Citation

Weller NF, Cooper SP, Tortolero SR, Kelder SH, Hassan S. J. Child Health 2004; 2(1): 87-102.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2004, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.3109/15417060490447387

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This study describes the effect of different weekly work intensity levels on child functioning in a sample of middle school students (N = 5,367) in rural South Texas where economically disadvantaged and Hispanic students are heavily represented. Anonymous surveys were conducted in sixth through eighth grade students' regular classrooms. The following effects were associated with longer hours of weekly school-year employment: 1) decreased engagement in school, hours of weeknight and weekend sleep, and satisfaction with amounts of leisure time, and 2) increased psychological stress, frequency of headaches, and substance use. It was concluded that parents and professionals should continue to closely monitor the number of weekly hours that students work during the school year.

Language: en

Keywords

alcohol drinking; child; cocaine; employment; marijuana smoking; mental health; minority groups; schools; sleep.; tobacco; workload