A positive correlation between working 20+ hours per week and the negative impact on the study and health of students is due to the concomitant factors that overtime work entails. Miller et al. (2008) mention “binge drinking, less sleep, and lower academic performance” as the direct consequences of the fatigue that young people face when combining college and work (p. 675). In an effort to improve their current financial situation and pay for their education, some students are unable to focus on their studies since all of their free time is spent on work. Young people can also face severe stress caused by fatigue and high responsibility when they need to make money by all means. As a result, their health deteriorates because the body does not have adequate rest, and academic performance decreases due to lack of sleep, fatigue, and passivity during the learning process.
The lack of a positive correlation between working less than 20 hours per week and the aforementioned academic performance and health characteristics may be due to sufficient rest time. For instance, as Miller et al. (2008) argue, when sleeping enough, students do not experience severe stress, and high activity due to their young age does not have a negative impact on their well-being. They do not feel the manifestations of burnout caused by constant fatigue, and this combination of study and work is not a critical barrier to good academic performance and health. Moreover, students’ morale improves as they are able to earn independently and spend money on personal needs. Therefore, low and average weekly work rates are not critical risk factors for academic performance and health in students.
Reference
Miller, K., Danner, F., & Staten, R. (2008). Relationship of work hours with selected health behaviors and academic progress among a college student cohort. Journal of American College Health, 56(6), 675-679. Web.