Do adolescents' future expectations differ by parental employment situation? highlights from the portuguese HBSC/who survey

Objectives: This study explores the associations between parental employment status and the future and educational expectations and life satisfaction of a national representative sample of adolescents. Methods and analysis: Data were obtained from 5050 adolescents, attending school and with a mean age of 13.98 years old (SD=1.85). After a descriptive analysis of the sample, Chi-square tests were used by parental employment status (both parents employed or non-employed) for adolescents future expectations variables: setting up goals and plans for the future; think about completing high school /professional education; aspire to go on to university/ further education upon leaving high school. Moreover, ANOVA was used with life-satisfaction. Results: Employment of both parents is positively associated with higher future planning and higher educational expectations compared to parental non-employment. In addition, adolescents reporting higher future and educational expectations show greater life-satisfaction scores. Conclusions: This study provides evidence on how adolescents’ future and educational expectations differs by parental employment status and, in turn, life-satisfaction. The evidence is relevant given the actual socioeconomic context and can be useful to acknowledge the need to support research on adolescents’ with non-employed parents.