Longitudinal Correlates of Psychological Demand in Working Adolescents: A Canadian Population-Based Exploratory Study

OBJECTIVE: Investigate correlates of longitudinal changes in psychological demand in working adolescents. METHODS: Data from the Quebec Longitudinal Study of Child Development were used across four time points (ages 15, 17, 19, and 21), involving 1,362 young workers. RESULTS: Psychological demand significantly increased from age 15 to 21. At 21, higher demand correlated with poorer health, longer hours, less social support, public tension, physical constraints, and musculoskeletal pain. The rise in demand was moderated by employment and school attendance, with a greater effect at younger ages (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: High psychological demand is associated with adverse work environments and negative health. While increased weekly hours initially heightened demand, the effect diminished over time. Crucially, studying and working concurrently was more harmful in mid-adolescence. Results stress the need for regulating adolescent work to minimize negative health effects.