Linkages between negative work-to-family spillover and mothers' and fathers' knowledge of their adolescents' daily lives.

M.F. Bumpus, A.C. Crouter & S.M. McHale, Journal of Early Adolescence, v.26, n.1, 2006, pp.36-59.

A sample of 149 dual-earner families with children in early adolescence

(mean age = 11.82 years) took part in this American study of parental work-to-family spillover and its effect on parental knowledge about their children's daily activities. Marital love, parent-child involvement in joint activities and the affective quality of parent-child relationships were all examined as potential mediators of negative spillover's effect on parental knowledge. Initial home interviews were conducted individually with mothers, fathers and children to gather data on family relationships and parental work experiences. Individual phone interviews were then conducted with family members on a number of occasions to record children's daily activities and levels of parental knowledge about these activities. Negative work-to-family spillover was associated with diminished parental knowledge for fathers only. This effect was found to be mediated by father-child acceptance and paternal involvement in activities with children. Further research is needed to determine children's attitudes towards parental knowledge of their activities and experiences, and any subsequent implications this has on the psycho-social wellbeing of young adolescents.