Parental employment status and preschoolers' emotional and behavioral problems in Western China: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Objectives Guided by the Family Economic Stress Model, this study investigated the associations between parental employment status and emotional and behavioral problems among preschoolers in Western China. Methods This cross-sectional study included 21,968 children aged 3–6 years recruited from 189 kindergartens. Parental employment status was categorized into four family-level patterns and further analyzed separately for paternal and maternal employment. Children's outcomes were assessed using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Results Father-only employment was associated with higher internalizing problems (aOR = 1.11) but lower externalizing problems (aOR = 0.90); dual non-employment was associated with increased internalizing problems (aOR = 1.31). Paternal unemployment was linked to externalizing problems (aOR = 1.25), while maternal non-employment was associated with internalizing problems (aOR = 1.11–1.27). No significant effect modification was observed after FDR correction. Conclusions Parental employment status is associated with preschoolers' emotional and behavioral problems in a gender-differentiated manner. Paternal unemployment is primarily linked to externalizing problems, whereas maternal non-employment is more strongly associated with internalizing problems.