Implications for role strain. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 56, 101-118.

19.

Parcel, T. L. , & Menaghan, E. G. (1994). Parents' jobs and children's lives. New York: Aldine de Gruyter.

20.

Pearlin, L. I. , & Schooler, C. (1978). The structure of coping. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 19, 2-21.

21.

Piotrkowski, C. S. , & Stark, E. (1987). Children and adolescents look at their parents' jobs. In J. H. Lewko (Ed.), New directions for child development. Vol. 35: How children and adolescents view the world of work (pp. 3-19). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

22.

Pryor, R. G. (1983). Manual for the Work Aspect Preference Scale: 1983 version. Sydney, New South Wales, Australia: NSW Department of Industrial Relations.

23.

Pryor, R. G. (1987). Differences among differences: In search of general work preference dimensions. Journal of Applied Psychology, 72, 426-433.

24.

Ryu, S. , & Mortimer, J. T. (1996). The "occupational linkage hypothesis" applied to occupational value formation in adolescence. In J. T. Mortimer & M. D. Finch (Eds.), Adolescents, work, and family: An intergenerational developmental analysis (pp. 167-190). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

25.

Schulenberg, J. , Vondracek, F. W. , & Kim, J. (1993). Career certainty and short-term changes in work values during adolescence. Career Development Quarterly, 41, 268-284.

26.

Sears, H. A. , & Galambos, N. L. (1992). Women's work conditions and marital adjustment in two-earner couples: A structural model. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 54, 789-797.

27.

Sears, H. A. , & Galambos, N. L. (1993). The employed mother's well-being. In J. Frankel (Ed.), The employed mother and the family context (pp. 49-67). New York: Springer-Verlag.

28.

Silbereisen, R. K. , & Todt, E. (Eds.). (1994). Adolescence in context: The interplay of family, school, peers, and work in adjustment. New York: Springer-Verlag.

29.

Smith, P. C. , Kendall, L. M. , & Hulin, C. L. (1969). The measurement of satisfaction and work in retirement. Chicago, IL: Rand McNally.

30.

Trimberger, R. , & MacLean, M. J. (1982). Maternal employment: The child's perspective. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 44, 469-475.

31.

Vondracek, F W. , Lerner, R. M. , & Schulenberg, J. E. (1986). Career development: A life-span developmental approach. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.