Factors affecting the well-being of adolescents living with unemployed parents in times of economic recession: findings from the Portuguese HBSC study.
OBJECTIVE
Using a national representative sample of adolescents with unemployed parents, this study examined which factors (sociodemographic and of satisfaction with family life and peers) are related to the negative effect of parents' unemployment on emotional well-being.


METHODS
Cross-sectional survey study.


METHODS
Data on adolescents (14.1 ± 1.7 years old), with at least one parent unemployed (n = 1311, 53.2% girls), was provided by the Portuguese Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analyses were performed.


RESULTS
A high proportion of adolescents reported being emotionally affected by father's unemployment but not by their mother's. Older boys and older girls were more likely to report that their same-gender parent's unemployment situation (sons-fathers and daughters-mothers) has had a negative effect on their well-being. Girls from low socio-economic status and with poor family satisfaction were more likely to report negative emotional well-being related to parental unemployment.


CONCLUSIONS
This study presents evidence on factors that can shape adolescents' emotional well-being related to parents' unemployment situation. Given the recessionary context and high unemployment rates, these insights are valuable to assist the design of an action to improve the levels of well-being of Portuguese adolescents from unemployed families.
Nova Medical School and CMDT, Nova University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal; Aventura Social, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal. Electronic address: diana.frasquilho@hbsc.org.
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Frasquilho
Aventura Social, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal; William James Research Centre, ISPA, Lisbon, Portugal. Electronic address: mmatos@fmh.ulisboa.pt.
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de Matos
Interdisciplinary Centre for the Study of Human Performance, Faculty of Human Kinetics, University of Lisbon, Portugal; Public Health Research Centre, National School of Public Health, Nova University of Lisbon, Portugal. Electronic address: amarques@fmh.ulisboa.pt.
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A
Marques
Aventura Social, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal; Lusíada University, Lisbon, Portugal. Electronic address: tania.gaspar@edu.ulusiada.pt.
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T
Gaspar
Department of Mental Health, Nova Medical School, Nova University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal. Electronic address: caldasjm@fcm.unl.pt.
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JM
Caldas-de-Almeida
D000293:Adolescent; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D057172:Economic Recession; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010290:Parents; D010379:Peer Group; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011174:Portugal / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012923:Social Class; D014478:Unemployment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
Adolescents; Individual factors; Parental unemployment; Socio-economic status; Well-being