Adolescents' Perceptions of Parents' Work and Adolescents' Work Values in Two-Earner Families

Abstract

Examined in this study were relations among adolescents `perceptions of parents' work conditions (e.g., work overload) and work-related affect (e.g., job satisfaction), adolescents' respect for parents' work, and adolescents' work values. Participants were 81 young adolescents and their mothers and fathers in two-earner families, all of whom took part in a longitudinal study in which questionnaire data were collected. Results were that on several measures, adolescents' and parents' reports of parents' work were related significantly Adolescents also had more respect for their mothers `and their fathers `work when they perceived their mothers and their fathers as having jobs that were less depersonalizing, less straining, and more satisfying. Adolescents' perceptions of fathers' work-related affect and work conditions interacted with their respect for fathers' work to predict selected work values of adolescents (e.g., the value of human-centered work). This study provided support for linkages between fathers' work and adolescents' work values.