Teens who work more than 20 hours may be risking their academic future and mental health

By Staff Writer

High school students frequently participate in part-time work in order to provide themselves with spending money or save funds for college. However, adolescents who work too much may be jeopardizing their academic future and their mental health.

New research from the University of Washington, University of Virginia and Temple University suggests that teens who work more than 20 hours per week have academic and behavioral problems. Scientists surveyed about 1,800 teens who found jobs, did not work or left their jobs.

The found that teens who worked more than 20 hours had declining grades, poorer academic performance and behavioral problems such as alcohol and drug use, stealing and carrying a weapon. Furthermore, those who quit their jobs or who cut back from 20 hours had little to no improvement. Individuals who always worked less than 20 hours showed negligible effects at school and in their behavior.

The researchers concluded that parents, teachers and lawmakers should monitor the number of hours that teens are allowed to work.