Study: High school students who work too much are at risk of developing problems

By Staff Writer

Many teens attempt to establish their independence during high school by working part-time jobs. However, a new study shows that students who work more than 20 hours per week may be at risk of developing academic and behavioral problems.

The study, which appears in the journal Child Development, is based on data that examined more than 1,800 teens in grades 10 and 11. Researchers compared the adolescents who had jobs to those who did not work, and compared those who quit their jobs to those who continued working.

They found that students who worked more than 20 hours per work were more likely to underachieve in school and engage in problem habits, such as stealing, carrying a weapon and using drugs or alcohol. Furthermore, many individuals who tried to cut back on hours or quit their jobs did not improve on these troublesome behavior.

The study's authors concluded that teens who work more than 20 hours per week may be less engaged in school, which could explain these trends. They added that parents, educators and lawmakers should monitor and constrain the number of hours that students work while they are in secondary school.

Problem teens who struggle in class may benefit from the structure environment that is offered by many boarding schools.