A1 Journal article (refereed)
Job Insecurity and Depressive Symptoms in Mothers and Adolescents : A Dyadic Study (2021)

Mauno, S., Minkkinen, J., Hirvonen, R., & Kiuru, N. (2021). Job Insecurity and Depressive Symptoms in Mothers and Adolescents : A Dyadic Study. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 30(9), 2117-2128. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-021-01994-4

JYU authors or editors

Mauno, Saija
Minkkinen, Jaana
Kiuru, Noona

Publication details

All authors or editors: Mauno, Saija; Minkkinen, Jaana; Hirvonen, Riikka; Kiuru, Noona

Journal or series: Journal of Child and Family Studies

ISSN: 1062-1024

eISSN: 1573-2843

Publication year: 2021

Publication date: 16/06/2021

Volume: 30

Issue number: 9

Pages range: 2117-2128

Publisher: Springer

Publication country: United States

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-021-01994-4

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Partially open access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/76646

Abstract

In this study, we examined whether maternal perceived job insecurity (JI) affected depressive symptoms in their adolescent children. Specifically, we tested a mediator-moderator model in which we hypothesized that maternal JI was related to adolescent depressive symptoms indirectly via maternal depressive symptoms. Most importantly, we also explored whether this indirect path was moderated by two buffering resources, i.e., maternal off-job recovery and adolescent self-esteem. There is little research on the effects of parental JI on adolescent children from the viewpoint of buffering moderators. Due to growing insecurity in the labor markets we need more information about resources that mitigate the harmful effects of JI within families. We tested the model via structural equation modeling among Finnish mother-adolescent dyads (N = 601, mothers aged 32–60 years; adolescents aged 14–18 years). Our results showed that mothers’ depressive symptoms did not mediate the relationship between mothers’ JI and adolescents’ depressive symptoms, but mothers’ JI was directly related to increased depressive symptoms among both adolescents and their mothers. Mothers’ off-job recovery and adolescents’ self-esteem buffered against mothers’ JI in relation to depressive symptoms. When off-job recovery (in mothers) and self-esteem (in adolescents) were high, the higher level of JI was not associated with increased depressive symptoms. Off-job recovery among working mothers should be improved as it has potential to protect against JI. Moreover, adolescents’ self-esteem should be boosted as it mitigates the effects of mothers’ job stress (e.g., JI) on adolescents’ well-being.

Keywords: working life; uncertainty; depression (mental disorders); mothers; children (family members); young people

Free keywords: job insecurity; depressive symptoms; dyadic study; buffering resources; adolescents

Fields of science: