Work-family trajectories in young adulthood: associations with mental health problems in adolescence

What was already known about this topic?

Several studies have examined work-family trajectories in different populations. However, little is known about work-family trajectories of the current generation of young adults, i.e. people who were born in the 1990s. Additionally, the link between early life mental health experiences and subsequent work-family trajectories has not been well examined.

What does this study add?

Six work-family trajectories at ages 18–28 were identified in people born in 1990s with main difference between trajectories of women and men being the timing of parenthood. Mental health in adolescence was associated with later work-family trajectories: In women, behavioural problems were associated with a parenthood trajectory and in men, emotional problems were associated with a long education trajectory.