Parental Employment and Adolescent Health in Slovakia and the Netherlands
Author Information
Author(s): Sleskova Maria, Tuinstra Jolanda, Madarasova Geckova Andrea, van Dijk Jitse P, Salonna Ferdinand, Groothoff Johan W, Reijneveld Sijmen A
Primary Institution: Institute of Philological and Social Sciences, University of PJ Safarik, Kosice, Slovakia
Hypothesis
The effect of father's and mother's employment status on several aspects of adolescents' health differs between Slovakia and the Netherlands.
Conclusion
Father's unemployment is a better predictor of health for Slovak adolescents, while father's disablement affects Dutch adolescents' health more significantly.
Supporting Evidence
- Having an unemployed father negatively influences self-rated health and long-term well-being of Slovak male adolescents.
- Having a disabled father negatively affects the psychological well-being of Dutch males and self-rated health of Dutch females.
- Slovak adolescents' self-esteem is negatively impacted by having a mother who is disabled, unemployed, or a housewife.
- Dutch males with a housewife mother have worse long-term well-being compared to those with an unemployed mother.
Takeaway
If a dad doesn't have a job, it can make boys in Slovakia feel sick, but it doesn't seem to bother Dutch boys as much. Moms' jobs also matter for how kids feel about themselves.
Methodology
The study used logistic regression analyses on data from 2616 Slovak and 2054 Dutch adolescents, assessing health through self-rated health, GHQ-12, long-term well-being, and self-esteem scales.
Limitations
The categorization of mothers' employment status may not accurately reflect their job-seeking status in Slovakia, and there was a slight age difference between the cohorts.
Participant Demographics
2616 Slovak adolescents (mean age 14.9, 52% male) and 2054 Dutch adolescents (mean age 16.3, 50.2% male).
Statistical Information
Confidence Interval
95% CI 1.18–2.77 for Slovak males with unemployed fathers.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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