What are the potential impacts of work-study conflict for adolescents’ mental health? Findings from a national Australian cohort study

Around half of all Australian adolescents combine their final years of secondary education with a part-time job and this may be creating pressure that impacts their mental health. However, there is virtually no national population-based research investigating how work-study conflicts for young people might adversely affect mental health. This study used data from Wave 7 of the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC), including 996 adolescents (16–17 years, 44% males) who were working and studying concurrently in secondary school. The extent of work-study conflict was measured using a four-item scale. Depression and anxiety levels were assessed using the Short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire (SMFQ) and the Spence Children’s Anxiety Scale (SCAS). Associations were tested using Linear Regression, adjusting for a range of covariates (including psychosocial job quality and prior wave 6 depression/anxiety). Half of all students reported experiencing at least one indicator of work-study conflict. After adjusting for covariates (including prior depression/anxiety), work-study conflicts were significantly associated with greater depression (β =.33, p < 0.001) and anxiety (β =.26, p < 0.001). Many young Australians are having difficulties balancing their work and study commitments in their final secondary school years, and this is associated with greater depression and anxiety.