Can Summer Jobs Prevent Teen Suicide?
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Unemployed adults know that the isolation and lack of routine created by joblessness can be devastating to mental health. However, a new study has shown that teens too may benefit from working, at least during the summer. A University of Iowa study found that teens at risk for suicide due to factos such as depression, obesity and experiencing same-sex attraction are less likely to be suicidal if they work a paid summer job for 20 hours or more per week. This buffering effect was greater than others such as attending church, participating in sports or living in a two-parent home. Working over the summer is thought to be empowering, increasing teens' self-esteem while minimizing isolation, while not producing the conflicts of working over the school year. The only time this does not hold true is when situations at work create additional problems for teens, such as harassment. Young workers may be especially vulnerable to such abuses and should be taught to speak up if they occur, caution researchers.
Read more: Study shows summer jobs may help prevent suicidal tendencies in at-risk teens SHARE:
Posted In: Adolescent Psychology | Child Adolescent Mental Health | Suicide | Tags: Adolescents | Suicide | Teenagers | Teens | Work | Posted by FindCounseling.com Staff on June 17, 2009 at 09:02 PM | Permalink |
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