The association of mental symptoms with teenage work in Iceland

Abstract

Adolescent mental health problems have increased in recent years, and such problems may predispose the adolescent to long-term mental illness in adulthood. In past decades it has become more common for Icelandic teenagers to work while attending school (term-time work). Nevertheless, research is missing on the association between the level of termtime work and mental health. The aim is to examine the association between six types of mental symptoms (tiredness after an adequate night's sleep, difficulty sleeping, depression, stress/anxiety, worries/sadness, and multiple symptoms) and level of term-time work, by gender, age, and family's financial status. A survey applying a Nordic questionnaire based on self-assessed mental symptoms, was conducted among 2800 randomly selected adolscents, aged 13-19. The response rate was 48.6%. Participants were asked how often they felt symptoms of poor mental health. They were divided into three groups consisting of: non term-time workers, moderate term-time workers, and intensive term-time workers. A Chi-square test was used to test statistical significance: 95% confidence interval (CI). Results show gender difference in the association between level of term-time work and the mental symptoms. Intensive female workers are more likely to suffer symptoms of poor mental health than female non-workers, but no relationship was examined amongst boys. Furthermore, some association between term-time work and poor mental health is found amongst 13-15-year-olds, and for those whose parents are financially well-off. It is important that all stakeholders promote moderate term-time work for adolescents, and that the young people themselves receive occupational health and safety education to better understand the connection between work and mental health.