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. 2021 May 13;18(10):5167.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph18105167.

Parental Nonstandard Work Schedules and Child Development: Evidence from Dual-Earner Families in Hong Kong

Minseop Kim  1
Affiliations

Parental Nonstandard Work Schedules and Child Development: Evidence from Dual-Earner Families in Hong Kong

Minseop Kim. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

With the emergence of 24/7 economies, the practice of working nonstandard schedules has become increasingly common. This trend raises a concern about how parental nonstandard work schedules affect child development outcomes. Using data from dual-earner families with young children (age 5-6) in Hong Kong, this study examined the association between parental work schedules and child development. It also examined under what conditions parental nonstandard work schedules affect child development, with a focus on the moderating role of family income. Results showed that paternal nonstandard work schedules were negatively associated with overall child development. This association was particularly salient among low-income families. By contrast, maternal nonstandard work schedules were not associated with child development outcomes. These findings suggest that it is important to equip parents, in particular low-income fathers, to address challenges resulting from their nonstandard work schedules.

Keywords: China; Hong Kong; child development; child wellbeing; nonstandard hours; nonstandard work schedules; parental employment; parental work; shift work; work-family conflict.

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Conflict of interest statement

The author declares no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, or in the decision to publish the results.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Predictive Margin of Father’s Work Schedule.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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