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

Minseop Kim
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Minseop Kim: Department of Social Work, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 10, 1-14

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: parental employment; parental work; nonstandard work schedules; nonstandard hours; shift work; child development; child wellbeing; work-family conflict; Hong Kong; China (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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