Describe three major reasons why an adolescent should not work long hours while in school. Why do so many adolescents work in spite of these consequences?

What will be an ideal response?

Research finds that around 1 in 4 high school freshmen and 3 in 4 high school seniors hold part-time jobs during the school year. While there are benefits to holding a job during adolescence, there are risks that should also be considered:

(a) Teenagers who work more than 20 hours in any given week become less engaged in their schoolwork and are less likely to be successful in college.
(b) Adolescents who work more than 15 to 20 hours in any given week appear to have an increased vulnerability to depression and anxiety symptoms, as well as a decline in self-esteem. They may also show more substance-used behaviors as well as engaging in problem behaviors.
(c) Because working teenagers tend to spend the money they earn on themselves rather than saving it for education or family expenses, such work and earnings can lead to inaccurate perceptions of the right way to manage finances. The textbook refers to this as misleading affluence.

The news is not all bad, however .Working is also associated with some positive outcomes, including enhanced self-esteem, learning and honing of skills, and an increased quality in parent-child relationships. These outcomes are more likely if the number of hours worked is kept modest – between 5 and 10 hours in a given week.