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Adolescent employment of rural youth and the impact on the family: A multiple case study
Abstract
Rural youth have joined legions of urban youth in the world of employment under the auspices of "school-to-work". Educators have collaborated with business leaders regarding academic and vocational impact, yet few investigations into the possible ramifications for family life have been explored. The purpose of this study was to understand the impact of employed adolescents on rural families and to investigate the extent of that impact on the daily lives of all family members. The focus of the study was the perceptions and meaning of family life for each member and alterations in the relationships among family members when an adolescent was employed. Three families provided insights regarding impact of adolescent employment on the family. Each family noticed a number of issues revolving around the central themes of "family" and "work". The general meaning of family life varied and was based upon various life stage roles family members occupied. Family members observed time constraints regarding the activities in which they were involved. Significance of various recreational and leisure activities, and traditions, such as meal time and holiday observances, were frequently noted. Spending time together and offering mutual support to individual endeavors ranked primary among the issues lending meaning to "family life". Communication and the meaning of work, or work ethic were other important issues. Financial independence or ability to earn and command resources ranked strongly as priorities for working youth and their families. Adolescent development, involving detachment from the family and exploration of vocational interests, was considered as cases evolved. Findings from the case studies suggest that youth engaged in positive work experiences who have enjoyed active participation in family life, appear to have advantages moving through the prescribed roles of young adulthood. Adolescents' progressively evolving work experiences are less easily extricated from their pattern of life to suggest direct impact on the rural family. These rural youth viewed work as a part of their family life and embraced it eagerly and diligently.
Subject Area
Families & family life|Personal relationships|Sociology|Home economics
Recommended Citation
Moody, Yvonne Marie, "Adolescent employment of rural youth and the impact on the family: A multiple case study" (1998). ETD collection for University of Nebraska-Lincoln. AAI9829530.
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/dissertations/AAI9829530