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Off-shift work and its effects
Our 24/7 economy and the resulting effects it can have on our health, our relationships and our stress level was studied in terms of how it affects family life. The study of over 4,000 dual-earner households with children between the ages of 2 and 11 came to surprising conclusions and brings into question prior assumptions.
Mental health problems, the study points out, are directly related to what they term "unsociable work times", in other words work times that occur on evenings, weekends or nights. Previously, it had been thought such flexible work schedules would provide more free time for families to interact and for children to have their parents available during their school days.
The results of these shift changes were that parents were "more hostile and ineffective" as parents, there was higher parental distress and depression and a direct, negative impact on family closeness and the effects were more detrimental when there were pre-school children in the family. Children had problems in concentration and hostility toward their parents.
When both parents worked these non-standard hours, the effects were most dramatic, but even if one parent worked non-standard hours, there were negative effects. Whether it was the mother or the father who worked these off-shift hours, it still had a negative impact on the family environment and the mental health of those in the household.
The researchers concluded that "work in the evenings, nights, and on weekends can make it harder to maintain family ritual, routines, and social activities that are important for closeness."
The study is published in the May 2006 issue of the Journal of Marriage and Family.
Related Links: Workplace Wellness, Sleep Problems in the Workplace
Technorati Tags: Shift work, family stress, mental health, children
Mental health problems, the study points out, are directly related to what they term "unsociable work times", in other words work times that occur on evenings, weekends or nights. Previously, it had been thought such flexible work schedules would provide more free time for families to interact and for children to have their parents available during their school days.
The results of these shift changes were that parents were "more hostile and ineffective" as parents, there was higher parental distress and depression and a direct, negative impact on family closeness and the effects were more detrimental when there were pre-school children in the family. Children had problems in concentration and hostility toward their parents.
When both parents worked these non-standard hours, the effects were most dramatic, but even if one parent worked non-standard hours, there were negative effects. Whether it was the mother or the father who worked these off-shift hours, it still had a negative impact on the family environment and the mental health of those in the household.
The researchers concluded that "work in the evenings, nights, and on weekends can make it harder to maintain family ritual, routines, and social activities that are important for closeness."
The study is published in the May 2006 issue of the Journal of Marriage and Family.
Related Links: Workplace Wellness, Sleep Problems in the Workplace
Technorati Tags: Shift work, family stress, mental health, children
