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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Carol W. Runyan, PhD, Injury Prevention Research Center and Dept. of Health Behavior and Health Education, Univ. of North Carolina, 137 East Franklin Street, Suite 500, Campus Box 7505, Chapel HIll, NC 27599-7505, 919-966-3916, carol_runyan@unc.edu, MIchael Schulman, PhD, Dept. of Sociology and Anthropology, North Carolina State University, Box 8107, Rm 301, 1911 Building, Raleigh, NC 27695-8107, Janet Dal Santo, DrPH, Injury Prevention Research Center, University of North Carolina, 137 East Franklin Street, Suite 500, CB 7505, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7505, and J. Michael Bowling, PhD, Health Behavior and Health Education, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, CB #7440, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7440.

Background: Parents are a potential influence on teen work behaviors, but their role in helping teens with work issues has not been studied. Methods: A national sample of parents of youth who worked at least two months during the prior twelve months was collected via telephone to learn about parental involvement in helping teens identify jobs and prepare for work, address working conditions, and manage hazards. Parents were also asked their concerns about teen worker safety. Results: We interviewed parents of 866 teens working in retail and service jobs. Parents reported substantial involvement in helping their teen find a job. Most parents expressed little concern about the safety of their teen's job. Fewer than half indicated they had helped their teen consider questions to ask about safety. However, half indicated they had helped their teen learn about worker rights, and some had helped teens learn about youth work restrictions or helped them get more job training. Few indicated they had helped their teen report a violation to a government agency. Parents were asked hypothetical questions about their reactions if teens were exposed to workplace hazards. Most often they encouraged the teenager to talk directly to the supervisor, followed by telling the teen to get assigned to different duties or quit working for the employer. Parents were confident that their teens wanted them involved in helping with work issues. Conclusion: Parents are engaged with their employed teens about many workplace issues, but safety is not a major concern.

Learning Objectives: As a result of this presentation, participants will be able to

• Describe how parents express their roles in helping teens with work-related decisions
• Identify issues for future research on the role of parents in addressing adolescent employment issues.

Keywords: Youth at Work, Occupational Safety

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation