The Impact of Adolescent Work in Family Business on Child–Parent Relationships and Psychological Well-Being

Abstract

Previous ecological theory of human development research shows mixed results concerning the impact of adolescent work on psychological and family outcomes. We show the consequences of working in the family firm on adolescents’ parental relationships, self-esteem, and depression, highlighting the importance of high-quality work experiences in the early life course. Weighted regression analysis of longitudinal data from Statistics Canada’s National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth shows that those adolescents who work in their family firms on a year-round basis report a better relationship with their parents, and better psychological well-being than their nonfamily firm working counterparts.

What Do We Know About Business Families? Setting the Stage for Leveraging Family Science Theories

“…First, at least among Spanish Roma families, owning a family firm creates incentives to have more children (Aisa et al, 2017). Evidence from Statistics Canada’s National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth, which surveyed 426,204 adolescents over an 8-year span, indicates that adolescents who work in their family firms on a year-round basis develop better relationships with their parents and better psychological well-being (i.e., higher self-esteem, lower depression) than children who work in nonfamily firms (Houshmand et al, 2017).…”

“…Lee, Danes, et al, 2006). Involving children in the business (e.g., Houshmand et al, 2017) and/or strategies for managing the family–firm interface (e.g., Lambrecht & Lievens, 2008; Nordstrom & Jennings, 2018) might affect how families perceive stressor events (C). There are likely many specific sources of stress from family businesses (A), different types of resources that firms provide (B), and many variables that affect how such events are viewed (C).…”

Perceived Parental Behaviors and Next-Generation Engagement in Family Firms: A Social Cognitive Perspective

“…For example, general parental support measures focus on provisions for formal education. However, apprenticeship and opportunities to work for the family firm may be particularly relevant to developing family business efficacy and commitment (Houshmand, Seidel, & Ma, 2017). These scales can be modified, but this should be supported with evidence of the modified scale's psychometric properties.…”

Uncovering Implicit Assumptions: Reviewing the Work–Family Interface in Family Business and Offering Opportunities for Future Research

“…Working together with one’s parents also affects nonwork outcomes for both younger and older children and influences the parent–child relationship. Drawing on ecological systems theory, Houshmand et al (2017) find that adolescents who work in FBs have better psychological and family outcomes compared with their peers who work for non-FBs, including better relationships with their parents and higher psychological well-being. On the other hand, integrated work and family roles between parents and children and the permeability of boundaries between work and family domains may lead to deviant behaviors at both work and home.…”