Employment During High School: Character Building or a Subversion of Academic Goals?

Abstract

The present investigation tested theoretical perspectives about the effects of working during the sophomore, junior, and senior years of high school using the large, nationally representative High School and Beyond (HSB) study. Dropping out of high school was associated with hours worked during the sophomore year even after background variables and sophomore outcomes were controlled for. For continuing students, total hours worked during high school was negatively related to 17 of 22 senior and postsecondary outcomes after background variables and sophomore outcomes were controlled for. Working to save money for college, however, had substantial favorable effects on 15 of 22 outcomes, including, in particular, actual attendance at college. The challenge put your money where your mouth is may be an overly simplistic basis for a motivational theory, but it seems to be particularly apt in this situation.